Page 44 of Tangled Lies

He didn’t seem fazed.

“Well, that wasn’t a request. If they want my money and my silence then I want your mouth.”

The door beeped open and we both turned. I expected Carrow. Instead it was a blur of black suits and rather familiar faces. One such body reached for the man, and with one hand around his neck slammed him against the far wall.

“What were you doing?” Ronan asked.

The guy clawed at the hand around his throat.

“Who the hell are you and how did you get in here?”

Talon held up a room key.

“It’s not hard to get access to keys. It’s even harder to hide her.”

They motioned to me.

I smiled at the horror in the man’s eyes as I walked forward and grabbed the contract from the table.

“Looks like I won’t be sucking your dick after all.”

Maybe that was the wrong thing to say, or maybe I’d just poked the bear, or rather bears. Either way, four sets of eyes narrowed, and I think that man peed himself.

“You didn’t say that to pretty girl, did you?” Jett asked, stalking closer.

The man’s face was red, and I realized it was probably the pressure Ronan was placing on his windpipe. The man didn’t answer, he just choked out air and one or two unintelligible sounds.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Knox said, pulling out a lighter I’d never noticed before. He flicked the lid open and lit it again and again as he grabbed for my arm.

“Angel, this guy disrespected you. What would you like to do?” Knox asked me.

I didn’t know why it mattered. But the way the four of them stood between me and an asshole? The way they’d come to find me without me having to ask?

Why was it suddenly so hard to breathe?

CHAPTER 10

RONAN

Every time the man’s heart beat, I felt it stutter. Power was holding someone's life in your hand and knowing you were the one in control.

I stared into the man’s soul, playing the judge.

“No one can touch her.”

I squeezed harder, making sure he couldn’t talk back.

My own fucking heart hadn’t let go of its anger since the second I’d watched her take off toward Carrow. The Thornes were appropriately named, because their presence was becoming a thorn in my side.

The only thing good out of her little act was I wasn’t the only one ready to reach out and murder the man next to her.

Jett had nearly launched himself at Harrington. Instead, he’d figured out where Thorne Sr. was sending her and Carrow.

I kneed the guy’s balls and he crumpled to the floor, giving me a moment to look at Margaux.

“What’s in your hand, little bird?”

I asked her the question as she stood there with eyes that looked, well shit. Was she going to cry? Not my problem. She’dwalked away from us. Jett was hurt and I was pissed. What right did she have?