Page 50 of Iris' Lying Eyes

Is he annoyed? Who the fuck is he talking to at three in the morning?

“I’m handling it,” he barks. “You don’t have a fucking choice. Have you heard any more about the girl?”

Unable to resist, I peek beyond the door and find him staring out the window, his shoulders taut with tension.

“No, I don’t have shit, but we’re running out of time.”

For what?

He grunts, and I slink back down the hall, pausing when he says, “Maybe Iris knows, but she’s not saying shit.”

My stomach sinks, and I lean my head against the wall. What does he want from me?

“Give me time. If she has enough rope, she’ll hang herself with it.”

∞∞∞

Bastion comes back to bed an hour later. I know because I’m still staring at the ceiling. Who the fuck was he talking to?

Couldn’t be John, right? The thought creates a void in my chest that sucks the air from the room, but I push it away. There’s no way B would work for John after everything that happened.

He wouldn’t do that to Cyn and Rain. Or would he? I don’t know because he’s not the same fucker I knew before.

But it’s clear now, if it wasn’t before, that I have to watch my ass because there’s more on the line than just pretending to be his bitch until the bad guys come out of the woodwork.

It doesn’t truly matter. I’m still set on leaving, and once I do, Bastion’s game will be his problem.

Eventually, I fall into a restless sleep and force myself out of bed in the morning. If I want to leave, I have to get closer to Bastion so I can figure out his routine.

He can’t stay in this fucking house forever.

However, his words about Roman and his mysterious conversation leave me wary of more questions. Yet, strangely, I don’t want to lie anymore. I’m tired of being that girl, but I will be if it means protecting Sam.

He’s my focus. Not these fucks who play games more than I fucking do.

When I check my phone, I have no new messages, and I brood about it through my shower before throwing on jeans and a T-shirt.

The house is quiet as I head down the stairs, and I’m contemplating a cup of coffee and food when my phone buzzes against my ass.

With my heart in my throat, I duck into one of the empty rooms and read the text.

Useless Fucker: You’re getting sloppy. What’s the status on John?

Smiling bitterly, I type,Sloppy? I’m doing this all on my own

Useless Fucker: I know. It’s almost over, Iris

Iris: Is it?

Leaning my head against the wall, I bite back the tears. Will it ever truly be over? Because it feels like all I do is jump from one bad guy to the next.

I’m lost. I have been for years. And with every day that I wake up next to a dick, my soul shrivels that much more.

It’s not my intention to hurt anyone, but when you’ve learned to play the game, it’s all you know.

Wiping my face, I tap out a last message before slipping from the room.It better be because I’m tired of empty promises

I’ll give it a couple of days. After that, I’ll move forward on my own. I have a feeling it was always going to be just me anyway.