Broken Lies (Broken Series) (9 page)

“Because he’s a fake, how can you not see that? All his talent and Good Samaritan is bullshit, that’s not who he really is, he’s a user, a conniver, and he’s a genuine con. He does what he’s doing for a
reason.
And not a good one.”

“And
how
do you know this?”

“I was raised around people like that, I can smell them.” He wanted so bad to tell he
r how much money her Saint Seth had asked for to be Mr. Perfecto.

“You should give him the benefit of the doubt, he’s your brother.
But Daniel, seriously, I thought you loved him? Remember our pillow talks and you wishing you had known him better and wondering where he was? Whatever happened to that?”

Daniel put his chin on her head. “You really want to know?”

“Uhh yes?”

“I lied.”

She pushed him away a little and he looked down into her confused gaze. “You lied? About what?”

“Missing him, wanting him in my life.”

Her mouth fell open. “But…why, why would you lie about that?”

“Because
…” Daniel’s throat suddenly closed up on him out of the blue.

“What baby?”

Sofia’s compassion added to the weird turmoil. He swallowed his pride and forced the words out. “I just…didn’t want to scare you away.” Stupid words came out strained and hoarse.

“How would that scare me away?” she whispered, confused
.

Of course she was
confused. Nothing scared her away it seemed. He laughed, hoping to bring his throat back into working order. “Cause I’m a freak? I mean who doesn’t miss their brother?”

Sofia squeezed him tight
then finally murmured, “Somebody who doesn’t know how to.”

Daniel suddenly couldn’t breathe. He cleared his throat. “Where the fuck is this book?”

Sofia smiled up at him and hopped off the stool. “I’ll get it.”

“What, he left it here? Did he put it in the curio cabinet?” Daniel
felt a hell of a lot better now that Sofia new his feelings about Seth from the beginning. He went and sat on the couch waiting.

Sofia hurried
in next to him. “Did you know that
you’re
in this too?”

Daniel frowned. “What? No way.”

“Yes, and you’re adorable.” Sofia opened the small journal.

“Wow, no lace?”

She shoved her leg into his. “This is the family tree.” She pointed to Daniel’s name. “You know, we need to do one like that for our family.”

“Yes,
definitely,” Daniel muttered, looking at the names. He only recognized his father and mother, his uncle and aunt’s names. The rest were a mystery. Like who was JoJo? And Faviona? And Lucy?

She turned the page. “His baby pictures.”

Daniel’s lip quirked at the nauseating sugar in her voice. “Can’t you just let me look? I’ll figure it out.”

“Noooo, I want to show you!”

He rolled his eyes. “Well just…talk normal and not all vomitty.

“Vomitty?”

“So sweet it makes me want to vomit,” he explained. “How’d you like me to talk about Rene that way?”

Sofia’s face
turned Exorcist. “Well, but I didn’t
fuck
your brother, Daniel.”

He cringed
in disgust. “Don’t even
say
those words together in the same sentence!”

“Well don’t mention
her
again. Now shut up and look at these cute damn pictures.”

Guilt snaked through him.
“Okay, sorry.”

“Look, this is you,” she
cooed, completely over it.

He looked.

What? That wasn’t him. “Let me see that.” He took the book and stared. That was so not him. What was lil Sethy up to? Daniel turned through the pages of his brother’s shit-story, every page convincing him he was right. He was
such
a con! Aside from all the bullshit newspaper clippings of his supposed awards from sewing to badminton, the pictures that were supposedly him were clearly not. How in the
hell
did Sofia not see that?

“What are you doing?”

He paused. “I was thinking of blowing this one up for him. Make like a portrait? As a gift?”

Daniel was shocked to see Sofia smile. “Really? See, now that’s the Daniel I know.”

He fought not to laugh, wondering how she could ever see any good in him apart from her. She really needed to sharpen up, she was way too naïve about people. But he’d let her think that this time. He’d make his portrait for his sweet talented brother,
after
he ran a face scan on his dirty lying ass. “You’re turning me into a damn saint Sofia.” He leaned and kissed her cheek then got up.

“Where are you going?”

He paused, realizing it was irrational to go make the portrait that second. “We’re not done? I needed to run some errands.”

“Oh. Well, okay. I need to go visit
Gammy anyway, it’s been too long.”

“Yes, a whole day.”

“You know her memory is bad.”

“Yes, which is why I insisted we have her come live with us?”

She smiled. “I remember. I’m still considering.”

“Good. Hurry up and say yes
, I love that woman.” And he did. She was such a riot being prone to brutal honesty.

****

Daniel hung up with his friend of a friend of a friend that had access to a face scanner. He’d drop it off then run a few other errands so he wasn’t a complete liar. What was Seth hiding? Why was he hiding it? God he better not turn out to be a fucking psychopath or some shit. Daniel would kill him.

How else could he find out, instead of waiting? What if Seth wasn’t even his brother? What if he really was a psychopath waiting for the opportunity? To do what? And why would he? What would be his motive? Sofia said she’d hired a detective and he’d never questioned it beyond that.

He dialed Sofia’s cell.

“Mrs. Fletcher speaking.”

Daniel had to grin at the unexpected greeting. “Damn that sounds wonderful.”

“I knooowwww,” she brag sang.

“Hey, you remember how you said you hired a private detective to find my brother?”

“Yes?” Suspicion.

“I have a friend that was looking for a family member and I thought they could use him too.”

“Oh. Ummm, hold on, I still have a card. Shit I need to clean this purse, my God,
Gammy would shit if she saw this mess.”

Daniel smiled at her cute mumblings.

