Page 20 of Ruin Me With Lies
I let the words hang for a beat.
“It tells them your grip on this city isn’t as strong as they thought.”I pause, then add, “So instead of giving you their loyalty, they gave it to money.”
Lorenzo props his chin on his fist, watching me like I’m some kind of anomaly.
I continue, “You will probably threaten to shoot me again for saying this but…right now, your enemy is not the Russians.They just don’trespectyou yet, that’s all.Youcango after them and make a statement, show you’re not to be fucked with.But in doing so, you’ll tip off thetraitor in your ranks that you’re onto them.Or…you could make a careful plan and go after therealenemy, and bring your city back in line.”
A long, weighted silence follows.
Lorenzo keeps watching me, but says nothing.No more warnings, just letting me tighten the noose around my own neck.
Eventually, Stefano’s voice comes through, low and measured.“And who exactly areyouto ‘advise’ me on how to handle my business?”
“I—”
Lorenzo slaps his calloused palm over my mouth.“She’s right, Stefano.Think about the note from this morning and decide.But whatever you choose, I’m with you.”
Silence stretches, long and heavy.
Then, the line goes dead.
I point to the phone.“What does that mean?”
Lorenzo leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head.“With him?Could mean a lot of things.”He exhales slowly.“But it definitely meansyoubetter not be anywhere near here when he gets back.”
CHAPTER SIX
Raya
I DON’T KNOW WHAT’Sthe outcome with the Russians.
Since that morning with Lorenzo two weeks ago, I’ve been shuffled around like a high-risk prisoner, kept safely out of Stefano’s sight.Apparently, he’spissedabout me, and Lorenzo is hell-bent on making sure we don’t cross paths until things “cool down.”Lest he “shoot me on sight.”
Typical.Stefano Castello is a narcissistic, egotistical miscreant.Of course he’d rather kill me than thank me.What a tantrum-throwing brat.
Lorenzo has officially labeled me his “office assistant.”Whatever that means.Most of my time is split between his office at Black Gold and his game den at the house.He keeps me busy with random tasks.Monitoring surveillance feeds, listening in on bugged conversations, hacking phones and tablets he’s lifted from his own men.Sometimes, he just wants me to teach him tricks to get better at tech.
He’s a dark, brooding, menacing wannabe nerd.Such a strange criminal.
When I’m not with Lorenzo, I’m stuck with Luca.Babysat, escorted, watched.
But today, it seems I’m forgotten about.It’s well past noon, with no emails from Lorenzo and no signs of Luca.
When 5:40 PM rolls around, I seize the opportunity.Throw on my workout gear and cart straight to the gym.
Twenty minutes in, I’m bench-pressing dumbbells in the empty gym when the light above me is blocked out.Two tall, broad-shouldered figures loom over me, one on each side of the bench.
Twoobscenelyhot men.
Stefano Castello.
Gio Bellanti.
They both stare down at me.
Gio, at my breasts.
Stefano, at my face.
