Page 27 of Under the Lies

That does nothing to soothe my worry. “Not exactly a ringing endorsement to get me to open it.”

“Just do it.”

I don’t. I flick it back to him. “Go home, Noah. Go anywhere that isn’t here and just leave me alone, please.”

“Can’t.” He leans back in the chair, hands fanned behind his head. “I need you.”

My thighs clench at his words, not understanding he doesn’t mean them in the way my libido wants. He needs me for information. Nothing more.

“You’re turning me into a broken record left on repeat. I don’t understand why you aren’t listening to me.”

A dark look crosses his face. “Forgive me for having a hard time trusting the Brooks family.”

His words are a reminder of the past. A past I’ve long since separated from. “You know I had nothing to do with that.”

He shrugs. “Maybe, but I don’t trust anyone in your family.”

“It was my dad’s doing. I was still in high school!”

Slowly, like an idle cat, he unwinds from his relaxed position to lean across the table. “Doesn’t matter. You knew something then just like you know something now.”

“Just because my father kept you from buying a piece of property on the outskirts of town years ago doesn’t mean I knew about it. Or that I know anything now.”

A flicker of emotion dances across Noah’s face. Surprise. He looks perplexed. An emotion I’m sure that rarely finds a home on his striking features.

For a man who is always prepared, he seems at a loss of words right now. “That’s what they told you?”

“That’s what happened.” Now it’s my turn to be confused. “You guys were in court for months.”

Noah shakes his head with a curse under his breath. He looks back at me and gives a sharp nod. And without any hint of emotion. Back to the cool and indifferent steel of a man.

“I have a proposition for you.”

Curiosity has always been my downfall and I feel myself slipping now. “What exactly are you offering?”

“Help me drag out your sister.”

“Why?”

He stares at me like I’m an idiot. “I already told you, Sayer. And I really hate repeating myself, but for your small addled brain” —I glare at his insult— “allow me to remind you, she stole some very important documents from me that I need to get back. Quickly.”

“And how am I supposed to help?”

“What has always been Harlow’s downfall?”

“Uh.” It takes me a minute. She has a few. “Spite and jealousy?” I guess.

He jerks his chin, nodding. “I need to drag her out. And you’re the key to do that.”

Key. An interesting word when he’s really asking me to be his pawn.

“How?” I question cautiously. “How am I going to help you find my sister?” I know what this means, if I agree to help him I’m basically signing my sister’s death warrant.

“With what you said. Spite and jealousy, BB,” he said simply. Plainly. “We’re going to drive her crazy with thinking you’ve replaced her.”

“What do you mean replace her?”

“I’m in need of some new arm candy.”

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