Trapped by Lies (Truth or Lies 3)

But I know what Liesel is truly afraid of because I know her better than any other man. And I know I won’t have to lay a finger on her to force the truth from her. Because the threat of pain is worse than the actual pain for her. And I know how to play with her head to get to the truth.

“Stand up,” I say not turning to look at her, keeping my voice calm and cool.

The monster is out and ready; my body is flaming with the fire always burning inside me. What I wouldn’t give to touch Kai right now and steal some of her cold, cool calmness.

I pick up the rope, the only weapon I will touch.

And then I tu

rn to face Liesel, sliding the two strands of rope into my back pocket so she can’t see which weapon I chose.

She’s standing almost eye to eye with me in her ten-inch heels. I used to admire her for looking so fierce in shoes and outfits like the one she’s wearing. A dark red dress and shiny silver shoes that make her look like sex and nothing else. But now, I see nothing but the scared little girl I saw in the hallway all those years ago when she watched me shoot my mother to end her pain—the moment I let the monster in.

Liesel stands not because she chooses to follow my orders, but so I can see the defiance in her eyes, and I know how much I’m going to have to break her to end this. And have a chance at saving Kai from creating her own monster.

“Back up,” I say, taking a step forward.

“No,” she says defiantly.

And then I use a voice I’ve never used with Liesel before. A voice I hate.

“Back up,” my voice booms, bringing with it the fire of hell.

She stumbles back, the fear creeping over her now pale skin.

My eyes blaze with the fury my father put inside me all those years ago. I stand taller as the monster grows inside me.

I take another step, pushing Liesel back with my body without touching her because she fears what I might do to her. She stops when her back hits the wall behind her.

“Strip,” I growl, my voice low.

She grips her dress and pulls it over her head quickly. And I can see what she thinks, that seeing her naked will somehow turn me on and make me stop this. I won’t hurt her when I remember she’s a woman, and I don’t hurt women.

But I don’t lust after Liesel, not anymore. My cock only points toward one woman these days—Kai.

Liesel smirks, but it doesn’t reach her eyes as she stands naked in front of me except for her shoes. Her long flowing hair and large tits make her look all woman, and sexy as a goddess. But it does nothing to my body. My cock doesn’t even stir.

“Turn around,” I say low and breathy.

She smiles and does as she spots the rope I bring out from my pocket.

“Kinky,” she says.

“No, Liesel. I am anything but kinky right now.”

I don’t want to do this, but I must. I won’t lay a finger on Liesel. Not one finger. I’ll only make her think that I could. That I will. That I’ll hurt her.

“Give me your hands.”

She extends her hands behind her back, and I tie them, careful not to touch her skin as I force her wrists together. And then I bend down and tie her legs.

“You’re my prisoner, Liesel, nothing more.”

She scowls at me as I look at her.

And I know the way to break her. Not with threats of fucking her, but with threats of never touching her. Of her never being enough. Of her meaning nothing to me.

I take a step back as she turns around, balancing precariously on her heels, now that her feet are tied together.