Page 76 of Wretched Lies

The hope I’d felt sputters and dies. He’s there. Of course he’s there.

“Blake,” Ilya says softly. “Why don’t you take a long soak in the bath while I talk to your sister? I’ll join you later.”

“OK,” she agrees obediently. “Bye, Jade. I’ll speak to you soon. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I should start by congratulating you on snagging yourself a Griffin,” Ilya says, giving me no time to draw breath. “It must have been thrilling to watch your boyfriend sweeping in on a helicopter to rescue you. His response time was impressive.”

“Is that why you stopped me from leaving? You wanted to see how the Griffins would react?”

“Absolutely,” Ilya says with a mirthless laugh. “It’s always useful to test the resolve of your opponent. They like to protect their women.”

“You could learn something from them.”

“Oh, I know exactly how to treat women,” Ilya says. “And I must be doing something right for Blake to put up with all my proclivities. She knows how to earn her rewards, and minimize her punishments. That being said… There’s only so much a body can endure.” He leaves a pause so I can let that thought sink in, then asks, “Do you want to know what I do to her?”

“No,” I rasp.

“Then perhaps I could tell you what I’d do to her if you disappoint me?”

“Please, don’t do this,” I beg.

“You can save her, Quinn,” he says sweetly. “I’m willing to do a trade. You and Blake can have your house with the white picket-fence. All you have to do is make sure the vacancies you leave are filled.”

My stomach lurches. “What?”

“Two replacements,” he clarifies. “Two very particular women that money alone can’t buy.”

I unfurl the hand I’ve been holding in a tight fist, and there, resting in my palm, is a glass vial. I want to be sick. I know what’s coming.

Chapter 24

Reid

Irearrange the food around my plate, aware that Quinn is doing the same. We’re sitting opposite each other at the dining table in our suite, and my heart twists every time I look up into her hollowed-out eyes. I know why I’m feeling crushed, but I’m not so certain I understand the dramatic change in Quinn’s demeanor.

“You should try to eat.”

“I’ve had enough,” she says, pushing away the food she hasn’t touched, and reaching for her drink.

The wine stains her lips red, adding the only color to her gaunt features. She’d been crying while I was out, but so far, she’s refused to talk about it. I can only assume it has something to do with Strider. She must have called him on her new burner phone.

The report on Quinn’s little shopping trip had come through while I was in the meeting with my brothers. Mace had leapt up from the table like he had proof of a traitor in our camp. I’d enjoyed breaking it to him that she’d already told me why she was going out shopping.

“What did Strider say about you being in Chicago?” I ask her.

“He thinks I would have been better off staying with Barrett.”

I should be offended, but his logic is painfully accurate. Ilya would have no use for Quinn if she only associated with Barrett. That asshole is already as compliant as they come.

“He also wanted to uninstall the spyware you put on my cell phone.”

My silverware drops onto my plate with a clatter. “There isn’t any spyware. I wouldn’t do that. And Jake swept all your belongings and found nothing.” Quinn just stares at me. “Are you saying Strider found something on your phone?”

Her face says it all.

“Fucking Mace,” I curse, realizing what must have happened. “Then I hope Strider did uninstall it.”