Page 72 of Lilies from Hell

“Don’t blame me for your mistakes,” I reply dismissively, without letting the amused gleam in my eyes fade. I snort when I see that she has started crying again. I don’t understand what she’s trying to achieve with all this. It’s ridiculous. “Next time, cut yourself deeper. Maybe that way you’ll manage to kill yourself like you so badly wanted and save me some time,” I murmur leaving the room, running into Denis outside.

“You’re very cruel to her.”

“I don’t give a damn.”

“At this rate, we’ll have a funeral sooner than expected and it won’t be Ray’s.”

“Is everything ready for today?” I ask, already tired of the topic.

“The 250 kilos, like you told me.”

“Good.”

“Are you planning on adding the captain to the team or what?” He asks, referring to Grace’s father.

“No. I just want to test him. Play with him a little,” I reply with a sly smile.

It is not in my best interest to have him as a partner if he’s such a good friend of Ray’s. Although whether he’s such a good friend remains to be seen if he’s capable of doing business with me behind his back. He’s just another dirty, thirsty rat.

“By the way, we have another matter to discuss. What about my contribution?” He asks, looking at me with expectant eyes. “I don’t think it’s fair that you gave that car to the carrot top for doing nothing. I’m the one who really gave you useful advice. Not to mention that I had to put up with your pathetic whining. Every damn day, every fucking hour.”

“That’s why you’re my right-hand man.”

Between giving him one of the cars I used just to decorate my garage and knocking his teeth out, the first option would cause me fewer problems with her.

“The next time you have another piece of shit like that, I’ll quit,” he says with a sour look on his face.

“You can’t,” I remind him with a smile.

“Then I’ll join Polina and kill myself. Anything is better than putting up with that shit again.”

25

“See? I knew it. And you with your head full of stupid doubts, thinking he didn’t love you,” Grace scoffs. I haven’t told her anything about our marriage. That’s something that will remain between the two of us for now. “That look on your face tells me something else happened.” I shake my head quickly. “Don’t lie. I know you better than you know yourself,” she says in a demanding tone. “Did you have sex? God, finally!”

“No, we didn’t.” She makes a disgusted face. “I don’t think he wants to yet,” I add with a grimace, hearing her snort on the other side of the call.

Last night was the perfect moment to do it. I even sent him some very direct hints, but nothing. He dodged them all. It seems he loves the idea of penetrating me with everything except his penis.

“Then seduce him until his balls are about to burst.” I burst out laughing. Tears welling up in my eyes. “That’s a good plan.”

“It is,” I agree with a smile. Maybe I should start looking for some birth control pills. Just in case.

“Then we have to buy some very sexy lingerie,” she says.

As I am about to answer, I notice an unfamiliar car entering the garden. When I see my brother getting out of the car with a huge smile on his face, my lips part in confusion. Where did he get that car?

“Lena?”

“Sorry. I’ll call you back.” I end the call and in the blink of an eye I’m already running down the stairs to the main floor. “Not so fast,” I tell my brother. “I’ve already seen your new acquisition.”

“Do you like it?” I nod.

“It’s very nice. It must be quite expensive too,” I say.

“It is. I’ve been doing some business with dad.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I need to earn some money too,” I mutter with a pout on my lips.