Page 124 of Iris' Lying Eyes

“Why? You hold all the cards?” This is too fucking easy. No way.

“You don’t have to worry about that. I want info on someone. You give it to me, I help her.”

“Info? You just want info, and for that, you’re going to help her escape?”

He slowly nods, and I look away. Do I trust? I don’t know this fucker, but it turns out I didn’t know Finnen either. I suspect, for Ramsay, this is a business, just like it is for these other dickwads.

“You send her somewhere safe. You don’t fucking hurt her?”

“Yes.”

“This is too simple,” I whisper. He looks away with a weird expression before saying, “It solves a problem. I hate problems.”

“How do I know I can trust you?”

Grunting, he says, “Once she’s moved, I’ll have her call you.”

“Okay,” I say, hoping I haven’t made another fucking mistake.

∞∞∞

When I emerge, the fight is over. Diem stands against the wall, wiping his sweaty, bloody face on a towel. His friend dips his head and says something while Diem slowly nods.

Bastion is gone, to my relief, and I approach Diem behind Ramsay, who parts the crowd just by being an arrogant bastard. Diem spots me and smirks. Annoyed by his perpetual fucking happiness, I glower.

“Hey, baby, didn’t expect to see you here,” he says, eyeing me with a leer.

“Cut the shit,” I say. “We need to talk.”

“Again?” he says, his smile fading into a frown.

“Yes, Diem. Or should I say . . . cousin?”

He laughs as I swat his arm. “How long have you known?”

With a shrug, he pulls me under his arm, and I squeak, struggling to pull away when his sweaty fucking armpit gets dangerously close to my face. “I’ve known long enough.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Not my place.”

“Yeah, well, I need to speak to the old man.”

Diem stiffens but slowly nods, “Okay, but—”

“Iris?” Bastion’s deep voice cuts in behind me. Closing my eyes, I will away the hurt that clenches my chest and say in a cool tone, “What the fuck do you want?”

“We need to talk,” he says, and Diem tightens his hold.

“You messing with my girl?” he asks, and Bastion grabs my arm.

“This girl ismine. Call her that again, and I’ll fuck you up some more.”

With that, I’m pulled away and into the crowd. Wouldn’t you know it, I end up right back in the fucking closet.

“What are you doing, Iris?” Bastion says, and I suck in a breath before it all comes tumbling out.

“Back off, you dick,” I snarl, swinging my fist at his face.