Page 63 of Poisoned Promise
No matter what I say, he isn’t going to believe me.
Years ago, I told myself Alex would never learn the truth about my past or my family, and he would have a good, quiet life.
But that suspicious, rebellious streak in him is breaking through my lies and it breaks my heart to see him in such distress.
“Alex—.”
“If you’re going to lie to me again,” he snarls in a way that’s so reminiscent of Felix that my stomach knots. “Just don’t even speak.”
“I’m your mother. You’re my baby. It’s my job to protect you.”
“Because you and your lies have done such a great job so far.”
My lips part but hesitation wraps around my throat, blocking anything else I want to say.
He’s right.
In the end, my lies haven’t helped him and I’m out of reasons as to why we can’t leave here.
Casting an eye at the shattered plate, ruined eggs and burnt bacon, I sigh deeply.
“Do you remember why I taught you to drive?”
“Emergencies,” he mutters.
“And those places I took you to when you were younger, where we’d play hide and seek?”
“More emergencies,” he mutters, crossing his arm over his cast.
“Yeah… well… Alex, I don’t know how to say this. It sounds… ridiculous to say it out loud, but the reason I taught you those things and showed you those places is because I… I wasn’t entirely truthful about my family. And where I came from.”
He doesn’t reply; he just continues to glare at me.
“When I grew up, my family was… Mafia. Alex, I was in organized crime before you were born and the people you stole that car from?”
His eyes widen.
My heart bursts to life at a rabbit’s pace. “They’re from that life I left behind. And they’re really fucking pissed.”
18
FELIX
“Where the hell have you been?” Reese perches on a stool in a dark corner of the bar, his fingertips resting on the rim of his glass as he tips it back and forth.
“Hello to you too,” I reply, grumbling slightly as I shrug off my coat. “Care to be more specific?”
“I’ve been trying to call you and Toph all day, and you didn’t pick up my calls.” His eyes narrow slightly, and he watches me, similar to how a gazelle eyes a lion from across the field. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Setting my coat on the bar, I slide into the stool next to him and raise my hand to catch the attention of the bartender. As soon as our eyes meet, she darts over and tosses her towel over her shoulder, then places both hands on the bar and grins at me.
“Evening! What can I get you? If you’re interested in craft, then we’ve got a couple of new ones in. Ever heard of Fynn’s? Really decent stuff if you like that malty flavor. Or perhaps something stronger?” She tucks a dark curl behind her ear and tilts her head, watching me with slightly narrowed eyes.
“Just a Scotch on the rocks please.” I barely spare her a glance after that but that doesn’t stop her from angling her body toward me and running her fingers over my hand lying on the bar.
“Coming right up darlin’!” Then she dances away.
Reese bites back a snort. “Does your woman know you still get flirted with like this?”
