Cruel Lies

by Ella Miles

  I wink as I let my nails dig down his chest, and then I strut toward his Bentley sedan behind him. I resist the undeniable urge to look at Langston. To see if he heard my words. To see if I’ve already broken him. To see if my cruel lies destroyed him.

  22

  Langston

  Liesel winked at Corbin.

  She flirted, used her body to seduce him. She touched him like she already knew him.

  What is happening?

  My mind buzzes, trying to remember everything that just happened. Every look she gave Corbin. Every unspoken exchange. Every word she muttered.

  If you want me, all you have to do is ask.

  She said it so flippantly. Like it meant nothing to her. Like she’d fuck him without thinking twice about it.

  When she was just fucking me just hours earlier. When she’s married to me. When she’s mine.

  I try to rack my brain for answers, but I only find more questions. Corbin didn’t even ask to fuck her. He didn’t threaten her. He didn’t say he would force her. She just willingly offered her body to him. Why?

  Has she been working with them all along? Did she lie to me? Was she really in love with Waylon? Does she actually want Corbin, not me?

  None of her actions make sense.

  And then another memory springs into my head like a bulldozer driving into my heart.

  Kissing.

  I was in the back of the van, barely conscious, but I saw Liesel kissing Corbin.

  I open my eyes to darkness and find myself locked in a dungeon. Metal bars surround me, chains bind my wrists to the wall above my head, but the bars and chains are nothing compared to the darkness encapsulating my heart.

  I shake my head, trying to shake off the memories that have to be lies.

  Liesel cares about me, not Corbin. She wouldn’t betray me like that. My memories must be wrong. She’s in danger, same as me. She might be locked up in a dungeon nearby. Corbin could be torturing her, forcing himself on her. I have to break free. I have to go find her and save her.

  I try to move my arms, but the chains holding my arms to the wall don’t budge.

  Fuck.

  My feet are free, so I dig them into the ground, trying to gather some leverage to yank the chains off the wall. No amount of strength is going to get these chains to move.

  I glance around the dark room for something I could use to pick the lock with, but the room is empty. I move my ass against the floor, trying to see if they left my wallet or phone. My pockets are empty. I move my foot around in my boot, but they don’t find the knife I usually keep there.

  I have nothing to use to break free.

  I’m going to fail Liesel again.

  I flail one more time, trying to pull the chains off the wall, but I have to force myself to stop no matter how hard it is for me to sit here and do nothing. If I do get an opportunity to get free, I’m going to need all of my strength to fight my way out of here, to protect Liesel.

  A door opens, and light floods down into my dark little space.

  I squint, hating the light. I prefer the darkness.

  The door closes again as heavy footsteps creep down the stairs.

  “Maxwell,” I practically growl as he stops just outside the metal bars.

  “It seems like our circumstances have changed. Now you’re the one tied up, while I’m free to do as I please.”

  “Just shoot me and get it over with.”

  He chuckles. “Only an unhinged man would shoot a man while he’s tied up. Especially when those men are on the same side.”

  “We aren’t on the same side.”

  “Aren’t we?” Maxwell grabs onto the top of the bars, his body slouching relaxedly as he waits for me to remember.

  I glance up at one of his hands, wrapped in bandages.

  He took a bullet for Liesel. He protected her.

  I frown, completely confused about which side anyone is on anymore. But I do know that no matter whose side Maxwell is truly on, I owe him.

  I sigh. “I owe you one for protecting her.”

  He smirks. “You’re about to owe me twice.”

  He reaches for the lock and inserts a key, opening the cage. Then he walks to me and pops open the locks on each of my wrists until the chains fall off.

  I rub my wrists as I stare, completely confused by Maxwell.

  “What do you want?” I ask, knowing he’s only doing this in exchange for something.

  “I want you to go get the woman we both love. I want you to take her and get the treasure. I want you to save the kids. And I want you to destroy my brother.”

