Page 34 of The Obedient Lie

I opened my mouth to fire something back—anything—but a voice cut in before I could.

“Move.”

Griffin turned his head slightly.

I didn’t have to. I already knew who it was. His backhand insults lived rent free in my mind. Not to mention that stare.

Luca.

He looked... calm. Which was worse.

Thatkind of calm — dangerous, slow-burning calm that meant someone was about to bleed.

Obviously he was having a bad day before he walked down this hall.

Griffin scoffed. “Didn’t realize she needed a bodyguard.”

“She doesn’t,” Luca said evenly. “But shedoesneed you to back the fuck up.”

Griffin’s eyes narrowed. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“It does when you corner girls in public and speak like they owe you silence,” Luca replied. His tone didn’t rise. If anything, it dropped lower. Colder. “Especiallythis girl.”

Griffin looked at me, then back at him.

“You’ve had her, haven’t you?” he said, jaw tight. “Or maybe both of you have. Is that what this is?”

“Griffin—” I started, voice cracking.

“That’s what’s got you pissed?” Luca’s laugh broke through everything. Dark. Icy. Almost amused, he stepped forward. “Or is it the fact that every night, she climbs into bed across from me and my brother?”

Luca closed the distance with another step.

“Or maybe it’s the thought of her walking around my cousins—being the only girl in our house.”

Griffin’s face twisted. But he didn’t speak.

Because Luca was too close now.

And everyone knew the Crow boys didn’t bluff. They executed.

“I’d walk away if I were you,” Luca said quietly. Calm as a closed fist.

And for once… Griffin listened.

He backed off, muttering something under his breath, and disappeared down the hall.

It wasn’t until he turned the corner that I realized I hadn’t been breathing right.

Luca looked at me. Justlooked.Some stupid reason that made me nervous.

“You okay?” he asked.

I nodded. Too fast. Too shaky.

“Yeah,” I lied.

He didn’t press. But he didn’t believe me either.