Page 123 of Twisted Truth

“Do you have a point?”

“Yes, my point is, we all knew you’d get media coverage—that was the entire point of this charade. But none of us expectedthis. Even Asher is worried about how much your name and photo have blown up on a global scale. So, when this arrangement is over, you really will need more than five million to keep you secure. That’s a given. And Asher will give you whatever you need, I know he will. But, to keep Lilith the she-demon off our backs, I’ll make sure he puts it in writing.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I open the door to leave, and Declan gives me a salute. “God speed, and good luck with that one.”

“Fuck you, Langford, I heard that,” Lucy says.

Declan chuckles. “If you need anything while Asher’s away, Ella, let me know. I’m here for you.”

I step out of his office, and he flashes me a wink before closing the door.

“Ugh, how the Langfords rule the world, I’ll never know. What a useless cretin.”

“He’s actually a really good COO, from what Asher says.”

“Please, he doesn’t have what it takes to enforce operations.”

“And you can tell that by meeting him for five minutes?”

“Yes. And the media paints him as a clown. He definitely screams middle child syndrome.”

“Well, heisthe middle child. And he is really goofy sometimes, but Asher said he’s the enforcer of the company, and he can be not just tough, but brutal when he needs to be.”

“I don’t believe that for a second.”

“I don’t know why Asher would lie about that. He’s the CEO, but he depends on Declan and Sterling for a lot of things. He couldn’t do what he does without them. Plus, they’ve been raised for this. Just like you were.”

Lucy stills at that. If I didn’t know her well, I wouldn’t have noticed it. But she shakes it off and moves ahead as if my words hadn’t pierced something in her. I just wish I knew what it had been.

“Well, regardless of the cretin’s capabilities, I will be following through to make sure you get your dues. Twenty-five million is nothing to the Langfords, and you’ll need every penny if your fame doesn’t die down when this is all over.”

I know that Declan and, let’s face it, many others as well would paint Lucy as a Lilith. But the truth is, she couldn’t be further from it. Lucy loves with every fiber of her soul, and she would bleed and die for those she loves. I’m not just lucky to call her my friend, I’m honored to be her friend. Not just because she’s amazing, but because she doesn’t give her love to those she deems unworthy. So, to be her friend means she thinks very highly of me. And I can’t think of a better compliment than that. I couldn’t find a better person to fight in my corner for me. I’m more than lucky to call Lucy my friend.

I laugh to myself as a thought strikes me.

“What’s so funny?”

“I just realized something. Don’t take this the wrong way, Luce, because I mean it the best way possible,”

“Okay . . . ?”

“I just realized that it’s probably a really good thing you barged into Declan’s office and not Asher’s.”

“Why?”

“Well, I was just thinking to myself how amazing you are and how you have this rough exterior but will do anything for those you love. And Asher’s exactly the same. And then I realized that you and Asher are basically the same person. And I don’t know what would happen if the two of you went toe-to-toe, especially over me.

“You’re protective of those you love, and Asher is overprotective, bordering on possessive when it comes to me. I don’t want to know what an argument over me would look like between the two of you. Probably like something off aDiscovery Channelwildlife documentary. And truthfully, I don’t know who would win.”

Lucy scoffs. “Easy. I would win.”

I chuckle and loop my arm through Lucy’s. “Queen Lucy, I’m damn lucky to have you in my life.”

She playfully elbows my side. “Exactly what I’ve been saying all along.”