Trapped by Lies (Truth or Lies 3)

He smirks like he thinks I’m a fool. How dare he!

“Kai is Katherine Miller, Kai Miller. We all thought Enzo had already fought to claim the title of Black. But we were wrong. She’s the woman he has to fight for power of his empire.”

How did I not make the connection myself? She really is a princess, and what she could inherit is more powerful than inheriting any throne. The Black empire makes more money than most small countries. It has men and spies in almost every country. But that is not where the Black empire shines. The technology that has been developed for security purposes is greater than anything else. That’s why I buy all my security systems and yachts from him. But I know Enzo keeps the best technology for himself, that way he is always protected.

What I could do with that kind of power! If my empire were melded with his, I would be unstoppable.

“But the girl can’t have a chance at winning, not against Enzo,” I say sadly, realizing the girl really has no use beyond my initial plan.

“I heard you are missing a ring,” the man says, staring at my empty pinky finger. “That was the first task. She won. She stole it.”

An evil grin forms on my face.

“They are tied—one to one. The first to three wins. Enzo is strong, but so is Kai. And with your help, the girl could win.”

I nod, a new plan forming. I can now see why Enzo was so fascinated with her. She’s his enemy. And she equals him in every way.

I need to steal her. Or I need to steal him.

I need to threaten something she cares about to ensure she is on my side. Or threaten someone he cares about.

I need to train her to win. I need to force him to fight for me.

I need to weaken Enzo. I need to weaken Kai.

I need to take the Black empire. It doesn’t matter which of them I choose. I have leverage on both Enzo and Kai. And I won’t need either for long, just long enough to win the empire.

That’s the endgame—getting Black’s empire. And Rowan will help me accomplish that.

“I have a plan, and you are going to help me enact it.”

Black is about to lose everything he cares about. His friends, his family, his woman, and his empire. And only when he’s lost everything will I rest. Only when Enzo Black is nothing but a name people whisper in memory will I stop.

23

ENZO

IT’S BEEN weeks since I won the game.

I thought the game would destroy us, but instead it healed us. And something happened inside me in the ocean with Kai I can’t explain.

It’s like the ocean healed me along with Kai.

I’ve never felt so calm as I do now. I didn’t think the monster would ever go back in its cage. And I don’t think it did. Instead, I’ve learned to live with the monster free. And in turn, I’ve never felt so free myself.

I’m not the only one who has healed.

Kai leans over the railing on the top deck where we dove into the ocean together weeks ago. She smiles as she stares out at the blue abyss she has so much in common with.

Kai and I have healed—together.

I don’t know what you would call our relationship. There is no label to accurately define our relationship. We aren’t dating, we aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend, we aren’t married. We aren’t in love. But our relationship is different than anything I’ve ever felt before.

I’m no longer in constant pain every day. I’m no longer guarding my heart or holding back any part of me. I’m free.

Our relationship isn’t the only one that has healed.

Kai and Zeke have grown closer, until they seem closer than my relationship is with Zeke. They share secrets like they are best friends.