Read Online Tangled Lies by Connie Mann - Free Book Online

the coffee.”
    “And kiss my little girl good-bye,” he said.
    Sasha looked away as Eve’s eyes filled with tears. Her own emotions were too close to the surface this morning to deal with Eve’s, too. She pushed her chair back and stepped to the coffeepot for a refill.
    “Time to hit the road, gang. Traffic in Tampa will get ugly fast.” Sasha grabbed Eve’s suitcase and laptop and headed for the door. “I’ll meet you at the car.”
    Outside, she stowed the bags in the trunk of Mama’s Buick, spread an old beach towel on the backseat, and motioned Bella inside. When Blaze clumped down the porch steps and plopped onto the backseat like she was headed for prison, Sasha bit back a grin and shut the door after her. Eve hurried out moments later, wiping her eyes. She climbed into the passenger seat and leaned her head back.
    “I hate good-byes,” she mumbled.
    Sasha ignored her and started the car, tuning the radio to a local jazz station. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and within five miles, she heard snoring from the backseat, in stereo. She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Bella’s head on Blaze’s lap, both sound asleep.
    She turned to share a smile with Eve, but her sister stared out the window, still wiping at tears, so Sasha said nothing. Eve had always cried over the dumbest little thing, and Sasha never knew what to say. Mama’s cancer wasn’t a little thing, but still, tears made her uncomfortable. Back in Russia, her papa had told her crying solved nothing. Action solved problems. Instead of crying, she fixed things. Or threw something.
    When Sasha reached the airport access road, Eve straightened and went into what Sasha called checklist mode. “So listen, you don’t have to park the car. Just drop me off at the curb. It’ll be cheaper and quicker.”
    Sasha ignored her and headed for short-term parking.
    “Did you hear what I said?” Eve demanded.
    “I heard. But I don’t agree. Pop asked me to see you off.”
    Eve huffed out a breath. “OK, fine. Do you have your—”
    “New cell phone?” Sasha said. “Yes, and it’s charged and it’s turned on, and yes, I will text you back when you tell me you’ve arrived in DC. Did I miss anything?”
    Eve narrowed her eyes at her. “And you’ll let me know—”
    “When I get the police files. Right. We’ve talked about this, Eve.”
    Eve sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave.”
    “And you don’t want to be out of the loop on what’s going on,” Sasha said, grinning.
    Eve snorted. “Fine. Yes. That, too.”
    They parked, walked to the terminal, and waited while Eve checked her bag. Then they walked to security together, Blaze trailing three steps behind.
    Eve set her carry-ons at her feet and turned to hug Blaze, who held herself stiffly but didn’t squirm out of her grasp.
    “Thanks for the way you’re helping out, Blaze. I’m glad you’re there.”
    Sasha watched Blaze’s face, her usual glare softening at the words. “They’re family. It’s what you do.”
    Eve pulled back and looked her in the eyes. “It’s what we do, yes, though not every family does.”
    Blaze scowled at Sasha. “Some of us take that seriously.”
    Sasha wanted to snap at her, but this wasn’t the time or place. Instead she hugged Eve when it was her turn. “Be safe, Sis. I’ll keep my phone on, promise.”
    Tears ran down Eve’s cheeks. “I’ll call you as soon as I land. I’ll—”
    Sasha turned her toward the ever-growing line for security and handed her bags to her. “I know. Go, or you’ll miss your flight.”
    Sasha and Blaze waited and waved one last time before she disappeared from sight. Once they were back in the car, Blaze up front and Bella sprawled across the backseat, Sasha said, “So what’s up, kid?”
    Blaze’s eyes widened before she looked away. “Who said anything is up?”
    “You wouldn’t be here right now—not this early—if you didn’t have something to say, so out with