Page 37 of Tangled Lies

I studied her as the limo door opened. She might have looked innocent, her eyes downcast, her fake smile pasted on, but I could see that glimmer of something in her eyes. The darkness she hid. This was a test, and I wanted to see if she would pass. We’d missed something about her over the years. Perhaps we’d been far too focused on the uncle to realize she could be a tool. I needed to adjust my pants as I moved to get up.

Stepping out of the car, Ronan kept Margaux on his arm, but Jett took up the other side, and I half expected to see Ronan put him in his place. Instead, he just kept walking with Talon and me on their heels.

“What? We’re caging her in public now too?” Talon asked me, indicating the trio in front of us.

I studied them.

“Not sure we have a solid plan with her yet. Ronan’s got something going on with this Margaux situation. Jett? He’s just having fun. I’ve never seen him quite like this, though. If she breaks his heart, we will remove hers.”

Talon nodded knowing I wasn’t kidding. Jett needed our protection. He was the joy in our darkness, and if she everdimmed his light? Well, he was my brother, my choice, and she was just some woman.

Some woman we’d all been watching and catching glimpses of for far longer than she probably had a clue. I wonder if she knew just how corrupt her uncle really was.

I wondered if she was the missing card to our royal flush.

Talon and I walked in silence as we entered the main banquet hall.

There was a live orchestra in the corner. I sighed. Pretentious rich assholes. I needed something to distract me, and the lighter in my pocket was the best option I had at a party like this. I pulled it out and flipped the lid open and closed. I pushed the limits by igniting the flame just to snuff it out over and over.

Following behind my brothers, the pattern we walked seemed a bit random. Jett seemed happy to strut around on her arm, but the whispers? We made it to the other side of the room and grabbed drinks from the staff holding trays. I lowered my voice to talk to Ronan.

“Was the plan to spark rumors or were you looking for the fiancé?”

He wasn’t letting go of Margaux, and as I followed the line of where he was looking, I realized why.

“Both,” was all he said.

The four of us kept close, although I guess now it was five, unless she betrayed us. What was she going to do?

“Mar? Is it you? Why haven’t you answered my calls?”

I moved aside as the little brunette from the game the other night pushed her way through. The way Margaux embraced her, well, we allowed it.

“Sorry. I had some issues with my uncle and turned off my phone.”

More like we took the damn thing. We weren’t allowing her uncle to track her or us.

The two girls talked for a moment or two, but Jett wasn’t letting Margaux go.

My brothers and I kept a close eye on Senator Harrington as he watched us. We were also keeping an eye on Margaux by blocking her in a circle or ring-around-the-Margaux.

“Mar, who are these hunky men? I didn’t think your uncle had anyone around like them.”

The girl took us all in.

“We’re not her uncle’s friends,” was all I said.

“Reina, uh. This is Jett and Ronan. The really friendly one there is Knox, and this is Talon.”

I didn’t bother saying shit because right now I was more concerned about the way her uncle was moving.

“Not his friends? Not his hired guard dogs either? Are you–”

The girl, Reina, was cut off.

“Margaux, dear. Where have you been all night?” the senator asked, his tone clipped.

I shouldn’t have intervened, but I shoved my body between him and Margaux before anyone else could. She pressed closer to my back and I glanced over my shoulder. I wasn’t exactly surprised at the smirk on Margaux’s face, but the way I couldn’t deny her beauty?