Page 74 of Bitter Lies

The vehicle slows as we pull up to the curb in front of the hospital. “Then the job’s yours. I trust you. Thank you.”

Before opening the door, Aiden leans in and kisses me. Once we’re on the sidewalk, he slides an arm through mine. “I have my reasons, of course, for wanting to do this.”

“You do? What are they?” I think he’s teasing and close to saying something about me rewarding him for it.

He takes hold of the handle, pushes the hospital door open, and keeps it ajar until I’m in the lobby. “To uncover the truth. You asked me to find who’s responsible. Once the police and fire departments release it back to Alma, I’ll need access to your grandfather’s office and the penthouse.”

I’m not sure what to say. We’re at the lift, so I press the up call button while I try to figure it out.

Once we step inside, he pushes the four to take us to the geriatric wing where my grandmother’s been admitted. No one else is on the lift, and I’m grateful for that when he does the unexpected and slides his hand under the waistband of my slacks.

“What the hell are you doing?” I reach behind me to stop him.

He doesn’t let me. He keeps going until he locates the string from the thong I slipped on earlier.

“I was about to press the emergency stop and yank these down, but then I found this useless string. I’m putting this on pause for now, but once you’re back in London, I expect you to let me fuck you wearing these.” Tugging on the thong,” he grumbles, “How the hell is that comfortable?”

The lift stops, and as we wait for the doors to open, I tell him what Violet, my brother Lorenzo’s wife, once told me. “Women don’t wear them for comfort. We wear them to drive men crazy and teach them patience.”

He reaches for me, but I’m faster, slipping between the doors as they open. Behind me, I hear him griping about hard-ons and punishments I’ve got coming for being such a tease as he steps off and follows me to the desk. While I’m signing in, he presses his front to my back to let me know just how turned on he is.

“Are you family, sir?” The desk clerk asks as he checks my ID.

“He’s—”

“Her husband,” Aiden leans over me and takes the pen from my hand. “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

He taps it on the sheet, drawing my eyes to the boldly printed words.

Only family members are allowed behind the secured doors.

“Yes. This is my husband.”

The words should sound absurd and put a bitter taste in my mouth from the lie. But that’s not what happens. Instead, my body warms and a shiver of excitement builds inside of me, making my stomach do a few flips.

“Do you like that idea?” Aiden whispers in my ear as if he can tell I do.

“Maybe.” I tilt my head slightly to look up at him.

He slaps my arse just hard enough to make me jump before stepping back and reaching into his wallet for his ID. “Maybe I do, too.”

Chapter 28

Aiden

As we enter Alma’s room, the steady beep of a monitor echoes off the walls. A nurse is checking her vitals while she sleeps. Most people aren’t able to sleep while someone pokes around on them. That means things haven’t gotten much better.

When the door clicks shut behind us, the nurse glances up. “I’ll only be a few more minutes. Are you Sofia?”

A shadow falls across Isabel’s face, her smile melting into a frown as she sighs. “I’m Isabel, her granddaughter. Sofia was my mother.”

Understanding washes over the nurse’s face. “It’s not uncommon for our patients to mix names after a traumatic event. I’m assuming your mother’s no longer with us? You used the word was?”

“It’s been several years. How is she?” Isabel walks over to her grandmother’s side, gently taking her frail hand in hers. “She never sleeps this hard.”

“It’s the sedative we gave her after lunch. Dr. Patel wanted her resting.” She glances up at the clock on the wall. “She’ll probably sleep for a few more hours. I’ll let the doctor know you’re here. She’s doing rounds and prefers speaking with family in cases like this.”

Dropping heavily into the seat, Alma’s hand still firmly in her grasp, Izzy lets out a long, shaky breath. “Thank you. That would be great. I have to leave in a few hours. Unfortunately, I’m on at JR tonight and it could be a few days before I make it back.”