Page 154 of Loving the Liar

“Let’s both go in. I’ll tell him the truth so he understands that you don’t have a choice. While I do that, you get some stuff to spend the night at mine. We can move the things from your SFU house another time.”

I nod again.

“Sweets.” His grip on my jaw is soft, but so possessive. He forces me to turn away from the window and to look at him. “Everything is going to be okay. You’re safe now.”

He kisses my forehead, not my mouth. As if he’s giving me time to adapt, even though he knows I’ve always been his. That there was a time I was willingly his. That I couldn’t get over him when we separated. That the second chance he’s offering us is what I’ve always dreamed of. Just…not like this.

I don’t say anything. I walk into the house before him, and I don’t know why he’s not right behind me, but I use the time wisely. Even though it breaks my heart.

I hurry to my dad’s office where I know Luke has been working hard trying to build back a different company with whatever contacts he still has. Something he can achieve without the money from our dad and without the Circle’s help.

“Els,” he exclaims, jumping from his seat. “Where the hell were you? I’ve been trying to call you. I thought—” His eyes widen when he realizes me covered in blood. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. It’s a long story,” I say. I jog to him, opening the jacket of his suit and taking his phone from him. “Chris is here.”

“What? What are you doing?”

Unlocking his phone, I lift my finger to my mouth to tell him to keep quiet when I hear the front door open and close.

“Trust me,” I whisper. “Let him talk and let me go.”

I’m about to press the record button, but I look up into his eyes so he can see he needs to trust me.

I almost don’t do it. After all, the truth is that, deep down, I’m in love with Chris. If he had told my brother about us years ago, I would still be his. If he hadn’t been with Megan when he came back, I would have given us a chance. If I had had the semblance of a choice, I would have chosen him.

But his mistake was imposing his rules, his plan, his way.

And if love couldn’t stop him from destroying my life…why should it stop me from destroying his?

“Don’t kill him,” I whisper, taking in the mix of concern and rage taking over my brother’s features. “Give this to the Circle and let them do it.” And I press record before putting the phone back in his pocket.

There’s a knock on the office door, and Chris comes in.

“Go pack your things, Ella,” he says calmly.

I exchange a look with my brother, silently begging him to do as I say, and I run out of the room.

I pack a bag in only a few minutes, but I give them time before going down. My brother and I are on the same page, and he gives me a tight hug, slipping a “got it” in my ear before I leave with Chris.

The moment we’re at his house, a new anxiety takes over me.

“This is where you lived with Megan,” I croak.

The only house I’ve ever known him to live in is the one next to my family house. The one where he grew up. The one where we met when I was just a little girl coming over because Luke had been playing all day over there, and I wanted him home back with me. Chris always welcomed me in. He let me sit on the sofa while they played video games in the Murray’s game room.

Now I’m about to enter the house he shared not only with the woman he murdered, but the woman who I know abused him. Who was he with her behind closed doors?

“It was,” he confirms as he unlocks the door. “And we’ll move. I want something by the lake because you like it there. And with a dance studio. Don’t worry, I started looking already. I’ll find a place you deserve.”

Refusing to acknowledge the warmth it brings to my heart to know he remembers exactly where I want to live, I bring him back to reality.

“We wouldn’t want to have her ghost sharing the bed,” I say tartly.

“That.” He holds the door open, letting me in before him. “And I also don’t have the best memories here.”

That stupid string that links from my heart to his tugs, and I subconsciously take a step closer.

I want to ask what happened here exactly. Who was Megan when they were alone? How far did she go? Morbid curiosity and the desire to kiss him better anywhere she hurt him take over my spiraling thoughts.

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