Page 60 of Marked
Lilah shifts across from me, drawing my focus. “You don’t have to do this,” she mutters softly over the classical music playing over the speakers.
I snort. “Did you eat breakfast?”
Her dark head shakes, and her heavy waves scrub over the blouse covering her. The little knot of fabric around her navel is no longer visible. Thank Goddess.
“Lunch?” Another shake. “Hence why we are here,” I say.
She rolls her eyes and tucks her hair behind her ear. “I would’ve eaten. Eventually.”
I watch her look around, taking in the oil paintings and amber light spilling from the chandeliers. It’s not the fanciest joint on the block, but the cook knows me and I always get the best table.
“Before or after you worked for what? Twelve hours?”
She glares as a flush of pink fills the curve of her neck. “Before.”
I smirk. “Sure.”
“Why are you even bothering me right now? Don’t you have bad guys to catch?” she asks, disgruntlement audible in her voice.
I lean my forearms over the table. “I may have had an ulterior motive in asking you to eat.”
Her full lips part. “Okay ...”
“Vic is being detained.”
Her heart slams in my ears. “For how long?”
“Indefinitely, at the moment.
Her eyes dart rapidly over the table and then over me. “So I’m safe?”
“Vlad is still out there.” She winces. “I know. But until he is behind bars too, I need your help.”
I watch as her expression fills with fiery resolve. “How?”
“I need another lead, Lilah. Something. Anything.” So it’s not a complete lie. In reality, I just want her at my side. And far from Larry’s. “Anything you can tell me,” I say, honestly. “We know Vic was working with Vlad. But even with half the properties in your name there is only so far–”
“What?” she asks sharply.
I blink. “What?”
“You just said properties in my name. What properties?”
I start to huff. “Cut the crap, Lilah. I was in Vic’s office. I saw the leases.”
Her face turns ashen. “Show me.”
I look at our empty table and the kitchen door. “But what about–”
She climbs to her feet and stands beside me, hands on her hips and her little jaw tilted in resolution. “Show me, Ruin.” Her eyes glint. “Now.”
***
Lilah pulls the next aged document across the table, her expression carefully empty. “I don’t understand. Why would he do this?” she mutters.
I lean against the desk. “Come on–”
She rounds on me. “If you tell me to stop lying or anything else that even sounds asshole-ish ... I will shoot you with your own gun.”
