An amateur's guide to conning a conman

Chapter 24

When I woke up again, I was back in my bed and Jack was seated on a chair beside me, his arms were folded on the bed and he was sleeping soundly.

When I tried to move, Jack shot straight up.

" I'm up, I'm up." He rubbed his eyes.

" You should be at work. What are you doing here?"

" I found you outside sleeping on the couch this morning with Titus."

My heart stopped, " Is he still here?"

" No, I made him leave before anyone else woke up. What happened yesterday?"

Jack gestured at my face and I turned to cover the wound.

" Wherever sweetliars go, trouble always follow. I don't really want to talk about it now, maybe later."

It was quiet for a bit before I said something.

" I think Titus is hiding something from me."

" Why do you think that?"

" He didn't want me involve from the beginning and when we got into the situation yesterday, we thought we found the necklace but it was a fake and the lady who had it was so angry at Titus for no reason like he caused it."

My eyes widened.

Oh my gods. Titus knows who our mystery man is. And the lady knew that. That's why we played the game. If she couldn't hurt the person who conned her, she would hurt the next best thing.

" I have to go."

" What? Sia!" Jack called after me but I didn't stop. I needed to go back to that place and talk to that women.

He caught my arm, " Sia, where are you going?"

" To find out what Titus knows."

**

The house was quiet just like yesterday except this time, the door had been locked. I had no choice but to knock and wait.

I had considered how stupid I was being but I didn't have a choice. The necklace had been gone a month, my face plastered on every channel and I wasn't able to pay the bills on time this month if this continued.

The door opened and for a second the fortune teller was utterly stunned at my presence, she was dressed in silk and diamonds, a far cry of the rags she wore when we first met. An ice pack was pressed against her shoulder.

" May I come in?" I asked, my heart pounding.

She opened the door and motioned for me to come in.

As soon as I did, I was seized by her two men, except this time I knew what to expect. I twisted out of their grasp and put a good three feet between us.

" Aren't we eager?" The women had made it to the kitchen and I had no choice to follow.

She poured herself a cup of tea and I waited until she finished.

" Yesterday, the game. You weren't bored, you wanted Titus to suffer for a reason. You know whoever sold the necklace is connected with him. Who is he?"

She only smiled and brought the cup to her lips.

The second I felt hands on me, I lost it. I hadn't fought in years, haven't even been in training but it was second nature as I twisted the first man's arm quickly behind his back and forced him on his knees. I immediately released him as soon as I realized what I was doing.

" You've gotten better since you were a kid."

My eyes snapped to hers, " You know who I am."

" Of course I know dear, I've known since we've first met. You're a splitting image of your father. It's been so long, the last time I visited Sheng, there were multiple girls claiming to be the daughter of Kiron Dark."

" Sia, I love you. Now go on, go with your grandfather."

I blinked the memory away.

" Well, I supposed I've dragged this on for too long. I'm sorry for yesterday, I didn't truly think Titus wouldn't choose you."

" I don't want an apology."

" I know, I know. You want the man who took the necklace. His name is Cesar Marlow. I've been searching for that bastard since he sold me the fake."

The name wasn't familiar to me.

" And how is he connected to Titus?"

" My dear, that's the man who trained him."

**

It was nighttime when I returned home, I had spent the day scouring the streets for any whisper of Cesar Merlow, any scrap of evidence he was in the city. I didn't find anything.

Titus, Dante, and Jack were whispering when I opened the door. Their eyes flicked over at the sight of me.

" Where have you been?" Jack demanded.

I couldn't hear him, I didn't want to. Before I knew it I had made my way over to Titus and grabbed him by the shoulder, slamming him against the wall.

His eyes widened but he didn't fight back.

" Sweetheart." He said softly.

I allowed myself to stay with him last night, I allowed him to touch me and whisper sweet lies into my ear.

" Sia!" Jack said, he immediately reached for my shoulder but I shrugged him off.

My grip tightened on Titus. Dante had appeared at my side, his nails digging into my skin but I didn't let go.

" Have you gone insane?" Dante hissed.
" We have been looking for you for hours, Titus has been looking for you for hours and the second you get back, you attack him?"

" What's wrong?" Titus didn't even sound angry, " Why are you mad?"

He didn't move or attempt to get out of my grasp.

" You know who the mystery man is. You've known since the beginning. Cesar Marlow."

My eyes flicked down to his tattoo and I reached for the shirt, pulling down roughly to expose his tattoo. The letters C M never looked so incriminating.

Titus didn't answer me. He didn't have to confirm anything. I saw it on his face.

Gods. Sweetliars were all the same. I can't believe I allowed myself to fall for one.

I released him and pushed both Jack and Dante out of my way. No one stopped me.