Page 165 of Ruin Me With Lies

Lorenzo glances back over his shoulder.

“When you’re done here, check that our girl is still where we left her.”

He frowns in thought, but nods.

I’d bet every strand of hair on my head she’s not there.My little liar ishere.And for some inexplicable reason, that makes me smile.

~

CORA SHOVES Asteaming mug of coffee into my hands when I make it downstairs after three hours of sleep.

With a huff, she jabs a finger toward the sliding glass doors, where Lorenzo and Gio are sitting out on the patio.

“Morning to you, too, Cora.”

She skewers me with a glare and spins away.

“Don’t forget I’m the one providing you this life of luxury, not your precious Raya,” I call after her.“Keep this shit up and I’ll ship your ass back to Sicily.”

From somewhere down the hall, she fires back a colorful string of words, but I ignore it and head outside.

Gio stands as I walk out, stretching his arms over his head.“Now that you’re up, I’m taking a nap.Something tells me things are about to get real interesting, and I’d like to be properly rested for the chaos.”

As he strolls inside, I take his seat.

Lorenzo eyes me over the rim of his coffee.“Raya was with you last weekend, wasn’t she?”

I take a long sip.“If you’re asking me, you already know the answer.”

His jaw hardens, and he glances away, then back.“When did we start keeping things from each other?”

“Don’t know about you, brother, but I keepa lotof things from you.”

He lifts a brow at me, calling bullshit.

“Okay…” I scratch my jaw.“Remember that Venezuelan nurse you used to be gaga for?She didn’t ‘ghost’ you and move back home like you were led to believe.I caught her cleaning out your safe, so I turned her into a ghost before you could find out and forgive her.”

Nothing.Not even a blink to this revelation.Most likely because he’s twice as infatuated over someone else now.

“Why’d you sit back and let me confine Raya?”he asks.

“Because there were still too many question marks around her.”I shrug.“I knew she wasn’t involved in the attack, but I also knew she was hiding things.And I wanted to see what she would do when caged.Who she would become.”

“Well, she isn’t caged now.”He leans back, fingers laced behind his head, and lets out a long breath.“According to the Soldatis on her rotation, Luca told them he had orders to bring her back here.Of course, they deferred to him since he’s an Upperman.She was last seen on surveillance leaving with Luca and Rochi Ascani.”

“And where’s Rochi now?”

“His body was dumped outside his house.”He drags both hands down his face, unusually agitated.“Fuck, Stefano… Is her body gonna turn up next?I’ll never forgive myself if—”

“She’s not dead.”

He looks at me.“How do you know that?”

Hesitant, I take a drink of my coffee.“There’s no way to explain it without sounding weird, but...Ifelther here last night.That’s why I told you to check on her.Somehow, I justknew she wouldn’t be there.Because she washere.”

He eyes me skeptically.“Is this some new creepy weird shit with you?Like your harbinger dreams?”

“No goddamn idea.”I flick a piece of dried leaf from off the table.“What was in the fanny pack left on Luca?A gift, or a threat?”