Twisted Lies 4 (Dirty Secrets)

by Sedona Venez

“I’m telling the truth,” Jeff replied. “I took the ledger for Bigsby, but I didn’t trash the fucking house. I swear.” He paused. “I’m not dying for Bigsby. He ordered me to do a job, and I did it. If you just let me—”

  “Max,” I hissed, “go find out who trashed Sin’s place.”

  “You actually believe that piece of shit?” Max asked.

  I glanced over at Jeff, who stammered, “I swear. It’s the truth.”

  He looked like a desperate man with nothing to lose who was fighting for his life, which he was.

  “Yes, I do,” I gritted out to Max. “Get on this now!”

  Max nodded before walking out of the room with his cell in hand.

  I eyed Jeff. “What were you told about the ledger?”

  “I’m not saying anything more until you release me,” Jeff demanded.

  “You will talk,” I replied and then eyed Ram. “Let’s try the castrater, shall we?”

  “My pleasure,” he answered with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

  “It might take him a couple tries to lock on to your shriveled-up balls,” I informed Jeff. “But practice makes perfect.”

  “I’m not talking, you sadistic bastard!” Jeff yelled.

  “Well, that’s the spirit. How about we kick this party up a notch?” I countered before nodding at Rocco, who brought me the small machine with two metal pads attached to it. He placed the device on the floor by my feet.

  “Let’s play.” I flipped on the machine. I picked up the two metal paddles attached to the device and asked him, “Have you ever watched the show Naked and Afraid?” I slowly touched the paddles together, causing sparks to fly into the air.

  The color drained from Jeff’s face.

  “Rocco, let’s proceed,” I ordered.

  Rocco pushed the button on the machine, causing the electricity to pulsate harder through the paddles.

  “Time for the fireworks to begin.” I pressed both pads to Jeff’s scrotum.

  His face contorted as he howled with pain.

  THE DOORMAN GRANDLY OPENED THE door for me before I stepped out of Core’s building after he left for his urgent business meeting. Hurriedly, I zipped up my leather motorcycle jacket as the cool, crisp air engulfed me.

  I loved October; it was the best time of the year to walk around New York City because all the touristy summer crowds had disappeared. It was a beautiful Sunday, but I had to forgo my leisurely walk through Manhattan.

  Yesterday, I’d worked until late night on my designs and then eaten a quick meal before falling into a deep sleep. When I’d woken up this morning, I’d felt pleasantly refreshed but missed Core’s warm body. He’d given me the heads-up yesterday that his business deal would take a while to negotiate, so he wouldn’t be back until today. But before leaving, he had insisted that someone from his team drive me around today. At first, I’d resisted, not liking the idea of being followed around the city like I needed a babysitter, and we’d passionately argued back and forth about the topic. But eventually, his logic and concern for my safety due to the break-in at my townhouse had finally won.

  Truth be told, the idea that the person who had caused such destruction of my property, including my collection, had not yet been caught caused me unease. Now that I’d left the cocoon and safety of Core’s penthouse, a sense of dread and paranoia seeped into my bones, and I was glad Core had been so insistent.

  I inhaled deeply, taking in a lungful of the fresh air, and mentally shook myself. I had to stay on my game.

  Buck up, Sin. Put on your big-girl panties.

  I straightened my back and slung my leather handbag over my shoulder before walking toward Zuri. She was Core’s well-paid minion—her words, not mine—whom I’d met for the first time on Friday when she dropped off Core’s invitation to the McKay Club along with an expensive, beautiful dress he’d purchased for me to wear that night. Frankly, when Zuri had strode into my townhouse, I hadn’t known what to make of her due to the fact that things were a little tense between Core and me, and anyone linked to him had been on my shit list just from their mere association. But after Zuri and our mutual on-the-spot should-I-like-you analysis of each other, we’d concluded that we liked each other so far.

  I waved at Zuri, who was leaning against her expensive black SUV. She looked like she’d just stepped off the fashion runway. Her dark autumn skin tone along with her sleek flaming-red tresses, pulled up into a high ponytail, gave her an exotic look. Her eyes, as usual, were shielded by aviators.

