Page 40 of The Lies We Tell

When he finally looked at her with swollen, red-rimmed eyes, water dripping off his jaw and soaking the front of his shirt, the knife was clutched tight in her fist. His eyes trailed from the blade to her face, and he paused for a fraction of a moment before throwing his head back with a laugh.

“What are you going to do? Stab me? You don’t have the balls.”

He advanced on her then, reaching for the knife, but she twisted her body to the side, and when he got close enough, she rammed the blade between his ribs with a sickening squelch. Pulling it free when he staggered back, she lunged forward and stabbed him again, burying it to the hilt and twisting until his mouth distorted into a silent, anguished scream and blood trickled down his chin.

Breaths coming in sharp, terrified pants, she darted out of reach when he fell to his knees. His mouth moved, but no sound came out, and blood bubbled out of the wound in his chest like macabre soap suds, making her wonder if she’d pierced his lung.

He grabbed for her again, but she was too far, and the move threw him off balance until he teetered forward and collapsed face-first on the floor. He didn’t move, his body still blocking the door, and she stared down at the bloody knife in her hand with disbelief. What the fuck was she supposed to do now?

A knock on the door made her yelp, spinning toward the sound.

“Tessa? What’s wrong?”

Carina’s worried voice only made her heart beat faster. How was she going to explain what happened? And what would her father do to her mother when he found out?

“Tessa. Open the door.”

Stepping around the body as best she could, intent on not disturbing the growing pool of blood underneath him, Tessa opened the door enough to stick her head out. Carina’s face, pinched with worry, nearly made her sob with relief. But she had to keep it together. She had no idea how much trouble she was about to be in.

“Something happened.”

Scanning the hallway to make sure no one else was walking by, Tessa opened the door a little wider, revealing the dead man on the dirty yellow tile behind her.

To Carina’s credit, she didn’t react, her face remaining completely impassive when she pushed into the bathroom and closed the door, locking it behind her. Tessa watched as she dug her phone out of her pocket and dialed.

“Alexei. I need you to meet me at the address I’m about to send you. I need help cleaning up a body.” She paused. “Bring them with you.”

With no further explanation, she hung up and stuffed her phone back in her pocket, eyes scanning the scene.

“Didn’t he want to know why you needed help cleaning up a body?”

“All Alexei ever needs to know is I need him.”

“And he’ll drop whatever he’s doing to come help you?”

Carina looked at Tessa like the question was absurd. “Of course he will. Now, put that knife in the sink, wash your hands, and try to take deep breaths. He’s about thirty minutes out, and there’s nothing to do but wait.”

Once Carina made sure Tessa could leave the bathroom without breaking down, she sent Tessa out to tell Sienna what happened and wait for Alexei. The man cut thirty minutes into twenty, breezing through the door of the restaurant and stalking toward them. He was tall and intimidating, with bright green eyes, dark blond hair, and a jagged scar running down the side of his face.

“Where is she?”

“In the bathroom,” Sienna supplied, trailing a comforting hand up and down Tessa’s arm when she could only point.

“Stay here. Luca and Matteo are right behind me.”

Alexei gestured to another man standing by the door, and they made their way down the short hall toward the mess she’d made. Wrapping her arms tight around herself as an SUV squealed into the parking lot and Matteo and Luca jumped out, Tessa braced herself for Matteo’s temper.

What she didn’t expect was the way he wrapped her up tight in his arms and kissed her forehead. His hands roamed from her shoulders to her wrists and up her back as if he was assuring himself she was safe and whole.

“People are starting to stare,” Sienna said softly.

Matteo pivoted to stand next to her, dropping some bills on the table before wrapping his arm around her waist and leading her from the restaurant. Luca and Sienna were right behind them, and it didn’t take long before a black SUV pulled around the side of the building and onto the road, Carina and Alexei joining them moments later.

“What the fuck happened?” Luca demanded, tugging Sienna in tight against his side.

Tessa’s throat constricted even as Matteo ran a soothing hand up and down her back. She was too shaken up to tell them anything but the truth. Or some version of it, anyway.

“He works for my father. Worked,” she added, squeezing her eyes shut.

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