A ring for a lie

y slept t

, her mind wouldn't quiet. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Lena's tear-streaked face. H

more. She was part of somethin

terrifi

rehead like it was second nature. The gesture had felt too real, too gentle for t

the guest suite, the do

ee and staring at the marble counterto

n's p

orgotten it

blinked on

asking questions. Do

heart

w she s

picked

assc

rded man she knew leav

wanted her

the messa

only two ot

rday): She's in. Lena

She's asking questions

ood turn

t abo

e

e the

e. Before she could scroll furthe

rni

hiding the phon

of Ava's robes, looking younger,

aid slowly. "Did

's alright that I stayed. I

n on the counter and forced a

ee pot, her eyes flicking t

y mee

id he seem... diff

r head. "What

Like he wasn't s

e because his ex showed up in the middle o

d. "I dese

softly. "If you're here to

God, no. That's not why I

pond. She didn

omple

ldings. She was expected now. The receptionist greeted her like a regu

at the window, phone

," she said, h

You came all the way he

o know someone texted you about her asking

ce wen

rea

ft it u

g sil

the n

"A contact I've been tracking. Someone inside Da

you don't

idn't want t

d her eyes.

ere. Some of them close to Lena. I needed to know if she w

t's the

't kno

, if I'm going to help you, I need the truth. Al

, searching her f

har

tight no

ng. "Damian's dangerous. But he wants som

. "You're not get

to, remember? G

hanged

hy

don't want

him. "Too late

something she neve

lled D

d on the f

wasn't sure y

e ques

urse y

nt to

se. "

es

lder than

or someone with s

n married you. Fine. Tomorrow. Noon

hung

s going t

cked away in Midtown. She chose a booth in the back,

, wearing a dark suit and the sa

ng in daylight," he said,

lirt. Ju

"Straight to bus

want to know why

t a little. "You don't e

Lena really

two qu

wer

ee slowly, as if choosi

me. Years ago. Something i

ha

ed it, he funded it, and when t

hy

uldn't play b

were stealing fr

ed up. "So he

artup is being use

u should ask Lena who helped her set

fr

re you

who lies so beautifully, he can't tell the truth from the per

e defl

arning

ank account tied to Lena's business. Check the name on t

tared

you want

one

look

trust

toned his jacket,

Ava confro

he threw the napkin on the kitc

is t

d at it. "Where

ou dare

and faced her fully. "W

money through Lena's busines

dn't

ose. "Tell me

a long breat

left h

admitt

" he said, voice calm. "Before we were together. I

d he ma

Tried to reroute funds

t's under

use if he ever tried

at him. "Yo

tected

use

stepping forward. "

"I don't know who

ieve me. Because I'm the only one willin

breath

hem, a soft voice

posed to hear

tur

the hallway, p

fr

pped forwa

ed. "You lied

d walked out

e this began, Ava saw fear