Vengeful Lies

I’m an idiot. I don’t know why, for even one second, I considered crossing paths with Eli Monti. When I had to meet with one of my client’s men tonight in a sketchy alleyway, I was prepared for the worst. I’d agonized all day as to what I should provide in the way of intel. I needed to give them enough information that I appeared to still be in the game but not enough to jeopardize the current balancing act I was doing.

I wanted my guns first and foremost. I didn’t give a shit about my reputation compared to that. But even that’s a lie; I fucking love my job and don’t want it threatened because of this asshole. My saving grace is that I’ve saved a lifetime’s worth of money. If I truly wanted to, I could retire.

I angrily scoop into my caramel swirl ice cream as I sit in my bed, fucking fuming.

It might be easy for Eli to lie to his family about us, but it’s not my thing. I don’t get close to people. The reality of our wedding now happening within the month has me freaking out. I know it’s not real. I know not to take it personally and that it’s a business transaction at best. But I still have no idea how I’m going to pull this off. I scoop another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth and internally curse as a brain freeze takes over.noveldrama

Stop being stupid, Jewel. Really think about this.

I purposefully removed my engagement ring tonight before meeting with my client’s man. I don’t know how closely they’re following me, but I didn’t want them discovering my engagement to the man they hired me to kill. For all I know, they might already know, and perhaps that’s why they’re asking for intel.

I couldn’t see the man’s face because he was wearing a mask. I tap the back of the spoon against my lip, thinking. If I can figure out who that man is, maybe it will give me a lead about the identity of the person who wanted Eli targeted in the first place.

Not that I care if they’re targeting the Monti family. Okay, maybe I like Eli’s mom a little, but her son most definitely should have a hit on him just for being the biggest asshole in the history of the world. But I need to understand who I’m working for now that I’m caught in the crossfire.

I grab my phone and call Rory. They answer on the second ring.

“I bought a yacht with the money you’ve been sending me lately,” they say instead of a greeting. I smile.

“Maybe you should offer me to join you sometime,” I reply, making them snort. Then, I get down to the reason for my call. “Can you look into any gangs or organizations known for wearing masks?”

“Any particular type of mask?” they ask.

“No, just a plain black mask.”

“On it.” Rory hangs up, and I’m hit with an intense abdominal cramp.

Wait a second…

I go to the bathroom and realize my period has started.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” I say, groaning. I’d been so preoccupied with everything going on I must have lost track of my cycle. “Could it get any worse right now?” I sulk, leaning my head against the wall.

On the upside, at least I still have half a tub of ice cream. On the downside, when I reach the bottom of the tub, it most likely won’t have all the answers I need.

I’m furious all over again as if it’s the stress caused by Eli Monti that caused my period to start without my knowledge.

Fuck this guy and his broodiness. He sent me a message earlier, explaining that he’d like to make it up to me for being an ass, which is surprising for a man like him. He wants to take me for breakfast before we go wedding dress shopping.

That’s a hard no on both counts.

It would appear that this asshole needs to be reminded of who he’s dealing with. And I need to actually start looking for my guns.

So I grin to myself as I reply.