Page 19 of Conflicted Lies

“You do realize my car is full of illegal guns right now,” he comments. “But you’re in charge, little red.” He places the gun back in the trunk and then slams the lid down. He’s most likely got another two guns on his person, which is why he seems so calm, leaning against the car with his legs crossed at the ankles as Braxton pulls over and steps out of the sedan.

“Stalking is a crime, isn’t it?” I say to Braxton, who simply smirks as he approaches. This asshole actually thinks he’s God’s gift. It’s insufferable, and I’d be tempted to grab a gun and shoot him right now if I didn’t already know how fucking bad my aim is.

Braxton and Hawke size one another up, both sporting cocky expressions, as if this is the most normal interaction in the world. But they’re both beasts parading around as men. Fuck, this is bad. If Hawke reacts, he will end up murdering Braxton, and that thought infuriates me becauseIwant to kill the asshole.

“Thought I’d take in the scenery,” Braxton says with a smile.

Hawke looks around the barren land, then says, “I think it’ll look better with a touch of red.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Braxton says.

I huff at the amount of testosterone filling the air.

“Are you following me?” I demand of Braxton as I stand in front of Hawke, making a clear message that neither of them is to start shooting or exchanging blows. The last thing I want is to give Braxton more of a reason to trail me.

“Yes,” he says matter-of-factly. Of course, he is. I can’t see his crystal-blue eyes behind the black sunglasses, but I know when he’s staring at me intently. “I’m making sure I don’t get any more unexpected items delivered to my home. This seemed like the most practical approach.”

“Does someone want to explain to me what the fuck is happening?” Hawke snaps. “I don’t know how to tell you this, buttercup, but Hope is a very dear cousin of mine. Our family is extremely protective. We wouldn’t want you to suddenly disappear because of a misunderstanding, would we?”

“No misunderstanding here,” Braxton says with a lethal smile, and I know he’s purposely antagonizing Hawke. He’s so fucking good at pushing my buttons, and Hawke is someone who can go from zero to one hundred flat. I put my hand against his chest as he changes his stance.

“What’s in the car?” Braxton asks, nodding to it.

“Do you have a search warrant?” Hawke bites back. When Braxton doesn’t answer, Hawke smiles, shakes his head, and gets in the car. “Little red, get in.”

“Little red?” Braxton asks curiously, and I can feel his intimate gaze tracing over me again. I ignore him and get in the car. It’s nice to see that Hawke sometimes has a brain or cares to listen. Though I’m sure, this has more to do with not wanting to show me what he really is beneath the mask.

Hawke doesn’t waste any time as he revs the engine and slowly backs up. A little tingle of curiosity makes me question what Braxton might look like if he got hit by the car and died. I haven’t seen that type of death yet.

I push the morbid inspiration down.

When Hawke drives past Braxton, he says out the window, “I wouldn’t show your face near her again.”

Braxton raises a brow, his deadly energy radiating off him. “I’m certain she’s as curious about me as I am her,” he says to Hawke, then he focuses his gaze on me. “I’ll be seeing you real soon, Shortcake.”

I flip him off and watch his reaction in the rearview mirror.

Hawke’s jaw is grinding as he growls, “That’s the detective, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” I reply, still eyeing Braxton as he slides back into his car.

“Oh damn. You got yourself into some hot shit, little red.” He laughs.

I’m actually shocked at his reaction, but a small part of me feels almost gleeful. Like I’ve been accepted into some secretive little murderous group. Instead of him telling me to run to my father or ask for help, he’s accepting my terms to deal with it myself. And I’m grateful for it.

“It’s going to be fun watching you get out of this,” he says, checking the rearview mirror as he skids out onto the main road. “Though I really did want to hit him with my car.”

I try to hide the humor I find in the fact that we both had the same thought. Maybe I’m not so different from the killers in my family. And it’s a thrilling notion, not that I would ever admit it out loud.

“Just take me home,” I tell him.

CHAPTER11

Braxton

Iwatch as the car drives off. There’s no point in hiding the fact that I was tracking her. After all, she basically handed me the information about her wanting to learn to shoot as if I wouldn’t be curious about it. Because why would someone who pretends to be so pure and innocent need to use a gun? I know she provoked me on purpose, trying to be lethal in her own way, but it only inflames my curiosity.

I wonder how deep a blood bond goes. I want to know how deadly the daughter of a killer might be. I can feel the gentle caress of her inner darkness every time I look into her blue eyes, and it calls to me like sin and destruction. I’m a fool for being charmed and drawn to her temptation, but what makes it so deliciously sweet is I don’t even think she knows she’s doing it.

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