Dark Lonely Lies - Sam Crescent Page 0,1

asked.

“I don’t have to give you my name.” She went to cover her badge but he saw it. It didn’t say Sarah on the badge. Tulip was her name.

“Sarah, is that you?”

“I don’t know who you are, sir, but you’re kind of freaking me out and you know, I don’t have to serve you.”

“I’m guessing you do. In this nice restaurant, you’ve got no choice but to do as the customer says.” He reached into his jacket, pulling out a couple of twenties. Tulip raised her brows, and he watched as she smirked.

“Dude, seriously, you think you’re the first guy to ask for a little extra on the side? The strip club with the massages is a couple of streets away. You’ll find what you’re looking for there.”

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” Mandy said, coming toward him. She kissed his lips and he watched Tulip.

He didn’t know how it was possible, but he was staring at Sarah’s twin. It couldn’t be that easy, surely.

Tulip asked. “Are you guys ready to order?” Her accent was British and he saw ink on the insides of her wrists. She was also pale and even though she looked exactly like Sarah, there was certainly no easy aura surrounding her. Sarah had been sweet, kind, gentle. This girl was hard around the edges and clearly had seen a rough life.

He didn’t know how it could fucking be.

Mandy ordered for the two of them.

“You need her, don’t you?” Mandy asked, drawing his attention back to his wife.

“I don’t need her.”

Mandy reached over the table and took his hands. “I’m not a fool, Rick. I know who you are and I know what it is you do. You don’t have to keep protecting me. I’ve known for a long time, but you can’t keep hiding this.”

He stared at his wife. “Mandy?”

“That girl has to stop Landon from killing, doesn’t she?” she asked.

He pressed his lips together.

“We’ve been married for a long time. You think you’re always so stealthy and quiet?” She chuckled. “Not to mention, using my birthday in your storage container in our basement for all your weapons wasn’t exactly smart. I saw everything. I know everything, Rick. I have for a long time.”

“Then why are you still with me? If you know who I really am, you know being a doctor isn’t exactly my calling.”

“Because you became a doctor to be with me.” Mandy lifted his hands up and kissed them. “You stopped killing and moved away from your family, to be with me. Now they need you.”

Mandy let go of his hand and reached inside her bag. He didn’t see what it was she gave to him until he felt it. It was a needle.

“It has a heavy dose of tranquilizer in there. I’ve always kept one in case something was to happen.”

“You didn’t trust me?”

“When I first found out who you really were, no, I didn’t trust you, but now, I do. I know you will do whatever you have to to keep me safe. I love you, Rick Denton. Don’t lie to me again. That girl looks exactly like Sarah. You need her for Landon, don’t you?”

He nodded. Right now, words failed him.

“Then let’s have a nice dinner and then you can go hunting.”

****

Tulip knew she was being followed. She’d already circled her flat three times. It was late, she was tired, and this fucker just wouldn’t budge. She held on to her knife, a small blade she’d be able to click open without her possible attacker even seeing. The worn jacket gave her enough room to disguise it.

After another twenty minutes, she gave up. Standing in the street underneath a light, she spun. “I know you’re there. Stop being a dick, and tell me what you want.”

She’d dealt with her fair share of pimps and pricks, they didn’t scare her. They tended to prey on women who weren’t willing to fight back. Well, she loved to fight back and did so often. It was far more of a hassle keeping her than leaving her.

What she didn’t expect was the American to come out of the shadows. He wore a suit, but with the way he walked, she knew he was used to living life in the darkness. This wasn’t some creepy guy looking for a good time.

He was serious business and she knew with any wrong move, she was fucked.

“Why are you following me?” she asked.

“I need you to come with me.”

“And you think I’m going to go and follow a