Page 74 of Burning Your Lies

“What is he talking about, Sav?” Mia cries.

This is just to torment them. “He’s lying.”

Xavier laughs. “You sacrificed your life for a liar.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “The only liar here is you.”

He abandons Mia, his nostrils flaring. “I promised to put this all behind me. I promised to forget all about the diamonds. I promised to let it all burn. All you had to do was choose me. And you didn’t. So this is your only choice now.”

“I won’t do it!” I scream. “I said I’ll give you the necklace back! What more do you want?”

He drags the gun down my face. “I want to see you burn. Final choice?” He holds to gun towards Mia. “Last chance to save her.”

A reel of my memories with Mia flash through my mind. I see the first time we met in EspresSoul and laughing with her about the customer who poured hot coffee all over himself. I feel the warmth of her friendship when I cried to her about Elliot and his gambling. I feel the gratitude that came over me when she got me a job in the strip club. I see the two of us sitting around my living room, drinking cheap alcohol and laughing until our stomach hurt. I feel her determination at helping me take Xavier down. I am choking on the memories of the only genuine friendship I’ve had. Mia fills the sister-shaped void in my life.

Grabbing the gun from Xavier, I point it at Jordan. “I’m sorry,” I cry.

He’s still crying. “Just do it. I deserve it.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes. I was the one that ruined your relationship with Elliot. I’m the one that got him into gambling. I’m the one that roped him back every time he tried to be better for you. Think of that Jordan when you pull the trigger.”

I squeeze the metal tighter. “I’m sorry!” I turn to Xavier. “Please?”

“I would have given you the world. I would have saved you. But you wanted me to be the villain. And the villain must burn your world.”

“I do this, and Mia lives?”

“Return my diamond, and she lives. You have my word.”

“How can I trust you?”

His lips are at my ears. “I don’t think you’ve got a choice, Miss Hayes.”

My breath comes out shaky. I wonder how easy it would be to turn the gun on him. It’s not the ending I want, but at least no more innocent lives will be lost.

Xavier must be able to read my mind, because he smiles. “You shoot that gun at me and this whole place goes up in flames. We’re all dead, including Elise.”

I turn my head to look at him. “Where is she?”

His lips press into my temple. “You will never know.”

I shake my head. “You’re lying.”

The pads on his fingers trail my collar bone. “Are you willing to take that risk?”

My cry comes out strangled. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The sound of the bullet being fired has me dropping the gun to cover my ears. There’s a ringing echoing inside me. Or maybe that was Mia’s blood-curdling scream. My legs give in, but before I can fall, Xavier is holding me up.

Jordan is convulsing on the ground, but Xavier holds me hostage. I’ve never seen such life within him. He forces me to stand there and watch Jordan’s blood and life leave his body. Next to him, Mia is painted with splatters on his blood. She thrashes in her chair as she begs Xavier to let her go.

Xavier takes a deep breath just as Jordan lets out one final exhale. He bends down to pick the gun up. “You should never trust the word of a liar,” he states calmly before lifting the gun and firing a shot.

And then there is silence.

Mia’s head falls forward and her body goes limp.

The anguished cry that escapes my lips reverberates, filling the world with a heavy sorrow. Xavier releases me and I’m running towards her, but there’s too much blood pouring out of her to make it stop. “No. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up! Mia,no. No. No. No.Get up. Stop playing around!” I turn to Xavier. “What did you do?”

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