Page 26 of The Broken Keys

“The fuck you don’t. We both know they’ve been playing house if he’s been staying with her.” I throw my keys on the side table in my living room. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter now, but tell me what you know.”

“She’s my sister, Cash. I’ve already told you too much.”

“Who is he?”

“I don’t know much about him. She said he travels a lot for business and has a few homes, so she could stay there for a while. Sounded pretty harmless to me.”

“Why would she tell me it’s her place?”

Silence stretches between us.

Guns starts in again. “She definitely said it belonged to some guy she’s seeing. Said it was convenient because he’s never around, and she didn’t have to live with our parents anymore. I don’t know why she would tell you that.”

“She wouldn’t lie about that, would she?”

“Damn. I don’t think so, but I know that’s not her mansion.”

“How are you so sure?”

“Fuck, bro. She doesn’t have that kind of money. She just dropped millions on her home.”

“Would your pops help her?”

“It’s possible. Why? What are you thinking?”

I gaze around my place and can picture her living here too easily. “I’m thinking I need to find out exactly who this guy is and what he means to her.”

Chapter Six

LIVIANNA/LILY

Two Days Before Now

Drafted Goodbyes & Midnight Promises

Tonight, the message feels less like a choice and more like a dare.

Itoss my bag over my shoulder and leave the Pilates studio. I’m digging in my purse, searching for my keys, when Callum calls out.

“Hey, vixen. How was your workout?” He’s leaning against his car, wearing a smile from ear to ear.

I shake my head and laugh. “What are you doing?”

“When you told me you were coming here and where this place was, I took it as a sign you wanted me to come pick you up and take you out to dinner before you tried to go back to work.”

I puff out a breath. “Who knew I’d be such a workaholic?”

“You always have been.” He pushes off the hood. “Whadda ya say? Dinner?”

“I am hungry, but I need to shower and change.”

We meet in the middle of the parking lot near my car.

His blues shine down on me. “I think you look amazing.”

“Yeah, no. I’m not going anywhere smelling like this.”

“All I smell is your perfume.” He narrows his gaze. “When did you change it?”