Page 12 of Twisted Lies 3
I let out a sigh of despair. “There’s no damn happily ever after when it comes to men and relationships. That’s a fairy tale. Reality is way bleaker and darker.” I nudged her playfully. “Now, enough of this serious stuff. Tonight is about having fun and celebrating. I think a call to Kirby is in order, because we’re about to get fucked up tonight.”
Jade swiped her finger across her cell, tapped out a text, and shoved it into her bag. “Done. Our chariot will be waiting outside when we roll out, all liquored up.” She winked at the bartender, her index finger gesturing for him to bring his fine ass over. “Keep them coming, baby, because we can go all night.”
With an open gaze, he met Jade’s eyes directly. “So can I,” he responded.
“Really?” Jade asked, licking her lips.
“Yep.” He winked at her before roaming away.
“Holy shit.” Jade fanned herself. “I think there’s movement in my vajayjay, an honest-to-goodness tingly sensation.”
I sputtered, “Are you sure that’s not the aftereffect from the Brazilian wax job you got today?”
Jade slapped my arm.
I laughed. “Please don’t fuck him. I actually love this place and his drinks. If you have sex with him, he’ll get all mad and pouty when he realizes it’s a one-time bang extravaganza.”
Jade shooed me. “He’s a big boy.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Hopefully, a very big boy.”
I shook my head with fake dismay. “And this conversation is officially over.”
CHAPTER 4
Core
Bigsby sauntered across my expansive VIP lounge with a determined swagger. His confidence quickly dissipated as I deliberately said nothing, letting the cooling sound of silence speak volumes.
He stood before my desk and nodded at Ram, my business partner, then at Rocco, my enforcer who handled all my dirty work along with his brother, Max. Both were my family, closer than flesh and blood. I’d take a bullet for any one of them, and I knew they’d do the same for me.
Standing to my left, Rocco crossed his arms and widened his stance. And to my right, Ram stared at Bigsby with a pinched face until Bigsby broke eye contact first by glancing away.
Bigsby cleared his throat before offering his hand to me. “Hello, McKay.”
I ignored his outstretched hand as my expression darkened at the unmistakable glint of diamonds and rubies on Bigsby’s middle finger. It was like a bullet through the heart. This man standing before me was a cold-blooded killer . . . who had murdered my mother. Rage surged through my body like a dark, violent thunderstorm, and all the bitter memories came flooding back.
My heart leaped out of my chest when my mother screamed, “Leave my son alone, you fucking asshole. This is between you and me, you damn coward.”
The man pulled a .357 Magnum from his beltline. “Shut the fuck up, whore. You brought this on yourself. I warned you to keep your damn mouth shut!” he yelled while grabbing her by the hair with one hand.
Turning her face away from him, the man placed the gun to her head. It seemed like an eternity to me as I memorized the gold ruby-and-diamond-encrusted horseshoe ring on his middle finger.
“McKay?” Bigsby’s voice pierced through the recollection of my mother’s death.
My lips flattened.
Bigsby’s smug-cat smile slipped before he dropped his hand.
Tilting my head, I still had my gaze fixed on his ring. “As I mentioned at your political fundraising event a couple weeks ago, I still cannot get over how unique that ring is. Where did you get it?”
Bigsby smiled cockily, letting himself settle into the chair directly in front of my desk with exaggerated casualness. “I had it made in the eighties. There’s only one of its kind.”
My face was a cold mask, hiding my bitter hatred. “Interesting.”
I studied him for a few minutes. Bigsby shifted nervously, his hands clamped over the armrests of the chair.
Bigsby’s smile seemed forced. “Thank you for accepting my request to meet, McKay.”
“How can I help you, Calhoune?”
