Page 127 of Loving the Liar

I knew it. I knew my father hadn’t killed himself…but I could have never imagined this.

“I bet my life my brother didn’t agree until you manipulated him into it.”

I try to shake my head, but his frustration shows in a tighter grip. He pulls out his wallet and takes something out, putting it in front of my eyes.

It’s a card I know too well. A Christmas card that my father had me distribute to some members of the Circle last Christmas. Almost a year ago.

My father was a board member, and every year, he was in charge of sending members the confirmation that they were invited to be part of the Circle for another year. No membership is for life; everyone must keep proving their use or they’re at risk of being kicked out. Unfortunately, being ‘kicked out’ often means worse than they think. You better be useful once you’re in, or your life is in question.

The card had a simple message, and Chris shows it to me.

“Remember this?”

I nod so slightly I wonder if he sees it.

“You took this from my bedroom,” I rasp. My throat is so dry. Every attempt to swallow makes me want to be sick.

“I did.”

Regret still tastes bitter from letting him into my bed last Christmas. So bitter it burns a hole through my stomach.

“Read it, Ella.”

I don’t read it out loud. But I do read it.

Merry Christmas to you

Relish a new order

A new year awaits if you wish to stay.

Looking back up at him, I observe the quiet fury burning in the amber of his eyes. A fire that wants nothing but to destroy everything. He does nothing about it. He simply says:

“This wasn’t some random Christmas card or your usual invite to stay in the Circle. It was a call to murder.”

“What—”

“Look at the first and last letter of each line.”

Suddenly hating the way he talks to me like a teacher to a struggling student, I throw him a glare before focusing on the card again, this time on the first and last letter of each line.

M. U. R. R. A. Y.

It takes me a second to swallow the news. My wide eyes dart to the bed next to us, and this time I feel like I’m in way over my head. What could Thomas Murray have possibly done to betray the Circle?

Reading the surprise on my face, he explains, “He refused to protect the men who participated in your father’s parties anymore.” He doesn’t even look away when he adds, “Including your father.”

I wrap my arms around myself, my body stiffening as my brain overworks. “Was your dad’s place within the Circle to protect the members from the police?”

Chris’s dad is a defense attorney for high-profile cases. He works with celebrities, didn’t use you be in Stoneview much, but he definitely had contacts in high places within the police.

“It was, yes. And he told him to stop those parties, but your dad refused. So he said he would stop looking out for him.”

“So, he’s the reason the police were looking into my dad. He didn’t want to protect him anymore. Rightly so.”

“Yes. And when the time came, the Circle pinned it all on your family.”

He relaxes his grip, but he doesn’t let go, sensing my urge to run away is still present.

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