Page 87 of Virtuous Lies

I hadn’t considered that. “Coincidence,” I suggest lamely.

He gestures for the server. She walks over, shaking her hips more than she did for Gabriella and me.

I scowl, but Vincent seems oblivious to her megawatt smile. “Macallan. Neat.”

I kick his leg.

“Please,” he adds.

“Sure thing, sir.” She blinks twice, and while I can’t blame the look of appreciation in her eyes, it pisses me off.

“She’s following you,” he tells me as the server retreats. “But why?”

I shrug. “We were friends.”

“Please,” Gabriella interjects. “I don’t have many friends, but surely stalking isn’t something you do, even if you are trying to make amends.”

Vincent nods. “Has she reached out any other way?”

I shake my head. “I have blocked her phone number and her social media profiles, so I wouldn’t know.”

“I think she’s done porn.”

Vincent coughs. “What?”

Gabriella lifts her shoulders. “I know her from somewhere.”

He stares at his younger sister. “You’re seventeen. Why the fuck are you watching porn?”

She opens her mouth, but he holds a hand up.

“Don’t answer that.”

The server places his whiskey down, and he slings it back in one swallow. “I’m placing security on you for the time being until I can be sure she doesn’t mean you harm.”

“Vincent.” I sigh.

“Non-negotiable,” he argues.

“Would you like another, sir?” The server, who hasn’t left our table, touches his shoulder.

He looks at her touch, then back at her eyes.

I have to commend her audacity. Vincent is beautiful to the eye, but corruption oozes from every inch of his three-piece suit. A single glance is enough for you to know that whatever he does, it doesn’t fit within the confines of the law. He’s immoral, he’s dangerous, and some women are foolish to consider his lawlessness attractive.

It’s me.

I’mwomen.

As is this bitch with her hand on my man.

“I’ll ask you to take your hands off my husband.” I draw her attention.

She glances at Vincent, then me. “Sorry, I thought you were his daughter.”

Rage hits me in the chest. Vincent grabs my knee.

“That’s more offensive to me than it is to her.” He speaks before I can. “My wife is right, though. Don’t ever touch me without permission.”