Cruel Lies - Ella Miles Page 0,16
Atlas up that I was doing it to protect him. Everything I do is to protect him. I won’t let anyone distract me.
The words of the letter burn into my head. There is only one way to protect Atlas now, and I’m not sure I’m strong enough to pull it off.
I close my eyes and lean my chair back so I can be well-rested when we get to Peru.
“What aren’t you telling me, huntress?” Langston asks, jolting me awake.
My body heats, and my pulse races, even though my eyes remain closed.
“You can’t ignore me, huntress. You are trapped on a private jet with me for another two hours. Talk to me, or I’ll make you talk.”
My eyes fly open, and I stare him down as he stands above me. I’m tired of his threats. His harsh words should tamper down the heat in my body, but the heat only rises. I prefer us being enemies to friends, even if we are enemies on the same side. It reminds me that I can never have Langston; he isn’t mine.
“Your threats mean nothing to me.”
“I know, but they should.” He sinks into the chair next to me.
I think I prefer him towering over me to sitting so close. He leans over, invading my space as his hot breath dances across my skin on my neck.
“Won’t Phoenix be missing you?”
“Phoenix is a big girl. She can sit on a plane for a few minutes all by herself.”
I glance her way and see a thin black cord hanging down from her ear. She’s listening to something, and her eyes are closed.
I sigh. There is no one to save me from Langston. Right now, I’d even take Phoenix’s snarky comments—anything to not be left alone with Langston.
Langston turns sideways in his seat. He places one hand on the window behind me and his other hand on my chin.
“What aren’t you telling me?” he asks again.
Everything. I’m not telling you everything because it’s not your burden to bear. You’ve done enough. You’ve protected my son when he wasn’t even your own blood. I’m the only one who can save him now.
“I’ve told you everything.” Everything that you need to know.
“I don’t believe you, Liesel. I know you’re lying. You tore the note in half before you gave it to me. You knew the house was going to explode. What aren’t you telling me?”
His grip under my chin strengthens as his resolve weakens. His voice is low and grumbly. He’s trying to look strong and unbreakable, but there is a hint of the boy I used to know underneath his blonde eyelashes. He wants me to tell him not because he’s worried about our safety but because I want to share information with him. Because I trust him. I do trust him more than he’ll ever know. If I didn’t trust him, I’d take Atlas far away from him. He’s the only man I trust with my son.
I just can’t let him further into the depths of my dark soul. I know what I have to do, and Langston will hate me for it. I can handle the hate if I didn’t know anything else, but I can’t handle him hating me after feeling his love.
“I’m not hiding anything from you, killer. I’ve told you everything you need to know to keep us safe.”
“What was on the other half of the note?”
“Just a personal attack against me. Something about calling me a bitch and whore, I didn’t think you needed to read it.”
His eyes narrow, and his tongue licks his lips. “Liar.”
Of course I’m lying, but I refuse to tell him the rest. Not until I know it’s the truth myself. Not until I’ve done what needs to be done.
“So what if I am lying? You’re not going to be able to get me to tell you the truth, so drop it.”
“Kai and Siren are going to be disappointed their plan failed so quickly. Just like that, you don’t trust me anymore.”
“I never trusted you.”
“I beg to disagree. You seem to trust me plenty with my cock in your mouth and tight cunt. Should I remind you?”
“You wouldn’t do that to Phoenix.” My chest rises and falls in hushed breaths.
Langston smirks. His eyes turn a wicked shade of black.
My mouth dries, just imagining his lips on mine. It’s all I ever crave. If it wasn’t for Atlas, my every thought would be consumed with Langston. I’d fuck him right here and not give a damn about hurting