Page 28 of Under the Lies

My ears must be full of wax because they’re deceiving me. “What?” I choke out.

“If we’re going to get your sister to come back, we’re going to have to give her a reason. You, Sayer, are that reason. And that means we need to appear together. In public.”

“And why would I help you?”

“I can give you what you want.”

“And what do you think I want?”

“To live without expectations. To be alive.”

I press my lips together, not denying it. He’s right, it’s like he was in my head earlier. He’s not just asking me to help him find my sister. He’s giving me an opportunity to seize. He could help me be alive, take away the sting of being numb.

Still, I can’t give in that easy. I have to make him work for it a little more. “I don’t have time to run around the city with you doing God knows what. In case you didn’t know I’m about to graduate with my master’s.”

“I’ll work with your schedule.” He makes it sound so easy. That I’m not about to sign my life away to him for an unpredictable amount of time.

No matter how tempting Noah’s smoldering eyes are behind those glasses, this is going to end badly.

Either by his hands, my hands, or worse—my sister’s.

I bite my lip and ever the opportunist, Noah jumps on it.

“Think about this, Sayer. Of all the times your sister made your life miserable.”

I do and it’s not a pleasant trip down memory lane.

She might not be the best sister, but we were always taught by our grandfather that family matters.

Conflicting emotions grip me as Noah waits for my answer.

I shouldn’t want what he’s offered, but I do. With an unsteady breath, I nod. “I’ll help you. On two conditions.”

He snorts. “What makes you think you’re in any position to negotiate?”

“Because I’m the only shot to finding my sister, right?”

He doesn’t say anything but the tick in his jaw speaks volumes.

I’m right.

“This is only going to work if I’m cooperative. Which is only going to happen one way.”

“Well, please. Don’t hold me in suspense any longer.” Sarcasm. “Tell me what these conditions are.”

Ass. “I want your word that you’ll protect me from her when she comes back to town.” Because if I do this and it works, my sister won’t be coming for Noah. She’ll be gunning for me.

I need an insurance policy.

“Fine.” He gives a clipped nod. “What else?”

“You don’t hurt her.”

He sits up. “You don’t get to make that call.”

“I do when I’m the bait you’re using.” I grab my notebook and rip out a piece of paper. “You’re not going to hurt my sister. You’re going to get what she took from you and that’s it. No vendettas, no torturing. If she wants to walk after, then she does.”

I’m not going to willingly throw my sister to the wolves. Not when I love her in that ingrained family way even if I don’t like her.

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