Fated Lies (Lies 3)

I frown. She knows not to call me unless it’s an emergency.

I answer. “Siren?” I ask, hoping there’s good news. I can’t think of the worst.

“No, sorry, it’s Rose.”

“What happened?”

“I’m taking her to the children’s hospital. She’s lethargic and in pain. She’s asking for you. I told her you have to go on a very important trip, but—”

“I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes,” I say.

I can hear her relief through the phone. Phoenix is great with the kids, but they’ve always been closer to me. We share a bond that no matter how much I’ve disappointed them by having to spend time apart, they still love me. It’s why I can’t fail them, not in the ways I failed Liesel.

I end the call and look at Liesel, who is staring at me curiously.

“Leaving?” she asks.

I take a heavy breath. I don’t want to leave Liesel here. I don’t trust she’ll be here when I get back, but I have to go. I won’t abandon my kids.

“Yes, but you aren’t.”

She gives me a sad smile. “Where are you tying me up?”

“I’m not.”

Her head turns sharply in my direction like she doesn’t believe me. There are too many dangerous people after us. She still may not understand that yet, but the treasure that only she and I have all the clues to are infinitely valuable. And she doesn’t yet understand that I won’t let anyone hurt her, not until I have every secret she holds. She will only die at my hand.

“You’re taking me with you?” She raises an eyebrow.

I can’t do that either. I can’t let her anywhere near my kids.

“No.”

“Then what are you going to do with me?”

I pull a gun from my waistband and hold it out to her.

She recoils. She hates guns almost as much as she hates me.

“Take it.”

Reluctantly, she takes the gun in her hand. I try to push the last time she held a gun out of my head. Don’t think about Siren. She’s strong. She’ll survive.

But I can’t help the rage that forms seeing Liesel holding a gun again. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I can’t believe I’m letting her live.

Not for much longer.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill anyone else,” Liesel says, trying to get me to explode and end this sooner than I planned.

“Don’t push me, Liesel.”

“Why? You won’t tie me up. You won’t kill me. You won’t hurt me. You’ve already taken everything from me. There is nothing left you can do to hurt me.”

I run my hand through my hair. “There is nothing left you can do to hurt me either.”

“Not Phoenix? Not your kids?”

“I care about Phoenix, but she knows what she signed up for. She knows her role and that it’s a dangerous one. Losing Phoenix wouldn’t hurt, but then you already deduced that.”