Cruel Lies (Lies 4)

I give her one more second to get whatever jealousy she’s feeling toward Liesel out of her system. Then, I grab her shoulders and hold her back.

She tilts her head, her brows pulling together.

“Stop,” I say, repeating the word that Liesel said to me.

“You’re my husband. You don’t get to tell me to stop. You’re mine.”

I shake my head. “I was never yours. We have an agreement on paper to protect the kids; that’s all. I care about you deeply, Dunn. And that’s why I’m going to spend the rest of the flight in the cockpit.”

I stand up before I release her.

“Baby, please,” she begs.

“I care about you. I’m sorry for hurting you, but I can’t, Dunn—not anymore. I’m sorry.”

And then I walk to the cockpit. I don’t allow myself to glance back at either of the women. I don’t want to see the pain I’m causing both of them.

All I know is I’m a stupid man who thought I’d never care about a woman more than I do Phoenix. I wasn’t sure I had a heart. Even Siren thought I’d never fall in love and agreed that marrying Phoenix was for the best.

Then Liesel came back into my life and fucked up all my plans.

I got the silent treatment from both women during the entirety of our landing and drive to our hotel. The sky is dark, so we won’t be searching for any treasure tonight.

I park the rental car in front of the swankiest hotel I could find. I chose the best not because I need us to rest in luxury, but because expensive hotels have the most cameras to hack into ensuring our safety.

Phoenix continues to give me an icy glare from the passenger seat next to me. Liesel stares out the window, completely lost in thought like we aren’t even here at all. If Liesel is upset that Phoenix kissed me, she’s not showing it.

I get out of the car, scanning every person on the street, my gun at my back, my fingers tingling to grab it. After the explosion at my house, I don’t trust that we aren’t being followed.

A couple walks by holding hands, and my mind immediately goes to them being dangerous. A woman is carrying a baby in one hand while holding the hand of a crying toddler with the other—an obvious enemy in my paranoid mind.

Liesel steps out of the car, her eyes scanning just like mine, searching for the devil inside every person who walks by.

Another door slams. Phoenix struts by us and walks through the automatic doors of the hotel, her anger overtaking any fear she has.

Liesel and I exchange a glance wordlessly, and then we walk inside.

“Do you still have a gun?” I ask.

She nods.

“Good girl.”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s not going to work. You can’t seduce me by saying things like ‘good girl.’”

“I’d bet everything I own that your panties are wet right now.” I wink at her.

Her ears pink, and I know I’m right.

We hit the lobby floor, and our flirting stops. People are milling about everywhere—the reception desk, the lounge, the bar. People walk briskly past us and danger could be anywhere.

“Stay close,” I order.

She nods, walking next to me. Phoenix emerges from the bar with a dry martini in her hand as she settles into a walk on my left.

“Don’t leave my side again, Dunn.”

Both women look at me. I should really stop calling Phoenix, ‘Dunn.’