Page 187 of Sinful Lies

“Why?”

The word was simple.

Why?

Why did I betray him?

Why did I spend six years pretending we were something we never were?

Why did I let myself fall so deeply in love with him?

I didn’t have an answer. Not a real one. Not anymore.

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat. “You should hurry. The feds are already looking for you. They’ll be here soon enough.”

His jaw clenched, and if looks could kill, I’d be dead ten times over.

“I don’t give a damn about the feds.” His voice dropped, the coldness sharper. “Why are you running? Why would you fuck me and then sell me out to them?”

A sick laugh bubbled up, but I swallowed it back. “Pick your poison. Murderer, cheater, liar, home-wrecker… Take your pick.”

His gaze sharpened, and there it was again.Thatlook—the one that told me I was pushing him too far, and he hated it, but couldn’t seem to stop coming closer.

He didn’t get it. He couldn’t.

Not unless I told him everything. And I couldn’t do that. Not now.

“Answer me,” he ordered.

I almost choked on the air I was breathing, heart racing.

He took another step toward me.

Without thinking, I raised the gun, pointing it directly at his chest. “Don’t. Move.”

But of course, he didn’t listen.

He ignored me, his eyes blazing with so much anger, but there was that crack—tiny, barely visible—betrayal. Hurt.

I saw it, and it made everything worse.

Another step.

“Angelo, stop!”

He stepped closer.

And for a brief moment, everything inside me froze.

I hesitated—just for a split second—and he took another step.

“This time, I’ll aim lower, Lazzio.”

He stopped, a dark amusement flickering across his face before he wiped the ghost of a smile off his lips with the back of his hand.

“You said you were from Philadelphia.”

“I lied.”

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