Page 41 of Professional Liar
She snorted but didn’t say anything.
“What was that?”
“Anyone with eyes can see he’s the key to anything involving you.”
I stiffened and glared down at the phone. “What does that mean? I don’t get it.”
“You’re in love with him, Big Sister. I’ve seen the way you look at him and the way he touches you. And after your display at the party, the five families saw it too.”
Shit. Shit Shit shit shit shit.
I kept myself from throwing the phone, narrowly. Instead, I grabbed the bedding and ripped it to the floor. I stood up for Pierce, because they were tearing him down, and I couldn’t endure listening to it. Now, after Bianca said that, it hit me. It had been a power play alright. They’d fished to see how much I really cared for him.
The bastards were testing to see if the Irish Mafia Prince had caught himself a shrew.
I threw my phone on the bed and tossed the pillows next. It wasn’t as satisfying as hearing glass shatter on a hard surface.
“Kat?”
I dragged the phone across the bare sheets and put it back to my ear. “I’m here.”
“I didn’t hear anything break from that side. Did you mute me?”
I huffed into the receiver. “No, I threw the pillows.”
She laughed, and I caught the crunch of food and the sound of her chewing. “He really has changed you, hasn’t he? We used to hide the breakables when you were in a bad mood. Now you’ve taken to throwing pillows. Why couldn’t you have started that years ago?”
“Shut up,” I grumbled.
She knew I didn’t mean it. My anger started to fizzle, but in its place sat a realization. I couldn’t continue this with Pierce if I meant him to stay safe. As far as the five families were concerned, they needed to think he was nothing more than a convenience. A pretty package to get what I wanted from the lawyers and nothing else.
“I’m not feeding these monkeys,” Bianca said, breaking up the silence.
“The monkeys will feed themselves. Why don’t you ask their names since they are instructed to take a bullet for you? Might be nice to show them some respect.”
More chewing and silence, then, “Talk to you later, Sis. We can figure this out after work.”
She hung up, and I racked my brain. Did she tell me she started working somewhere? I couldn’t remember her telling me anything, but I’d also been preoccupied with the wedding and everything that happened since I moved into Pierce’s home.
I went to the closet, snagged a black dress with long sleeves and my highest heels. I needed to use the clothes like armor today. Appear every inch an untouchable to both Pierce and his men.
Speak of the devil. He opened the door and poked his head in. “Are you okay?”
I slipped on the dress and zipped up the side as he entered and closed the door behind him.
“You alright?”
“Fine,” I lied. My heart, my chest, my stomach, even my fingertips ached from the knowledge of what I had to do to him. He came around and pressed his lips to back of my head. I stilled and let him, then pulled out of the grip of his hands on my waist. “I have to go see the lawyer today and take care of a few more things,” I told him, not meeting his eyes. Not even looking at him now.
I could hear the puzzlement in his tone as he answered. “Okay, well, take Fox or Gerry.”
I sat and put my shoes on, focusing as intently as I could on the floor and my shoes and anything but him. “Shouldn’t they be here with you.”
“One of them will be, whichever you don’t take with you.”
“Fine,” I said, clipped and cold.
He reached for me, but I sidestepped his hands and headed toward the door and into the main rooms. “Fox, let’s go.”
