Page 9 of Tangled Lies

It mesmerized me to watch the way Reina’s finger slipped against Margaux’s curls. She pushed her hair aside to whisper something in my little caged bird’s ear.

She nodded, and I watched as Reina grabbed for something behind the bar. Reina sauntered in my direction.

“Sir, the other girl, Mara, said she can finish off the rest of the night. It should be okay with just the four of you left. Agreed?”

I nodded.

“Yes. You should already see the payment in your account. I’ll let you know when we need you again.”

She hesitated, looking back at Margaux.

“She’ll be fine. I give you my word. In fact, here.”

I reached into my pocket and grabbed out the cash I carried around for things like this. I peeled a few hundreds off.

“I’ll give you a bonus and her twice as much to show my sincerity.”

Reina was smart enough to see the value in money, and I’d guess she was aware of the problems with her father. Good girl, really. But not the one I gave a shit about.

She took the bills, folded them up, and put them in her bra rather than her bag. Interesting choice.

“I’ll be checking in on her every thirty minutes until you guys call it a night.”

She took two fingers and motioned from her eyes to me.

“I’ll be watching you.”

That was almost funny, but I shrugged.

“She will leave alive and far richer than she walked in.”

What else could I promise? Not much. But the plan never involved her death. Not yet anyway.

“K. She better. Thanks for the tip.”

When I didn’t say anything else, she shuffled away and waved at Margaux one last time. One of the hired guards followed her to the door.

My brothers all looked my way, waiting for the next move.

“One more game, boys?”

I pushed off the wall and headed toward the bar, ready for my next move.

CHAPTER 3

MARGAUX

Iknew that Carrow Thorne was an asshole playboy. The tabloids said as much. Reina would want to hear about this. She was good at knowing everything I didn’t.

The thing about seeing him tonight and knowing he was the prick that demanded drink after drink and was happy to feel up other women even with a date around? If I had needed validation to take control of my future was it. I needed out, like yesterday, and I would have no regrets. Forget that prick.

I clenched my teeth just thinking about that asshole. Irony was having all the money in the world but having no access to it. Hence this job. I was done being controlled.

The guy at my back, the one that handed Reina extra money, what could I get out of him?

Reina wasn’t here to stop me or talk sense into me, and I hoped she enjoyed time with her boyfriend. Her rebellion was dating a man her dad would never approve, but she didn’t seem to give a fuck.

I could be like her. I could be anyone I wanted to be tonight.