  “Brother?”

  Maxwell nods. Corbin is his brother. Waylon was his brother. He’s a liar. Why should I trust him now?

  “You love Liesel?”

  He nods. “I do. But unlike every other deranged man who has fallen for her, I know she will never be mine. The best I can do is protect her.”

  I don’t correct him that I don’t love Liesel. That I can’t love her.

  “You’re here to help us?”

  “Yes.” He flings a gun at me.

  I catch it with wide eyes. A man I’ve shot before just freed me and willingly gave me a gun. I don’t know what his true motives are, but right now, it seems our goals are aligned.

  “Where’s he keeping Liesel?” I ask.

  He frowns. “I’m not sure if Corbin is keeping her or if she’s working with him willingly. She seems fascinated by him.”

  “Where is she?”

  Maxwell scratches his head like he’s not sure he wants to tell me. “Follow me.”

  I hold the gun in my hand as we jog up the stairs. Maxwell has his gun out, too, as we reach the top. “If anyone approaches, I’m going to pretend to knock you out. They still think I’m on their side.”

  I nod.

  Then he opens the door, and we’re standing in the hallway of a grand house. Without even taking a step out of the hallway, I can tell how big the house is. There are voices, but they are far off. The hallway is long, with dozens of doors.

  “This way,” Maxwell says, sneaking us down the hallway until we get to the end and it suddenly opens up into a grand room where the voices are coming from.

  Liesel is standing in the center of the room with a drink in her hand, while Corbin sits in a chair opposite her with his minions strewn about the room, sitting on various pieces of furniture, all looking up at Liesel like she’s the one in charge.

  Maxwell crouches down beneath a sofa; I slide over, doing the same as I watch Liesel through a crack between two sofas.

  She licks her lips, her eyes darting around to every man in the room like she’s taking her pick of the litter. I know Liesel uses sex as a weapon. I’ve witnessed it plenty of times. I just never thought she’d try it after she was mine.

  She’s not—it can’t be true. Corbin is forcing her into this position.

  Liesel struts over to Corbin, her eyes set on him. I know what she’s going to do before she does it. I have to stop her.

  “No,” Maxwell whispers in a hushed command.

  “I have to help her.”

  He shakes his head. “You do and we’re all dead.”

  I know he’s right. I count over thirty men in this room—all with guns. Maxwell is basically useless, and I’m good, but I can’t take down thirty men while keeping Liesel from getting shot in the process. But I can’t just sit here and watch this.

  Maxwell looks at me and just shakes his head like he thinks I’m ridiculous. “You’re an idiot.”

  Maybe I am—for falling for a girl who is followed by trouble like a hurricane leaving devastation everywhere. I know I’m about to once again risk my life to save her, but I’ll do it gladly.

  “What do you want in exchange?” Corbin asks, his eyes raking up and down her body like she’s his.

  “Nothing,” she grins. “I’ll fuck you and any other man in this room who wants me for free.”

  My heart breaks into a million pieces, each shar
p edge stabbing at my ribs and organs, killing me from the inside out.

  But then Liesel’s eyes catch mine. She sees me hiding—looks right at me as she breaks my heart and snickers.

  My head falls back, and I glance over at Maxwell, who is just as stunned as I am. I’m not seeing things—Liesel just willingly offered up her body to any man in this room. She doesn’t want anything in return.

  Liesel Dunn is a liar.

  She’s never been on my side. She’s always been on Waylon’s and now Corbin’s. She’s the villain in my story. I should have killed her when I got the chance.

  I couldn’t then, and I sure as hell can’t now.

  Maxwell is right; I am an idiot.

  For falling in love with a girl who was never mine. For still wanting to save her when she doesn’t want to be saved. For still loving her even when she betrays me.

  23

  Liesel

  Betray him.

  Do it—it’s just sex. Something that’s been taken from you so many times before. Fuck this man and whoever else he wants me to fuck to get the treasure, to protect my son, to end this war.