  She pushed away from her car, stepping forward and then hugging me. I returned the embrace before pulling back.

  “Well, don’t you look absolutely hot in that outfit?” Zuri complimented me. “Damn. You’re giving me a lady boner.”

  I laughed. “I aim to please.”

  Today I was rocking a cool graphic tee and cuffed skinny jeans that I’d amped up with statement accessories. A pair of gold hoop earrings, a logo handbag, and red-bottomed shoes.

  “So you drew the short straw today and got assigned to be my driver, huh?” I gave her a mock frown, but frankly, I wasn’t put out by Core assigning Zuri to be my babysitter. I liked her, and that was saying a lot for a person like me who didn’t easily click with people and therefore kept her circle of friends really small.

  “Assigned?” Zuri whipped off her sunglasses. “Hell no. I volunteered.” She smiled impishly. “I wanted to hang out with you today. Believe me. The alternative of having the other guys on the team drive you around would make you pull your hair out. I love them and all, but they can be a bit abrasive. Just way too much grunting and knocking stones together like cavemen if you ask me.”

  “So basically what you’re saying is they’re assholes, just like their boss?” I grinned sassily.

  “Exactly.” Her eyes lit with a twinkle of mischief.

  I opened the passenger door and slid in, watching as she sauntered around to the driver’s side. Zuri got into the car, fastening her seat belt.

  “So where are we heading today?” She turned on her vehicle and revved the engine.

  “To my friend Cisco’s boutique.” I rattled off the address while fastening my seat belt. “Today is the last dress fitting for my two best clients.” I sighed heavily. “Luckily, I sent their gowns to the boutique days ago for alterations. It would have been a mega clusterfuck if the dresses had gotten destroyed last night along with the rest of my collection.”

  I’d already designed the gowns for Ariana Bellisario—the mother of my bestie, Jade—and Erika Watson—Ariana’s best friend and Jade’s television executive boss—to wear at an upcoming fundraising gala. And I needed to make sure their gowns were perfect. So I’d sent their gowns to Cisco’s—the boutique where all of my clients’ fittings were done—so my friend Summer, who was a top-notch seamstress and the only one I trusted to work on my designs, could put the last-minute touches on the gowns.

  My mind drifted to Jade. I missed her. There were so many times yesterday and today when I had been so tempted to call her, telling her everything that had happened since she left for New Zealand to start production on her first directorial feature. But I didn’t want Jade to worry about me or feel compelled to hightail her ass back to New York, ruining her movie shoot. Just because my dreams were on hiatus didn’t mean Jade’s had to be destroyed over my drama.

  Zuri pulled out of the parking space. “Core told me about your break-in.” She ripped her gaze away from the road long enough to give me a sympathetic look before turning back to concentrate on weaving through Manhattan traffic.

  “I’m kind of numb about it, frankly.” I stared out the window, looking at everything but processing nothing. “The funny thing is I couldn’t give a shit about all of my personal possessions that were destroyed. Those things I can buy back, but it’s all the damn work I put into finishing my collection. That’s the part that hurts like a fucker.”

  I bit my bottom lip, staring at the bumper-to-bumper gridlock.

  I’d had only five more ov
er-the-top pieces to complete before I sat down with the buying and marketing teams to decide which designs would make the final cut, essentially eliminating designs to be made and sold via the retailers. And I’d excitedly anticipated the final stage—when my collection would go on sale.

  Damn! My collection was almost complete. Now I have to start all over again.

  The thought was frustrating and daunting.

  Horns honked loudly, mercifully jolting my thoughts back from an impending descent into depression.

  “Sin, I’m really sorry about your collection,” Zuri replied while zipping in and out of the snarl of taxicabs and buses. “The pieces that I saw when I was at your house were so beautiful. It’s going to take a lot of work, but you can rebuild the collection. And whatever you need, you can count on me to help you.”

  “Thank you, Zuri.” I smiled at her while fiddling with my seat belt.

