Trapped by Lies (Truth or Lies 3)

The ring Kai gave to Milo so he wouldn’t rape her. A ring I owe everything to for saving Kai, yet also want to curse for making me believe Kai betrayed me.

Milo cocks his head. “This looks like an engagement ring to me, Black.”

I nod nonchalantly. “It is.”

He twirls the ring around his pinky finger. “Why would you sell the whore you married?”

I laugh like it’s the most ridiculous thing. “You think I married the bitch?” I hate myself for calling Kai a bitch, but he needs to think she means nothing to me.

“Yes.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t marry her.”

“Then why did you give her this ring?”

“So the world would

know she’s mine.”

He leans back studying me, but I pour all my truth into my words. Those words at least are true. Kai is mine, and I wanted the world to know.

“The scars and bruises weren’t enough?” Milo tests me. He doesn’t believe I was the one who marked her.

“You know how men are. I beat her black and blue plenty of times, but that wasn’t enough to stop other men from touching her. Only that ring did that.”

“She didn’t look too beat up at my party.”

“I’ve grown bored with her lately. I’ve had her for six years. She earned a night of freedom, and when I saw your infatuation with her, I realized I had found a buyer willing to pay top price.”

“She means nothing to you?”

“Nothing.”

He sighs. “Then she isn’t worth five million.”

I shrug. “Probably not. I broke her easily. You got a taste of her on your yacht, which for that alone I should double the price. You didn’t have any right to touch what was mine without paying.”

I lean forward, threatening Milo with everything in my body. “I think I will raise the price—ten million. You saw something in her on your yacht. You want her; you pay for her. And you pay for your mistake touching her.”

Milo’s eyes light up. Fuck. I fucked up. He realizes what she means to me. He pockets the ring again.

His phone buzzes. He glances down, and his pupils dilate. He doesn’t answer the phone. He silences it only for it to start buzzing again. And that’s when I realize his mistake. He has enemies here. Someone he’s running from.

“When do you leave?” I ask.

“Tonight.” He answers, but his thoughts aren’t on this conversation. They are on the buzzing in his pocket. “I should be going. Arrangements need to be made for my departure.”

“Back to Italy?”

He doesn’t answer. He doesn’t want me to know where he’s going. He wants to hurt me. He wants Kai. But he doesn’t feel safe here in Miami. With one phone call I’ll find out who his greatest enemy in town is, and then I’ll use it to my advantage.

I will keep Kai safe.

“Do we have a deal?” I ask, holding out my hand already knowing he’s going to take it. He risked his empire all to claim my woman. He wants to hurt me; I just wish I knew why. At his party he acted like we were great friends. But that’s how enemies behave in public, like the best of friends. Only in private do we dare to make moves against each other.

He grips it and then pulls out his phone. He speaks to his right-hand man, and I know the money is in my account. I don’t verify it. I don’t give a shit about the money. That’s not what this is about.

Milo wants power over me, and he’s taking it. He set a trap to get me to sell Kai, and I fell for it. He won this round, just as Kai won her first round in our game. But I never lose twice against the same opponent. The next round goes to me, and I will slaughter him.