Page 40 of Bitter Lies

“He shouldn’t be driving.” I watch in horror as the engine roars to life, and he speeds away. “He’s going to kill someone.”

The shrieking of tires fills the air as he turns left, barely missing a car crossing the intersection.

“I wonder what the jeweler is doing here so late,” Grams mentions offhandedly.

“Wait?” I turn to her, a question in my eyes. “You know him?”

“He’s one of Rico’s associates. They love draining your grandfather’s favorite bourbon while talking business. Smells like they chugged a barrel of it.” Again, she shares this like it’s an everyday occurrence and no big deal. “I’m tired, dear. Let’s get moving before I fall asleep standing up.”

Marty rushes past us to open the door. “I’ll look into it.”

“I appreciate that,” I say as we pass him and head for the lift. “No need to come up. We have it from here. Thank you for accompanying us tonight.”

“You sure?” He presses the call button. “I should at least make sure you get inside the penthouse safely.”

“I’m sure.” The lift doors slide open, and I guide my grandmother inside. “There’s no reason to do that. This building is safe.”

With hands folded before him, he nods. “Goodnight, then.”

The doors close and my grandmother sighs. “In my younger days, I’d have loved to take a ride on that man.”

I can’t help but giggle. “Grams, you’re a married woman.”

“Married but not dead. Not yet, at least.” With a long, sleepy yawn, she pats my arm, her touch light and comforting. “Tell me about this young man who’s caught your eye.”

On cue, my phone vibrates in my purse. I pull it out, notice a message from him, and shove it back away. “It’s nothing. He’s the cousin of one of the surgical consultants; that’s it.”

The lift stops and the doors open. “That’s a shame. He was very delicious. I was hoping he’d drag you into a corner and ravish you properly.”

A blush creeps up my cheeks as a surge of heat takes over my entire body. “You’re a bad influence on me, Grams.”

“You’re a vibrant young woman, Isabel. There’s no harm in a woman letting a capable man ravish her. You should take advantage of your youth and enjoy it while you can.” As soon as I have the penthouse door open, we step inside. “Now don’t ignore the message he’s sent. Men like him don’t like it when we make them wait.”

She strolls down the hall, heading for her bedroom. I should ask her how she knows this about him, but I’m not sure I want to hear her response.

My grandmother, while sophisticated, has always been more worldly than most would assume. Before she met my grandfather, she was quite the little hussy. Her words, not mine.

The penthouse is dark. When I glance down the hallway toward my grandfather’s office, the only light spills from beneath the door. He’s probably working late. He typically does.

I have to wonder if he’s as drunk as the man who nearly ran us over on our way in. I’ve never seen my grandfather drunk. Or maybe it’s that I’ve never seen him sober. He always seems to have a drink in his hand or sitting on his desk.

I consider checking on him, but another notification interrupts my thoughts, and I decide to deal with Aiden before anything else. Removing it from my purse, I read the texts he’s sent me as I make my way to my bedroom.

AIDEN:

My fingers still smell like you.

Can you still feel how well my fingers stretched your tight cunt?

My legs give way, and with a thud, my backside lands on the edge of the bed.

Who says that? Him, apparently. And I’m unsure how to respond.

Yes, and thinking about it is making me wet all over again.

But I would never say that. That would reveal too much, and I meant what I said.

I’m done.