The lies we tell

TWENTY-THREE

Fuck.

“Are you sure?” I stared at her, her gaze bouncing around the room, her eyes wide, her chest rising and falling with sharp breaths. “Winter!” I tightened my grip on her chin, sliding my other hand around the back of her neck, and kissed her, hard. She gasped into my mouth, then kissed me back. I pulled away after a few seconds. “Calm now?”

She nodded, looking dazed.

“Good. You sure it was him?”

“I think so. I didn’t get to look properly, but I definitely saw that the whole top bit of his little finger was missing. There can’t be many other people around with missing fingers, can there?”

“Fuck. Okay. I wasn’t expecting this. We need to get photos. West can run them through his facial recognition shit, and maybe we’ll get lucky and find a match.”

A thoughtful expression crossed her face. “Maybe…” she murmured to herself. Her blue eyes met mine. “Do you trust me?”

Do I?

She frowned when I took too long to reply. “Just give me ten minutes. Please. Trust me, Cade.” She widened her eyes, giving me a hopeful look, staring at me from under her dark lashes.

“Okay.” I found myself agreeing before I could think it through.

“Good.” Her soft expression changed in a flash, a hard look coming into her eyes. “Follow my lead, and don’t do anything to fuck it up. I mean it.”

Me, fuck it up? What was she pla

I didn’t have to wonder for long.

She gulped down her coffee, then waved in the direction of Littlefinger, who had returned from the kitchen and was shuffling the pages of a newspaper, clearly bored. Four of the other patrons had left by this point, and apart from us, there was one elderly couple, who looked as if they were on the verge of falling asleep.

I watched as he lumbered to his feet, heading in our direction. Tall, built, pale, shaved head, a thin scar on his right cheek, he looked like a stereotypical goon from a crime movie. He flexed his knuckles as he drew closer, and I noticed the gold rings on his fingers.

“Hello.” My head whipped around at Winter’s sickly sweet tone. What the fuck? While I was watching Littlefinger, she’d taken off the hoodie she’d been wearing, and she was now sitting in a tiny low-cut top that showcased her perfect, perky tits. Worse, she was leaning forwards, giving Littlefinger a clear view down her top, batting her eyelashes and twirling a strand of her dark hair with one finger.

I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth. The fucker was staring at her tits, and from his face, he liked what he saw.

Winter kicked me under the table. Then again. I breathed in and out through my nose, trying to keep my cool as he openly ogled her.

“What can I help you with, my darling?” He had an accent I couldn’t quite place. Possibly Russian.

“Do you have a moment?” Winter indicated the empty chair opposite her. He glanced around him, then shrugged.

“For a pretty girl, anything.” He sank his huge bulk into the chair.

“I was just wondering if you could tell me anything about the history of this place, Mr… Oh. How rude of me! I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Summer.” A tiny, sly smile crossed her lips at this point. “And this is my brother, Barry. And you are…?”

Barry? What the actual fuck? And brother? Yeah, okay, I was technically her stepbrother, but. Yeah, no.

“Petr.” He accepted her outstretched hand, shaking it firmly, ignoring me. “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the history of this place. I just work here.” His face fell.

“That’s a shame.” She leaned forwards even further, pouting her lips, and I wanted to haul her over my shoulder and drag her out of there, and punch Petr’s leering face simultaneously. “Oh!” she suddenly exclaimed, brightening. “That ring on your finger is beautiful. Is it a sovereign ring?”

“Yes.” He beamed, clearly pleased with the attention, as he slid his hand across the table towards her.

“Ooh. It’s beautiful,” she purred, tracing her finger over it and simultaneously kicking my shin again. I could now see his finger clearly, and she was right. He was our man. I picked up my phone, and on the pretence of sending a text, snapped a photo of his hand. How I was going to get one of his face without him noticing, I had no idea.

While I’d been trying to subtly take a photo, Winter’s finger was tracing along Petr’s knuckles. Both mine and his attention were laser focused on her movements, his with pleasure, and mine…all I knew was I wanted to break every fucking knuckle on his hand.

“What did you do here?” she asked softly, indicating the missing fingertip.

I glanced up at his face just in time to see a hard, dangerous glint flash in his eye, his whole body tensing.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” She withdrew her hand from his meekly, staring down at the table.

“It’s okay, my darling. You have no need to apologise. It was a…gardening accident.” He reached out and squeezed her hand, his thumb caressing hers, and she raised her eyes to meet his, brimming with faux sympathy.

I needed to break something. Preferably his face.

“You poor man. I’m so sorry. You know what, though? It makes you memorable.” She actually winked at him. “I’ll certainly remember the handsome man who so kindly took time out of his workday to answer my questions.”

He preened, pleased with her “handsome” compliment, leaning closer to her, and I clenched my jaw harder. “It’s always a pleasure to spend time with a beautiful woman such as yourself.” He studied her more closely. “You look very familiar. Have we met before?”

She gave a light laugh that I could tell was forced, waving a dismissive hand in the air. “I always get people asking that. I’ve been mistaken for a Hollywood actress and a singer before. I guess I just have one of those faces.”

“That must be it.” Thankfully, he didn’t pry any further. If he’d realised she looked like her mother, we would have been in serious trouble. Why hadn’t I thought of that possibility? She could be in real danger. Shit.

“Well, my brother and I must be going now.” She glanced at me, and her eyes widened as she took me in. “Um, thank you so much for your time, Petr. Could I trouble you for a quick selfie with me before I leave? I’d love to post it on my social media and make my friends jealous that I got to spend my Sunday morning with you.” She winked. A-fucking-gain.

“Of course, my darling.” They both stood, and I had to watch as he put his huge beefy arm around her, and she snapped a series of selfies, giggling and pouting while he lapped up all the attention. Then she kissed his cheek, swiped her hoodie from her seat, and strolled off with a wave, her ass swaying in her tight jeans.

I stormed out after her. “What—”

“Don’t. Say. A. Word,” she hissed through clenched teeth, pulling her hoodie on as she walked. “He might be watching.” Then, she added, “Barry,” and I fucking snapped.

“Get in the fucking car, and not another word out of your mouth.” I slammed the car into reverse and peeled out of the car park, spi

A turn-off appeared to the left, and I threw the car into it, skidding around the corner. Winter fell into the door, unprepared.

“What the fuck, Caiden!” she shouted.

“I’m trying not to crash!” I roared at her, and she cowered back in her seat. Good.