Desperate Lies (Lies 2)

STOP! I can’t think about any of that.

Langston’s body is replaced by his words in my mind. He said I have twenty-four hours to decide if I want to finish the game here or back on his island. But if I choose to finish our game here, he threatened Waylon.

I don’t want to risk Waylon’s life, but it’s not about choosing between keeping him safe or not. Langston will hang Waylon’s life over me no matter where I fight Langston.

This is about choosing between the two men. Who do I trust? Whose side do I want to be on?

The choice is easy—Waylon.

It has to be Waylon. I can’t choose Langston.

All that’s left to do is to convince my body it wants Waylon, not Langston.

I shower and get dressed.

I listen while Waylon talks to me about hiring security and starting his campaign.

Then I kiss him goodnight. I should fuck him, remind my body whom it craves.

I can’t.

I’m exhausted, and my body is buzzing for another man. I need space and time. Only then will I be able to reconnect with Waylon.

“I’m here if you need me, but I need to finish some calls before I come to bed,” Waylon says.

“I’m going to take a long, relaxing bath, and then I’ll meet you in bed.”

“You deserve to relax.”

I walk to the bathroom and start filling the tub when my cell phone rings.

If it’s Siren or Kai, I’m not answering. I’m pissed at Siren for ratting me out, and I don’t want Kai’s sympathy. If it’s anyone calling ab

out any of Waylon’s plans, I’m too tired to listen.

I stare at the name. I intended to turn the phone off, to not answer.

But with one flash of his name, my heart skips, and my insides warm.

My thumb hovers over the button.

Just turn it off. Turn off the phone and enjoy your bath.

Somehow, my thumb brushes against the answer button. I bring the phone up to my ear, and I speak.

6

Langston

Liesel answers the phone.

I wasn’t sure if she would or if I would have to sneak over in the middle of the night to drag her out of bed and force her to talk to me.

“Hello,” her voice is breathy as she answers.

“Have you decided? Are we finishing this here or on the island?”

She shakes her head on my monitor screen. I’m watching her from my hotel room across the street from her building. “Really? We aren’t even going to talk about the fact that I tricked you and won? How does your wife feel about you kissing me?”