Page 21 of Bitter Lies

We don’t wait.

I clear a path as we make our way toward the club’s back hallways beyond the wall. He’s keying in the code when footsteps approach us from behind.

Spinning, I hold up my hand to stop the men chasing us. “You heard Mr. Doyle. There’s nothing more to discuss. I suggest you leave before⁠—”

A fist flies, aimed at my face. I’m faster. Move out of the way before it lands. Then, return the favor with a solid punch. It lands squarely on his nose, shattering it on impact and knocking the bastard out.

With him on the ground, I brandish my firearm, intending to carry out my earlier threat.

“Enough.” Silas rests his hand on my arm to stop me.

I knew he would. Murder inside his club is bad for business.

Not that this dipshit doesn’t deserve a bullet… but today isn’t his day.

“I’ll swing by your store tomorrow. I want a better look at the diamond to determine its value. Make sure it’s real.”

When Mr. Theiss opens his mouth to protest, Silas holds up his hand. “We’re done for now. Go home. Think long and hard about why you need to unload those antiques. Is it worth passing up my offer? Tomorrow. Ten o’clock.”

Mr. Theiss isn’t the smartest man, and proves that when he asks, “In the morning?”

“I don’t do business in the light of day.” Silas gestures to the man bleeding all over his floor. “You’ll be getting a bill for that mess. Now get the fuck out of my club before Aiden’s trigger finger grows twitchy again. Take that useless cunt with you.”

Pushing open the private door, we step into a secure hallway. It shuts behind us with a heavy thud, muting the bass-heavy music and noise of the club to a low murmur.

As we’re walking toward his office, Silas’s phone rings, making him groan. “Never get married, Aiden. Women are a pain in the arse and have the worst timing.”

With a nonchalant flick of his wrist, he gives me permission to leave as he keeps moving forward.

My business here is finished. Time to slip out the back and head home.

A smart man would, but clearly, I’m not a smart man.

Chapter 10

Isabel

A fun night out with my friends, that’s what this is. A chance to get out, throw caution to the wind, enjoy a fling, and scratch an itch my vibrator can’t satisfy.

Except it’s not. Not after Aiden dropped by my table and threw me off my game.

But the bass is too loud, the lights too bright, and none of it’s doing a damn thing to get me out of my head.

Nothing can distract me. He’s invaded my headspace again, dragging me back to this afternoon when everything inside me short-circuited at the sight of him standing in my grandparents’ foyer.

I should’ve felt nothing. Should have looked at him and seen exactly what he is. The man who walked away. An arsehole. Dangerous.

One look. That’s all it took to send me back to that damn night when he awakened this need I can’t shake.

Everything inside me lit up. Heat spread through my veins, tension pulling tight between us. A curiosity bloomed, one I shouldn’t feel, knowing he has ties to a world I can’t be a part of.

But damn the man. He does that to me. Lures me in, and I let him. It’s a force I can’t resist.

And now he’s here. With Silas Doyle, the Irish mobster.

I recognized him. He’s Silas Doyle, after all. Most people would know him, if they saw him.

When he strolled up to our table, I’d been leery of his brazenness in assuming a table of young women would be interested. Found it creepy. Wanted him to leave.