  It will hurt Langston—but it will also save him. It’s better this way. Make him hate me now so he won’t get hurt worse later—so that there is no chance he’ll fall in love with me.

  I don’t know what I was thinking, letting Langston propose to me like that. Getting married in a white dress with a handmade ring and vows. I should have just dragged his ass into the church and had a quick wedding like what I was going to do with Maxwell.

  Instead, it was romantic and sweet and led to more. But we can never have more.

  So I’ll end it now.

  My father was a cruel fucking man. If he wasn’t dead already, I’d kill him myself for making me fall for a man only to hurt him in the worst possible way. Even if Langston figures out why I’m doing this—it’s still unforgivable. It will still change everything between us.

  I lazily look around at the men in the room. Corbin sits in his chair like it’s a throne, while the other men salivate in my direction.

  I have no problem fucking men, taking away their power with my pussy. It’s when they try to take from me, that’s when I have a problem. Sex is a weapon when you wield it correctly, and I’m an expert.

  Before the last twenty-four hours, I would have had no problem fucking Corbin, making him believe I’m on his side, getting him to let his guard down in order for me to win. But now…

  My eyes cut to the boy I used to love. The boy who is all grown up now and hiding behind the couch, staring at me like he’s about to kill me.

  I’m going to have to give the best performance of my life to pull this off. I have to betray Langston in order to get the next clue. If I fail, my son will forever be in danger. There will be no reason for Corbin to keep Langston or I alive. I have to succeed.

  Before Langston came looking for me, I made a deal with Corbin. I’ll do whatever he wants in exchange for getting to see the boy he’s keeping hostage, a boy he thinks is my son.

  I turn off my emotions as I throw back the rest of my drink—the alcohol burns all feeling in my throat as it sinks down into my stomach.

  I’m saving Langston. I’m saving him.

  That’s the last I allow myself to think of Langston. My eyes focus in on my target—Corbin. He’s sitting in a red velvet chair in a full suit. The only thing missing is his tie. He thinks the clothes make them look more powerful. And maybe he is powerful. He has loyal men, wealth, weapons. He thinks he has me.

  He can fuck me, but I’ll never be his. I already gave my heart away…

  I straddle Corbin’s lap. I hover over him, careful not to touch any part of him as I raise an eyebrow challenging him.

  We doing this here, baby? In front of everyone?

  His nostrils flare, taking the bait.

  Why do I want to do it here in front of everyone? Because Langston is here. As much as it’s going to kill him to watch me do it, I also feel safe and connected to him. I only have the strength to do this if he’s here.

  I grab his shirt, ripping the expensive buttons on his white Louis Vuitton shirt as I pop it open. I have to make the first move, and I just made it.

  I’m the one in charge, not him.

  I repeat that mantra over and over in my head as I roll his jacket and shirt off his arms. Corbin doesn’t move to touch me. He thinks of himself as the king, and my job is to serve him. That makes my job easier. I’ll be in complete control of everything.

  I consider my next move carefully. I don’t want to take off my shirt. I want to strip him first, so he knows I have all the power. But giving up part of myself, controlling his eyes with my body is more important. I’m the most confident person in the world and have absolutely no problem fucking him is what I need him to believe.

  I need every man in this room to believe.

  So I pull my tank top off like it’s nothing, like I strip in front of dozens of men every day.

  I can hear men clearing their throats. Others groan. Some look away, embarrassed. But most of their eyes are glued to my pointed nipples, inches away from Corbin’s pupils.

  But I’m not done yet. I stand up with nothing but tiny shorts that barely cover my ass. Turning around, I stick my ass out as I swoop it over Corbin’s crotch and undo my button and zipper.

  I force myself not to glance at Langston. I don’t want the men in the room to know that he’s hiding, but I feel his heated stare on me more than any man’s in the room. His eyes are trying to demand that I’m his, trying to convince me to come back to him and stop this.