  “And I just heard from the cleaning company. There was more work than they had originally estimated, but they’ll have your townhouse finished today.” Zuri cursed and hit her horn. She mumbled under her breath about terrible New York drivers while tapping the steering wheel as we sat in heavy Manhattan traffic.

  “I appreciate it, but no amount of cleaning is going to make me feel comfortable in my house again,” I returned. “Whoever broke in violated my space… my home. Honestly, I’ll feel better once the police find out who did it.”

  The gridlock eased, allowing Zuri to smoothly drive ahead. “Unfortunately, the police probably moved on to another case. But I wouldn’t worry about it. Core will find the person who did it and make them pay.”

  I clenched my fingers around my leather handbag. “You have a hell of a lot of faith in him.”

  “Don’t you?” Zuri shot back.

  I contemplated my response before uttering a word. Zuri was employed by Core. More importantly, she was his friend, so I knew where her loyalty lay. However, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t keep it real with her.

  “I have faith in myself.” I shrugged. “I’ve learned the hard way that people tend to have their own agendas. It’s just second nature for me to question people’s intentions.”

  My past experience with toxic relationships, with Grace and men, made me so conscious of people—what they said and why they wanted to be with me.

  “Sin, no one is perfect, especially not Core. It’s just…” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

  “Zuri, spit it out.”

  “I just assumed that after spending time with Core, you saw that little bit of potential of sticking it out with him.”

  “Look, Zuri, I like Core… a lot. Probably more than I should, especially given the fact that our business relationship didn’t start out on the best foot.” Not with him swooping in out of nowhere and taking control of ninety-seven percent of my business. “Yes, our relationship has changed for the better, but how I feel about Core is complicated.”

  My mind was telling me one thing—not to get too attached—but I felt like I already was.

  “Hmm… complicated. That’s code for: He scares the shit out of me—emotionally.”

  I blinked, startled that she’d read me so fast. “Hell yes, he does,” I answered. There was no need to lie about it. “I’ve moved from wanting to shank him to wanting…”

  “More than just sex,” Zuri finished.

  “Yes,” I replied. My throat instantly went dry as I just felt the emotions stirring inside me while I tried to wrap my mind around the concept of Core and me together… like in a real relationship.

  “Trust me on this,” Zuri confided. “This is new territory for Core, too.” She paused. “Zero. That’s the number of women he’s brought to his penthouse.”

  My mouth dropped open with shock before I shut it. “I don’t understand…”

  “You don’t know much about the man, do you?” Zuri asked.

  “Apparently not.” I nibbled on my bottom lip.

  Abruptly, Zuri pulled over to the farthest lane and out of traffic. She double parked and then put on her hazard lights. “Do you want to?” she asked before unsnapping her seat belt and turning to squarely look me in the face.

  “Want to what?” I asked.

  “Know about him?” She pursed her lips.

  I ran my fingers through my hair. “You work for him, and you’re his friend. So why would you tell me anything about him?” I unfastened my seat belt to get more comfortable.

  “Core is not just my friend. He’s the big brother I never had. He has my back, and I have his. And I would never tell you anything that would betray the trust and bond Core and I share.” She blew a strand of hair that had fallen across her eye. “All I’m saying is I don’t give a shit about the who, what, and why he came into your life. That’s the past. This is the now.”

  She jabbed her finger in the air. “He has everything a man could ever want—money, friends who love him, freedom, and power—but he doesn’t have that one person. I want that so much for him because he fucking deserves a chance at something real. You are that real. A chance for happiness.” She scowled. “But you two are the most stubborn people I know. You’re scared of being hurt. Core wants to stick his head in the sand and pretend he won’t be fucked up emotionally if you walk out of his life for good. This shit is not rocket science. Will you both just lay your damn cards on the table with each other and see what happens?”

  “I wish it were that simple, Zuri. I’ve been through some things in my life that I haven’t quite healed from.”

  “Sin, so has Core. Growing up, he went through some crazy shit that would have broken a lesser man.”

