Cruel Lies - Ella Miles Page 0,49

well. I only married him to get the treasure. I was about to marry Maxwell; Langston just ended up being closer.”

Corbin’s dark eyes glance from me to Langston, trying to decide if I’m lying or not.

“I don’t have the treasure yet,” I say.

“I know. I’m here to ensure you give it to me when you do.”

I see Langston stirring out of the corner of my eye. A man stands over him with a gun pointed at his head.

I have to save him. How?

Maxwell is still standing to my left. He protected me from a stray bullet. He seems on our side. And as soon as Langston comes to, he’ll try to fight. I have to protect him.

“I may not care about Langston, but you can’t kill him. I have to remain married to him to complete the clues to get the treasure,” I say, demanding that Corbin not harm Langston.

“I wasn’t planning on killing him.”

“Then, why are you here? You sent your minion to watch over us while we got the treasure. You kidnapped my child to ensure my cooperation. I’ll give you the treasure; I just need more time.”

Corbin’s eyes run up and down my body, telling me exactly what he wants in addition to the treasure—me. I know exactly what I have to do to earn a little of Corbin’s trust while destroying Langston’s. Somehow, I have to use this opportunity to get the upper hand on Corbin.

I give him a wicked smile back as I run my tongue over my bottom lip slowly. Then I bite it as I sway my hips and start walking toward him. I rake my eyes over his body, pretending he’s the hottest man I know.

When I reach him, he sucks in a breath, not expecting my reaction.

“I loved Waylon. It may have started off as him blackmailing me, but I fell for him. I always fall for the bad guys, the villains. I prefer the darkness to the light. I’m sure I could fall for you too.” I pause, digging my nails into his chest. “If you want me, all you have to do is ask.” And tell me where you’re keeping an innocent child.

I wink as I let my nails dig down his chest, and then I strut toward his Bentley sedan behind him. I resist the undeniable urge to look at Langston. To see if he heard my words. To see if I’ve already broken him. To see if my cruel lies destroyed him.

22

Langston

Liesel winked at Corbin.

She flirted, used her body to seduce him. She touched him like she already knew him.

What is happening?

My mind buzzes, trying to remember everything that just happened. Every look she gave Corbin. Every unspoken exchange. Every word she muttered.

If you want me, all you have to do is ask.

She said it so flippantly. Like it meant nothing to her. Like she’d fuck him without thinking twice about it.

When she was just fucking me just hours earlier. When she’s married to me. When she’s mine.

I try to rack my brain for answers, but I only find more questions. Corbin didn’t even ask to fuck her. He didn’t threaten her. He didn’t say he would force her. She just willingly offered her body to him. Why?

Has she been working with them all along? Did she lie to me? Was she really in love with Waylon? Does she actually want Corbin, not me?

None of her actions make sense.

And then another memory springs into my head like a bulldozer driving into my heart.

Kissing.

I was in the back of the van, barely conscious, but I saw Liesel kissing Corbin.

I open my eyes to darkness and find myself locked in a dungeon. Metal bars surround me, chains bind my wrists to the wall above my head, but the bars and chains are nothing compared to the darkness encapsulating my heart.

I shake my head, trying to shake off the memories that have to be lies.

Liesel cares about me, not Corbin. She wouldn’t betray me like that. My memories must be wrong. She’s in danger, same as me. She might be locked up in a dungeon nearby. Corbin could be torturing her, forcing himself on her. I have to break free. I have to go find her and save her.

I try to move my arms, but the chains holding my arms to the wall don’t budge.

Fuck.

My feet are free, so I dig them into the ground, trying to gather some leverage to yank the chains off the wall. No amount of