  I can’t.

  Instead, I slide my shorts and underwear down my body.

  There is a collective gasp in the room as I stand naked in front of a room full of men.

  Corbin still hasn’t touched me. He hasn’t said anything either.

  I turn back around, eyeing Corbin’s crotch like I want to eat him for dessert.

  He doesn’t react. He just stares at me intently, not moving.

  I trade his stare. I’ll fuck him in his chair, just like I did to Langston on the plane.

  “Such a brave woman to come into the lion’s den and offer yourself up willingly,” Corbin says.

  I hold all my tension in my jaw, but I don’t react. I don’t let out any fear.

  I can’t help but think my father did this as punishment for all the pain I’ve caused.

  He knew I was a terrible daughter, and I’d make a terrible mother, a terrible friend.

  I think about Phoenix. I took the man she loved only to destroy him. I deserve to feel whatever pain Corbin is planning on sending my way.

  “Kneel,” he says, attempting to take control from me. But one thing I’ve learned from my time with Langston is that no one can take anything from me without my consent. He can boss me around, and I can follow. He can touch me without my permission, but until I give him something, he has nothing. He can touch my body all he wants; all I care about is my heart, and he won’t be coming near that.

  “With pleasure,” I say, kneeling in front of him.

  Corbin’s eyes widen as he realizes just how far I’m willing to go.

  “You really don’t love your husband, do you?”

  “I really don’t, but I love to fuck.” My eyes cut left, then make a slow circle around the men in the room before landing back on Corbin with a grin. “So who is going to give me the pleasure of fucking me first?”

  I purposefully spread my knees, giving Corbin a direct view of my pussy.

  He stops breathing.

  I smirk.

  “I want you to suck me and then every other cock in this room. Show us what a dirty slut you are,” he says.

  In my head, I roll my eyes. Men are such simple creatures; always with the dick sucking like that is somehow demeaning me. They would do anything I say for a simple blowjob.

  I inch forward and grab onto Corbin’s pants, yanking them down.

  His cock springs free, a
lready hard. It’s thick and long, a decent looking cock, but my pussy doesn’t get a drop wetter. When he fucks me, it’s going to be dry and painful.

  I lower my head to his cock, but before I touch my lips to his tip, I’m jerked back by my hair.

  Langston.

  He starts shooting.

  Shit.

  I thought he understood I didn’t want him to save me.

  Bullets start flying all around us. Then I see Maxwell. I look at his wrist and remember that he protected me. He’s on my side.

  End this, I mouth to him.

  He jumps over the couch and is by my side in an instant with his gun at my temple.

  “Stop or she dies,” Maxwell yells.

  Langston stops, turning his head to stare at Maxwell. I know he’s confused about whose side Maxwell is on, and I’m not going to help him.

  “Drop the gun, Langston,” Corbin says.

  “You won’t kill her; you can’t kill her,” Langston says, looking between Corbin and Maxwell.

  “Not yet, we can’t. But we can kill her child,” Corbin says.

  Langston smirks. “No, you can’t. Because I have her child.”

  Corbin laughs. “So sure you have the correct child? And even if you do, you’re willing to let an innocent child die? Even if she did love you, she’d never forgive you for letting a child die.”

  Langston sucks in a breath, and then his eyes fall to Maxwell, who nods, telling Langston to surrender. Langston still doesn’t look at me.

  Killer, put the gun down before you ruin everything.

  Finally, Langston looks at me. For a second, I let a moment of truth fill my eyes.

  Trust me.

  His eyes glide side to side over mine, and I know he got the simple message, but he’s searching for more—the reason I’m doing this.

  His gun drops to the floor.

  There’s silence for a split second, then all of Corbin’s men have Langston at gunpoint.

  “You can stop pointing that thing at me, now,” I say to Maxwell.

  He doesn’t lower his gun. He looks to Corbin for permission.