  “Don’t you think I know that? Shit. I thought my life was fucked up, losing my dad the way I did, but damn… with Core’s mother being killed so brutally and in front of him…” I swallowed hard. “I’m not going to lie; I think that would have broken me.”

  Zuri’s mouth parted and then snapped shut.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Wow.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe he told you about his mother. Talking about her is pretty much taboo for him, even with us—me, Ram, Kevin, Max, and Rocco—and we’re family.”

  I silently digested what she’d revealed. Core had shared this deeply personal experience… with me.

  Any traces of doubt that he cared about me disappeared along with the little nagging voice in my head that berated me for trusting him, for agreeing to give our relationship a chance to grow.

  I guess I should listen to my heart… right?

  “ZURI,” I SAID WHILE STEPPING off the elevator with her by my side, “you know you don’t have to hang around for this.”

  “Wait.” She skidded to a stop, giving me a mock glare. “Are you trying to get rid of me already?” She pouted playfully. “And just when I thought we had this bestie vibe happening. Don’t you like me?” She dramatically fluttered her eyelashes.

  I rolled my eyes. “No.”

  Zuri cocked her head to the side.

  “Maybe,” I replied before my lips curled up into a smile.

  Zuri fist-pumped. “Yes! I knew it.”

  “Okay, okay. Now move your needy ass on,” I demanded before swaying away from her. It didn’t take her long to catch up with me. “Are you sure you won’t be bored? Watching client fittings is not exactly exciting, and they tend to be long.” But for me, it was the exact opposite. I loved everything about my design process—from creation to seeing my clothing on my clients—but I was a fashionista and loved all things clothes.

  “Bored? Are you crazy?” Zuri countered. “Jesus. My heart is pounding like a high school virgin about to get her cherry popped.” She winked at me. “I mean look at this place. It’s a paradise for a clotheshorse like me.” She gestured widely to Cisco’s boutique.

  The space was sleek, modern, and very glam. The walls were painted black, which allowed the rich colors of my designs on display to pop against the beautiful darkness. It contrasted against the plush velvet furniture and natu
ral light in the space that had been designed with a contemporary look in mind.

  I smiled at her. “I knew there was a reason I liked you so much.”

  I scanned the studio. I loved the ambiance at my friend Francisco “Cisco” Rodriguez’s upscale boutique and that it was blissfully quiet. Unlike other boutiques in this neighborhood, Cisco’s place was by appointment only, which his rich and discerning patrons loved.

  “Those are your designs, right?” Zuri gestured to my pieces that were displayed like eye candy in the middle of the space.

  “Yes.” I confirmed proudly. “They’re some of my pretties.”

  “Damn. Your designs are badass.”

  “Okay. So now you’re just bucking for a discount,” I groused good-naturedly. “But that shit isn’t happening. I have damn bills to pay.”

  Zuri laughed. “Jesus. You’re funny and straightforward, and you live your life unapologetically. I really like that about you. Core’s lucky I’m not into chicks, because I’d shank him for you.”

  “Girl, you’re cray-cray. I love it,” I replied with a wink. “Follow me,” I ordered, dropping my leather handbag onto a plush ottoman. “Let me give you the tour,” I instructed, looping an arm through hers, ushering her across the space. “Okay, these are all my designs.” With one hand, I gestured to the wall-to-wall racks.

  Zuri fanned herself while gawking at the clothes. “Oh Lord. There’s movement in my vajayjay, an honest-to-goodness tingly fucking sensation. I want one of everything.”

  I gave her an impish smile. “Aren’t you even going to look at the price tags?”

  “Nope.” Zuri lovingly stroked a dress. “It’s all going on my McKay black charge card. These outfits are my bonus for having to put up with a bunch of cavemen assholes.”

  “Shit. Why didn’t you say that from the get-go? I’m more than happy to help you spend Core’s money on my clothing.” I stepped forward, pulling out a bright, sparkling orange halter top and a full, ruffled black silk organza skirt. “This is new and would look fab on you.”

  Zuri squealed like a schoolgirl. “Love it.”