Cruel Lies (Lies 4)

For now, knowing his name, Atlas, and knowing that he’s safe in Langston’s protection is enough. It’s more than enough after Waylon led me to believe that he was with a cruel monster who was abusing him. Langston may be a monster, but I’ve seen how he loves his kids. Atlas is accepted as his child just as much as Rose. He’ll protect both of them with his life.

“I’ll show you to your room in the basement,” Langston says.

“No, I’d rather sleep here.”

“Huntress, get your ass inside, now.”

I look at the house. I can’t sleep under the same roof as Phoenix, and I can’t chance that Atlas might see me. I’ll sleep out here under the stars, where the sun will ensure I wake up before anyone in the house does.

“Fine,” Langston huffs off while I curl up on the couch.

I close my eyes and am just on the edge of sleep, when I see a shadow walking toward me. I’m too tired to open my eyes, but the shadow means me no harm.

A blanket is draped over me, and then his soft lips whisper near my ear. “I don’t know if you are the biggest sinner or saint, but either way, you’re mine, huntress. Mine.”

4

Langston

I bang the coffee cup down on the counter and slam the cabinet door shut. I should move more quietly so I don’t wake everyone up, but I can’t. I didn’t sleep at all last night. Instead, I spent the night in my office on my laptop, trying to figure out what Liesel is hiding from me.

I pour myself some coffee, and I stare out at the back deck where Liesel is still sound asleep on the couch.

What do I do with you, huntress? What are y

ou hunting now? You’ve found your child, now what? Do you really want the treasure, or is that just an illusion?

“Morning, baby. What can I make you for breakfast?” Phoenix asks as she twirls into the kitchen.

I narrow my eyes, trying to figure out why she’s so happy.

“I’m fucking exhausted and don’t have time for games, so tell me what the hell is going on.”

Her smile doesn’t falter. She grabs a coffee cup behind my left shoulder and then grabs the pot behind me. She happily pours herself a cup before standing on her tiptoes and kissing me blatantly on the lips.

My eyes cut outside, but Liesel is still asleep. I don’t have to ask any more questions to know what game Phoenix is playing at. She’s trying to let Liesel know that she has me—that I slept in her house, that she’s birthed my child and taken care of Liesel’s, that she has a secure place in my life, while Liesel has nothing.

I shake my head at her antics. “Liesel being here changes nothing between us.”

She tilts her head with an even brighter smile. “I know.”

That’s what she wants—nothing to change.

I sigh. What a mess I’m in. Two women who both are worthy of the world and I won’t be able to give either of them what they deserve. All I do is take from both of them. With Phoenix, I take advantage of her kindness in caring for my children, but I don’t want her body or love for myself. With Liesel, I take her body, her lust, her desire, but I don’t want to love her.

“Beckett will be here in an hour to take the kids,” I say, not giving Phoenix a say in the matter.

She nods. “And then we’ll leave after that?”

“Yes.”

“Where to?”

I take a sip of my coffee. Finding the treasure is between Liesel and me. Phoenix is only coming along because the first clue said that a Dunn had to be married to seek the treasure. That doesn’t mean I’ll share anything with Phoenix that she doesn’t absolutely need to know.

“You’ll know when we get there,” I say.

Her smile drops, and her face turns dark. I think she’s going to fight me on it, but there is a more pressing issue that we need to discuss.