Page 18 of Tangled Lies

I let the arm of one of the two men hold me. I couldn’t explain why, but I wanted to lean into the touch. I wanted his arm to pullme in closer and never let me go. All the words in the world and this action said more than any words ever said to me.

Was this something like being cared for?

My head was a mess and it had nothing to do with alcohol or trying to bet off my body. It had everything to do with the way these men touched me.

Even in the hotel room, the one who had to be in charge, he’d been so close. Close enough to point out Carrow and my dead end future and it had been enough that body had tried to suck in the heat of him. Now in the car. I wanted to remember this because it was all going to end. Everything always came to an end.

But, for tonight. For one moment, I could just let them hold me, because when they held me, they held me like I mattered.

CHAPTER 6

RONAN

“Nice of you to join me finally.”

I stopped at the familiar build of the man I despised. My father.

“Barone, I didn’t realize we had any business tonight.”

Jett had pulled Margaux upstairs the second we’d realized that Barone was here, and now we stood in the study that seemed a whole lot smaller.

My eyes flicked to the corner where one of his men was holding a guy on his knees. The guy's hands were tied behind his back and a gag kept him only marginally quiet. I traded looks with Talon.

“You know how business is, Ronan. Where is Jett? I wasn’t aware you boys would be out this late.”

I didn’t say a damn word, keeping all emotions off my face. The asshole didn’t know the half of the shit we did, he just knew his illegitimate son got things done.

That is what kept me alive in the family. Talon shifted and stepped forward, flanking me. Loyal. My brother. We were all part of the same mafia, but my allegiance would always be my own chosen family.

“You know Jett. He method acts and was the one to keep the drinks flowing tonight,” Talon said.

Mr. Barone, the head of the family, nodded.

“I see. Did things go well? I hope you’re getting somewhere with our little issue with Senator Harrington.”

The door clicked shut, and I caught Knox moving to the other side of the guy on the floor.

No one was talking about the elephant in the room, or rather the man in the corner with a weak bladder. It would take hours to get the urine smell out of the room.

“We’re figuring out the issue with the senator. He refuses to negotiate, but that’s not new. Who’s bleeding all over my floor?” I asked.

I did my best to make sure my face was always a mask of hate and anger. Once upon a time it was the lesson I learned to survive in this family.

“Ah. Yes. My gift to you boys. The mole that almost got one of you killed. He’s all yours. It’s late, I’ll take my leave. I trust things will be taken care of.”

We nodded. Jett would be pissed if he missed this, but I wasn’t certain we could leave our little bird alone, not until I clipped her wings.

In the dark hall, my father led the way to the back of the house. The reason we hadn’t seen his car tonight.

Echoes of all the footsteps following us, his men, took up any peace that might have been here.

“Go ahead, I’ll be right out. Ronan, a word,” my father said.

I didn’t even dare take too deep of a breath. I doubted I would like anything he was going to say tonight.

“If you can’t get the arrangement back on track with the Harrington girl, you will be marrying someone else that the family sees as viable.”

Viable?