Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,113
tires, and then it comes to a halt.
“Thank Rai on my behalf,” I say and dash out of the car with the knife nestled in my palm.
Darkness has staked its claim on the forest, making it eerily quiet with the occasional haunting sounds coming from the night owls. The tall trees shape the distance and everything looks black, aside from the moon shining above, partially camouflaged by clouds.
I don’t think as I run in the opposite direction to Ruslan. I barely see a path in the forest and I follow it, all my fears about the unknown vanishing in the background.
“Lia!” The very familiar voice bellows from not too far behind me, sending tendrils of fear down to my soul.
Run.
I have to run.
My heart thumps harder, slamming against my ribcage as I charge through the forest.
“Lia, stop!”
No!
If I do, everything will be over. This time, I won’t be able to survive his wrath and I will splinter into irredeemable pieces.
This time, it’ll be the end.
“Lia!” His voice is nearer, moving in closer, as if he’s pulling me back by the marionette strings attached to my nape.
The knife is heavy in my hand as I slice it through branches and anything else that gets in my way.
A rustling of footsteps comes from behind me and I halt, spinning around and waving the knife. I gasp when it hits a warm body.
Adrian.
He barely winces as I release the knife, letting it fall to the ground, but the damage is already done. The blade has penetrated his bicep. Under the moonlight, I can make out the blood dripping from his jacket. His face is shadowed by both the darkness and the anger that’s tightening his jaw.
Something tells me it’s not because of the wound.
That’s all I can focus on, though.
The injury.
His life essence oozes out of his bicep in a steady rhythm. I wrap both hands around it and squeeze, willing it to stop.
However, blood slips between my fingers, coating them, warm and almost black in the darkness as it drips to the ground.
“You need to make it stop.” My voice is a haunted murmur.
“What about you? Are you ever going to stop escaping me?”
I flinch at his words, releasing him and stepping backward.
The reason I unintentionally stabbed him in the first place slams back into me.
I have to run.
I turn and sprint away, but my gaze keeps flitting to my bloodied hands, to Adrian’s life on my hands.
I finished it today. I think I finally signed the death certificate of our relationship. As fucked-up as it was, what we had was a relationship and I just killed it.
Thudding footsteps sound behind me and I know he’ll catch up to me in no time. He’ll take me back and it’ll all be over.
Jumbled thoughts and emotions coil inside me with a wrecking force. They mount and scatter in different directions, stealing my breaths.
My sanity.
My everything.
Reality blurs with something a lot more potent—hallucinations.
My demons start whispering in my head, words that I can’t even discern.
Oh, God, no.
Please don’t torture me with my own mind.
I dig my nails into my wrist and a tear slides down my cheek as pain explodes on my skin. If I hoped for this to be a nightmare, my wish doesn’t come true.
My feet come to a halt at the top of a cliff. I stare down at the violent waves hitting the harsh angular rocks with trembling limbs.
I don’t think I’ve ever been attracted to something so frightening.
No, I actually have.
Adrian.
Seems I’m broken beyond repair, because since the beginning, I think I was attracted to the danger he promised. And that only consumed me until there was nothing left.
He said he’d ruin me, and he did that with flying colors.
“Lia.”
My name leaves his mouth in a whisper, and I turn around to meet his gaze, my feet on the edge.
Adrian is a few steps away from me, deep lines etched in his forehead. “Come down.”
“So you’ll take me back and lock me up?” I taste salt, and it’s then that I realize tears are soaking my cheeks.
“No.”
“You will! You’ll also take Jeremy away from me for good. You’ll torture me with your silent treatment until I go mad or kill myself.”
“I will not do that.”
“You’ve been doing it already! Can’t you see that you’ve been slowly killing me? Killing us? You don’t even kiss me anymore.” I hate how my voice breaks with pain.
“That’s because you fucking cheated on me! I have only ever been faithful to you, but you met another man behind my back.”
“And you’ve been just using me!”
He sucks in a long breath, calming his voice. “Come down and we’ll talk about this.”
