Broken Promises by I. A. Dice

Author:I. A. Dice [Dice, I. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-07T05:00:00+00:00

“Do you have to be so stubborn?” I asked Layla as we raced through the streets of Chicago toward our house.

Anatolij and all the newly discovered, yet unconfirmed information kept my mind busy. Possible scenarios as to what happened twenty years ago played in my head.

The V8 roared every time I accelerated, wanting to get back home as soon as possible. The clock was ticking, and I had a lot on the agenda. Layla’s desertion set me back an hour and a half.

I waited until she finished talking with Jess, and as expected, their conversation stretched from the agreed half an hour to almost an hour.

“You like that about me,” she said, faking a smile.

She couldn’t fool me. At first glance, it was obvious something worried her, but I didn’t have time to inquire.

Spades opened the gate, noticing me from afar. Or maybe he heard the engine long before he saw the car.

“I do, but I like knowing that you’re safe. Considering the situation, I also like knowing where you are. And I like it when my people don’t call to tell me you ran.”

Jackson was the one to relay the news. And he had to do so three times because the panic in his voice made him stutter, and I struggled to understand a single word, let alone a sentence.

Layla beamed. “So that’s the problem. You thought your bride made a run for it? Don’t worry. You can’t get rid of me.”

“I was rather worried Julij confessed his love and kidnapped you.”

“Love?” she snorted. “That’s silly. We’re friends.”

If I hadn’t already parked in the garage and focused my attention on her, I wouldn’t have noticed that she started pulling on the hem of her jumper. I still had no idea how she managed to lead me by the nose the past few months while under Frank’s orders. She couldn’t lie. Even now, she couldn’t hide her emotions.

She knew about Julij’s feelings.

One question remained – did he tell her, or did he show her? Neither was acceptable, but the latter meant a one-on-one meeting with Jackson, and the end of our business partnership.

I could tolerate that he loved her, but if he tried to adore her, he’d end up preparing Happy Meals at McDonald’s for the rest of his life.

It wasn’t about me not trusting Layla because if there was one thing I trusted her about, her feelings for me were it. She only loved me, and no one could change that.

It was about the rules – you don’t touch a man’s girl – and lack of respect for the rules was the worst flaw of a good accomplice.

“What did he do?”

“Nothing. He said, and did nothing. He didn’t have to.”

She got out of the car, signaling the end of the conversation. Maybe she had to process the newfound admirer, or maybe she knew for a long time but didn’t expect that I knew too.

I opened the passenger side window. “Can you please stay home now? I’ll be back late, but Spades is staying with you, and so is Nate, Cai and five others.

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