Fated Lies (Lies 3)

“Do you have your phone on you? Are you in contact with anyone?” He tries harder to pull away. He’s much stronger than me and could rip his hand from mine if he really wanted, but his fingers still cling to mine even as he backs away.

“No, I don’t have my phone on me.”

“Explain.”

I hiss out a breath as my increased heart rate has me breathing too hard and makes my entire body ache. Despite the pain, I face Langston.

“Siren isn’t dead because I didn’t shoot her.”

“What do you mean you didn’t shoot her? I watched you. I saw her drop. I—”

“It was all a lie. I was angry. I wanted to hurt you for what you did to Waylon, but as you said, I’m a huntress, not a killer. I couldn’t ki

ll her.”

“You faked her death?”

I nod slowly. “Siren agreed to help me fake her death. She was pissed at you for kidnapping me and threatening to kill me. Then when I saw Waylon dead in my apartment and Siren saw how devastated I was, she said she would do anything to help me. I needed revenge. I needed you to feel pain like I did, even if it was temporary. So she agreed.”

“And Zeke, did he know?”

I nod. “He was pissed for you making Siren suck your cock. So he agreed to play along.”

“I wondered why he never retaliated after I did that.”

He glares at me, his eyes cutting through me like a blade to butter. And then his eyes soften. “I knew you were never a killer, huntress. I shouldn’t have believed my eyes. I should have known to always follow my heart. And I should always count on you lying to me.”

I gnaw on my bottom lip, not sure if he’s more pissed that I lied and tricked him or relieved that Siren is alive.

His thumb brushes against my bottom lip until I stop chewing on it.

“Thank you for telling me the truth and putting me out of my agony.”

“You’re welcome.”

His other thumb then brushes against the back of my hand as our fingers tighten their grips on each other.

“Now it’s my turn to put you out of your agony.”

“You’re going to tell me the truth about Phoenix?”

“Is that truly the greatest thing causing you agony?”

Yes.

No.

I don’t know.

I also want to know why he wants me dead. What sin I did that was too far.

I want to know about his kids.

I want to know why he wants the treasure.

He reads my face and knows that I have too many unanswered questions. Too many to choose from to figure out which one brings me the most pain.

He raises an eyebrow as I once again wince. “I don’t think I can reduce your pain with even my most guarded truth.”