Page 85 of Lilies from Hell

“Who?”

“Someone from another city. You don’t know him.” I nod and take another sip of the sweet drink.

I don’t want to look at him so as not to arouse my father’s suspicions, but I end up doing it, watching his blue eyes shamelessly scan my body.

“At this rate, there won’t be anything left of you if he keeps devouring you with his eyes like that,” Grace says sarcastically beside me.

I press my lips together and glance at my father, who is too distracted to notice his intense gaze on me. Alek gives me a tight smile. I reach for my phone and open my chat with him.

Me: Stop looking at me like that.

It doesn’t take long for me to receive his reply.

Alek: Like what?

Me: Just stop it. My dad will notice.

I don’t receive any message from him, but I notice that this time he stops looking at me with an annoyed expression.

“Don’t you think it’s too much? How do you expect us to keep an eye on the submarine, the plane, and the truck at the same time?” My attention turns to Ray, trying to figure out what they’re talking about. I’ve been too absorbed in my own thoughts of her to hear what they were saying.

“Easy. We’ll divide it up,” says the captain with confidence.

“I’m in. I’ll go with 500.”

“I’ll go with 2000,” I murmur, narrowing my eyes at Ray with a short smile.

He looks away, shifting his eyes around the room with palpable discomfort. He doesn’t like our presence and thinks he’s good at pretending to like us. Well. He’s fucking terrible at it and the feeling is mutual.

“Don’t fuck with me. That’s half the merchandise,” complains another in a tone I don’t like one bit.

He belongs to Norman’s crew. He’s the new guy who took charge while Norman is rotting away in prison. At least that’s what he thinks. He has no idea about the early birthday present I prepared for him.

“You’d have to be an idiot to go with only 4,000 kilos when you have three means of transport,” I say, curving my lips into a short smile.

“Are you calling me an idiot?” His face contorts with rage. I notice his angry-red cheeks under his tanned skin.

“It was just a comment. If you took it personally, that’s not my fucking problem.” I wait expectantly for the man to do something so I’ll at least have an excuse to punch him in the face, but Ray’s voice interrupts whatever he’s about to say.

“Fine. But you’ll be responsible for bringing the rest. You have five days.” I nod in response.

The place gradually gets empty, and I take the opportunity to look at her again. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch someone else lustfully scan her body, focusing their eyes on her legs and then her stomach. I feel tempted to rip his guts out now, but this is Grace’s house. It would be a bit rude.

“Save yourself some trouble and look the other way,” I murmur with a fake smile. The man has the audacity to give me an annoyed look.

“And who are you to tell me where to look? Who do you think you are?” I tilt my head to one side, playing with my tongue piercing before speaking in a calm voice.

“Keep doing that and it’ll be the last thing you see.”

“Are you threatening me?” He asks, rising menacingly from his chair, ready for a fight that I might have been part of if she hadn’t been there.

“I don’t threaten, I act,” I say, tilting my head to one side. “But I’d rather you take it as advice.”

As soon as I see him disappear through that doorway, I quickly enter the house and search for him.

“The last room on the second floor,” Grace says from the pool, giving me a thumbs up.

“I’m just going to say hello,” I reply with a pout.