Consumed by Truths (Truth or Lies 6)

Both Enzo and my father look wracked with guilt at my words. I hate throwing the past in their faces, but if it saves Beckett right now, I’ll do it.

“Now, father go get some rope, something to tie Beckett up with,” I say.

He frowns but nods, leaving to only return a few minutes later with rope.

“Enzo, grab his gun and any other weapons on him,” I say.

“Hands up,” Enzo says to Beckett.

Beckett puts his hands up as Enzo roughly searches him for weapons. When he’s found two guns and three knives, he seems satisfied that he’s found everything and takes the rope from my father and roughly ties Beckett’s hands behind his back. Followed by his legs.

“Now what? What’s your plan?” Enzo asks me with a tiny bit of snark to his voice.

“On the bed,” I say to Beckett.

Beckett hops over to my bed and lies down.

“Tie him to the bed,” I say to Enzo.

He takes the rope and ties Beckett to the bed in a sitting position with his arms behind his back. It’s not the most comfortable position, but I don’t want to deal with Beckett right now. I want Enzo.

I turn to my father. “Are you okay to watch him?”

He nods, holding his gun.

I put my hand on my father’s chest. “Don’t shoot him. Not unless you have to. Promise me,” I say.

“I promise I won’t shoot the lying bastard without your permission or if my or your life is on the line,” my father says.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Where are you going to go?”

I look at Enzo longingly. Any place with a bed.

“Remember what the doctor said,” my father says with a cautious warning.

I smile. “I’ll be fine. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a key. “It’s a gift—a house. I don’t know how secure it is because Beckett knows about it. But it should be good enough for tonight at least.”

I kiss him on the cheek with tears forming in my eyes again at the thoughtful gift that Beckett already showed me my father built for me so I would have my own space when the baby arrived.

“Thank you. Beckett showed me the house. It’s beautiful. I can’t thank you enough for it. It will be perfect for tonight,” I say, taking Enzo’s hand. I lead him out of the room. Out of the lies and betrayal. And into one tiny moment of happiness.

11

Enzo

As soon as we step out of the bedroom, my hands are all over Kai. Her face, her arms, her belly. I still can’t believe she’s alive. That this is real.

“You’re alive,” I cry, pulling her tightly against my body again.

“You’re here,” she cries back into my shoulder.

There are so many questions. So many things I want to know. But right now, what I need most is her in my arms.

The hug quickly turns into desperate kisses. God, how I’ve missed her lips. Her tongue dips into my mouth, and I swear I almost come from just her kiss. I never thought I’d feel this again. Never thought I’d feel love. Hope for the future.