“What’s there to talk about?”
“Everything, Lenochka.”
“I want to know something first.” My chin trembles as I speak so low, I’m surprised he hears me, “Have you ever loved me, Adrian?”
He pauses as if the question is alien to him, but he doesn’t reply. Fresh tears stream harder at the answer he indirectly gives me. He hasn’t. Or, more accurately, he doesn’t know what love means.
Never has and never will.
“Because I loved you.” I lay a palm over my heart and fist the material of my dress. “And it’s killing me every day.”
He extends the hand of his uninjured arm. “Come down, Lenochka. Please.”
“I took your hand before, Adrian, and you smothered me with it.” I smile a little. “I’d rather die quickly than slowly.”
“Lia, no!”
I close my eyes and let the wind take me down.
TO BE CONTINUED
Adrian and Lia’s story concludes in the last book of the Deception trilogy, Consumed by Deception.
Curious about Rai and Kyle who appeared in this book? You can read their completed story in Throne of Power.
For a sneak peek into Adrian’s past, you can download the free prequel, Dark Deception.
What’s Next?
Thank you so much for reading Tempted by Deception! If you liked it, please leave a review.
Your support means the world to me.
If you’re thirsty for more discussions with other readers of the series, you can join the Facebook group, Rina’s Spoilers Room.
Next up is the conclusion of the Deception Trilogy, Consumed by Deception.
Blurb
My husband. My monster.
The truth isn’t always what it seems.
Lia doesn’t realize that, but she will. Soon.
I chose this life. This road. This twisted arrangement.
For her, I made a deal with the devil.
For her, I toyed with fate and death.
There’s no going back.
I stole her and like any thief, I won’t return her.
Lia is my addiction. My obsession. My love.
Mine.
Also By Rina Kent
ROYAL ELITE SERIES
Cruel King
Deviant King
Steel Princess
Twisted Kingdom
Black Knight
Vicious Prince
Ruthless Empire
Royal Elite Epilogue
LIES & TRUTHS DUET
All The Lies
All The Truths
KINGDOM DUET
Rule of a Kingdom (Free Prequel)
Reign of a King
Rise of a Queen
THRONE DUET
Throne of Power
Throne of Vengeance
DECEPTION TRILOGY
Dark Deception (Free Prequel)
Vow of Deception
Tempted by Deception
Consumed by Deception
TEAM ZERO SERIES
Lured
Crowed
Ghosted
Shadowed
Misted
Team Zero Boxset 1-3
THE RHODES SERIES
Remorse (Free)
HATE & LOVE DUET
He Hates Me
He Hates Me Not
About the Author
Rina Kent is an international bestselling author of everything enemies to lovers romance.
Darkness is her playground, suspense is her best friend, and twists are her brain’s food. However, she likes to think she’s a romantic at heart in some way, so don’t kill her hopes just yet.
Her heroes are anti-heroes and villains because she was always the weirdo who fell in love with the guys no one roots for. Her books are sprinkled with a touch of mystery, a healthy dose of angst, a pinch of violence, and lots of intense passion.
Rina spends her private days in a peaceful town in North Africa daydreaming about the next plot idea or laughing like an evil mastermind when those ideas come together.
If you’re in the mood to stalk me:
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Contents
Also By Rina Kent
Author Note
Playlist
Prologue - Adrian
1. Lia
2. Lia
3. Lia
4. Lia
5. Lia
6. Adrian
7. Lia
8. Lia
9. Adrian
10. Lia
11. Lia
12. Lia
13. Adrian
14. Lia
15. Lia
16. Adrian
17. Lia
18. Lia
19. Lia
20. Adrian
21. Lia
22. Lia
23. Adrian
24. Lia
25. Lia
26. Adrian
27. Lia
28. Lia
29. Lia
30. Adrian
31. Lia
32. Lia
33. Adrian
34. Lia
35. Adrian
36. Lia
37. Lia
38. Adrian
39. Lia
What’s Next?
Also By Rina Kent
About the Author