Vicious Lies (Lies 1)

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I’m married, too.”

No.

My mouth falls, my eyes swell with threatening tears, and my heart slows.

“I’m married. I have two kids.”

More burning words. He just lit me on fire and left me to burn.

“Your marriage won’t help you. You have to be married to a Dunn to be able to go after the fortune, and last I checked you didn’t marry me. I’m the only Dunn left.”

Langston is quiet a minute.

Another explosion goes off, and somehow his body presses harder against mine until I swear I feel his erection at my stomach. I must be dreaming, though.

“I married a Dunn.”

I frown, completely confused.

“You cheated on your wife with me and Phoenix?’

“Phoenix is my wife—Phoenix Dunn.”

I search my brain, trying to figure out how she’s related to me.

“My cousin,” I say, remembering long ago when my father once mentioned I had a cousin. He told me she’s the only family I have left if I wanted to search for her. I never did. I didn’t want family.

Another explosion, this one close to the house.

“You promise to do what I say?” Langston asks.

I know he won’t let me up unless I do.

I nod.

He frowns, knowing I’m lying.

“Run, Liesel. Run until you can’t run anymore. Tomorrow, come find me, huntress. Come find me, and I’ll tell you a piece from my half of the letter. I’ll give you another piece of the puzzle.”

Langston removes his body from mine.

I run.

And run.

I run from the pain.

I run from Langston.

I run for my life.

He wants me to hunt for him tomorrow, to find him.

The only thing I plan on hunting for is a way off this island. There was once a time when I thought Langston was the one. The man I would marry—the love of my life.

But this isn’t a love story. This is the story of all the reasons Langston and I can’t be together.

Reason number one: we lie.