Page 1 of Twisted Lies 3
CHAPTER 1
Core
My long strides covered the short distance from the curb to the entrance. Reaching for the door, I swung it open and entered the expansive lobby of my pet project, the McKay Club. Employees scampered about, efficiently cleaning and scrutinizing every aspect of the interior in preparation for tomorrow night’s opening.
“Hello, Mr. McKay,” they greeted in unison before resuming their tasks.
The rich and famous were notoriously hard to please, and I made sure the McKay Club over-delivered with a one-of-a-kind kinky spectacle. It was what kept the voracious patrons coming back for more. From upper crust to celebrities, all would clamor to get on the waiting list just to party on the rooftop terrace of the club. But the real lure of the McKay Club was the Noire lounge—a private, members-only playground where the well-heeled indulged in discreet sexual fantasies.
After walking across the lobby, I pulled back the expensive fabric draped over Noire’s entrance, stepping over the threshold. Advancing down the mirror-ceilinged staircase leading to the lounge, I smiled just thinking about how close I was to finally destroying Bigsby Calhoune by stripping away everything he held dear—his wealth, freedom, political career, and trophy fiancée, Cate.
But why is the taste of revenge suddenly so bittersweet on my tongue?
The vision of Sinthia’s eyes dilated with lust flashed in my mind. Basic, raw hunger surged through me, beating at my self-control. Sin was everything I wanted in a woman—strong and feisty. The idea of fighting to have Sin submit to me had my cock throbbing and my balls aching.
Damn.My fixation on her was annoying, cloying, and a complication I didn’t need. Sin was bait, a casualty in my war against Bigsby.
But I knew I was fucked the moment she swayed onto the rooftop. I’d seen the fire and determination in her eyes, and my cock had gotten hard.
Damn, I loved it.
Her body had moved like a panther—sexy, driven, and confident. She was tall and voluptuous with curves that cried out to be caressed. In a matter of minutes, she’d shattered my control. It had taken every bit of self-restraint not to pull up her dress and fuck the shit out of her.
Shit. How the hell did I let it go so far?
The smoldering lust between us was already out of control. I wanted her in my bed so I could fuck her in every dirty position possible.
My cell rang, interrupting my dark thoughts. I didn’t recognize the number.
“Yes?” I answered gruffly.
“Core, it’s Tabitha.”
What the fuck?I stopped mid-stride. “How did you get my private number?” I snapped. “You know what? I don’t give a shit. Lose it.”I was seconds away from disconnecting.
“Wait! Don’t hang up. I need more money,” she shouted urgently.
“Hell no,” I barked.
“You don’t get to say no.”
The muscles in my shoulders bunched. “Are you threatening me?”
I didn’t respond well to threats, especially from a money-hungry whore like Tabitha Thorp, who had served her purpose when I recruited her to help me get close to Sin. Tabitha had convinced Sin of the value of getting an investor—specifically, me—to help her expand her business. In exchange, I’d agreed to pay off Tabitha’s debt to Ben Vargos, her unsavory criminal ex-boyfriend, and send her on a very long vacation.
“It’s not a threat. Just a statement. You owe me,” she snapped.
My lips flattened. “I don’t owe you shit. I paid you five figures in cash to make the Sin deal happen.”
“It wasn’t enough!” she exclaimed in a rushed tone. “I ran into a few bumps, and now I’m broke. You’re the only person I can turn to right now.”
“Go fuck yourself, Tabitha. Our business was done the moment you took my money.”
I knew Tabitha from the old neighborhood. When we were young, we hung out in the same criminal circles. The only difference was, back then, the now-famous Tabitha had worked as a drug mule for her seedy kingpin boyfriend, Ben. I’d even fucked her several times behind Ben’s back.
“One call to Sin and . . .” Tabitha trailed off deliberately.
I replied with deadly intent. “If you even think about—”