“Found it, it’s a miracle. Detective Sanderson, like the fried chicken man.”

“Just give me his number and I’ll give it to him.”

She rattled it off and Daniel wrote it on his hand. “Got it.”

“So where are you?”
she asked.

“Oh, I’m…on my way to the grocery store. What are you hungry for?”

“Dara wants to cook, I forgot to tell you, crap.”

“Uh-oh, I hate people in my kitchen.”

“I know, I told her.”

“And she didn’t care.”

“Of course not. And you’re a sweet guy and you’ll be fine.”

“That’s the lie you told her,” he mumbled.

“Yep. And that’s the lie you will live for me, or else.”

Daniel’s cock twitched at her tone. He smiled. “Yes master.”

“Mmm, you read my mind Mr. Fletcher.”

“Yes I did, Mrs. Fletcher.”

She giggled, sounding thrilled then sighed. “When are you coming back?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m home. I think your right about Gammy too, I’d like her with us.”

“Good baby.” Daniel pulled into the supermarket parking lot and found a spot. “That’s best. Are you still taking Dara shopping tomorrow?”

“Oh yes, I am. She is soooo excited and so am I. Oh and I was thinking we could treat her out on the town? Seth could be her
date?
”

Daniel grinned, enjoying the idea of making Seth work for his money. “Sounds fantastic.”

“Yay! I’ll tell her, she is going to be so thrilled.”

“I’ll see you in an hour. I love you.”

She gave him a phone kiss. “I love you too.”

Chapter Eleven

Daniel paced in his bedroom trying to figure out how to break the news to everybody. That sweet little Seth was a con. An
ex-
con on top of that. In federal prison for guess what? Identity fucking theft. He forgot to put that bit in his big coloring con book of bullshit, didn’t he.

Part of him couldn’t wait to tell Sofia. She’d realize how naïve she’d been and he wouldn’t have to do a thing, just let the facts be known. He just hated to upset her so close to the wedding. But no doubt
Seth planned to steal Daniel blind. Little bastard. He had to do this now. He’d kick his ass after the truth came out because he needed it. Punishment was one thing Daniel was good at and as his big brother, he’d do it.

****

“Dara! Oh. My. God!” Sofia just stood there, gawking at her friend in the back room of the salon. They’d finally let her come back and see the transformation.

Dara
squealed like a teenager. “I know, I know, oh my God, what do you think Seth will think?” She turned in the mirror, looking at herself.

“He’s going to
shit
that’s what he’s going to think. Okay that made no sense, oh my God! I cannot believe this.”

She smiled a
t Sofia in the mirror. “You think momma?”

“No,” Sofia nodded, “I know. I mean wow, I cannot get over this. Why in the world do you even wear those stupid dresses, Dara, you’re hiding an amazing body, you need to throw those dresses, like
in the damn trash. When we get back! Not kidding.”

Dara cackled but Sofia was still awestruck at the transformation. She wore black slacks and jacket with a teal satin top and teal heels
. Her hair was layered and her makeup was perfect and her eyebrows were a third the size my God she looked like a freaking model now. Seth was truly going to
shit!
And her shape wasn’t bad, she had a big butt and chest but they were equally proportioned and actually sexy looking. “You could easily pass for one of those models at the plus place we just shopped at Dara, I’m not kidding.”

She squealed and ran to Sofia and hugged her. “Thank you thank you thank you.” Then some Romanian chatter while she smoothed her butt then shook it, filling the
air with her laughter. Sofia joined her, tickled to freaking death over this.

“I’m calling Daniel. I think we should like meet them out so that Seth doesn’t see you till we’re there then he’ll just fall over. I’m buying a camera to capture the shock on his face, he’ll want it for his scrap book I’m sure.” Sofia dialed Daniel’s cell, stifling her giggles while Dara did her sexy jigs in the mirror, blowing herself luscious kisses.

Daniel answered, “Hey baby, you guys are done?”

“Oh my God Daniel, you should
see
Dara.”

“What? Is it amazing?”

“Yes! She is…I’m not kidding you, a super-hot model looking person now!”

“Are you serious?”

“I’m dead serious. I was thinking we can meet at the restaurant so Seth can be blown away, I mean I have got to see his face.” Sofia laughed. “Baby when you see her, you are going to flip, I’m serious.”

“What time do you want to meet there?”

“Did you make the reservations?” Sofia asked.

“Yes, for nine. You want to meet at eight?”

“Sounds perfect,” Sofia sang, ecstatic.

“I miss you,” Daniel said, husk
ily.

“
Awwww, me too. What are you wearing? Did you help Seth dress? Remember, fancy, you promised.”

“Yes, I remember
ed. And yes, we’re both stuffed into stiff suits just for you girls.”

“I promise to make it up to you.”

“I promise to make you,” Daniel murmured. “But don’t hurry and drive safe.”

“I will. You too.”

“Always.”

****

“Hope you’re not going overboard with your charade with Dara,” Daniel said, glaring at Seth before flagging down the waiter, ready for more than water.

“Nah, she’s sweet.”

“Sweet huh?” Daniel looked at his phone, resisting the temptation to call Sofia again. It had only been fifteen minutes since he spoke to her and she’d said they were almost there. Friday night traffic, they were not late, he was just paranoid.

“Yes. Smart too. And funny as hell.”

Daniel eyed him. “You get anything other than jokes and fun from her?”

Seth sipped his water, eyeing him back over the glass, those caramel eyes nearly glowing. “What is that supposed to mean?” He sucked his perfect teeth,
clearly not happy.