Page 82 of Burning Your Lies

She hums under her breath. “I must agree. We can’t leave Savannah alone for too long now.”

Who the fuck is this woman and how does she know Savannah?

“You have five seconds to tell me who you are before I kill you.”

She releases Chase to make her way over to me. “Maya Adams.” She offers a handshake.

I don’t place my hand in hers. “It seems you already know who I am.”

Her tongue runs along her blade. “I would have finished my business before you got here, but it seems you have my money. Now, if you would kindly hand it over and we can go our separate ways.”

I gesture to the two hostages. “And these two?”

She clicks her tongue. “That is my business.”

“Are you one of Rowan’s?”

At that, she bursts into a fit of laughter. Her mocking pout is directed at Chase. “You really fooled everyone, didn’t you?” All the humour from her eyes vanishes as she turns back to me. “Did you really think a dimwit likethatcould come up with something so brilliant?Iwas the one who came up with the plan. I met the poor little Ashford reject in a club. It only took a few drinks before he was crying about his brother’s riches he was denied. What was it I said, Chase?”

His darkened gaze follows her as she glides around the room. “Man up and take what is yours.”

Maya giggles. “Except your brother knew what a useless piece of shit you are and wouldn’t let you into his kingdom. That’s whereyoucame in,” she says, pointing her knife at Eliana.

The petite woman’s eyes widen with terror, her body trembling uncontrollably as tears stream down her face.

“We needed access to his funds, and only those he trusted with his life knew how to get their hands on that. Rowan trusted few and loved even less.” She looks at Eliana with disgust. “Can you believe that the powerful Rowan Ashford fell inlovewith his cleaner? Did you ever love him?”

Her head drops to the ground. Maya’s face lights up with a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling with delight as she revels in the muffled cries of her captive.

“You should have loved him more,” she taunts. “Maybe it would have been more challenging to get you to betray him. All it took was a measly few months, and you were convinced Chase was the right brother for you. But then you wanted to leave Rowan, and everything I worked so hard for was about to disappear.”

Chase lets out a howl when her knife goes through his hand.

Maya yanks the knife out and studies the blood that covers it. “It was Chase who came up with the next idea. It was brilliant, if I say so myself.”

I already know this part of the story. “He told Eliana that Rowan found out about their affair and put out a hit on her. He then sold me the same story.”

“The man who makes people disappear,” she whispers, in awe. “If Chase didn’t tell me the entire plan, I would never have found them.”

I gaze at the trio in the room, contemplating which faction to choose. No one is innocent in this. But are any of us truly innocent? Eliana’s soft cries pull my attention to her. She wasmanipulated and lied to by everyone but the one person she didn’t trust.

“You got what you wanted. Why are you doing this?”

She stands in front of Chase and forces him into a kiss. “I loved you and youbetrayedme.”

“No, I didn’t!” he pleads.

“Huxley, dear, pass me the glass from the table.”

I search the room before locating the glass of red wine.

She shoves it in his face. “Open wide.”

He screws his mouth shut and shakes his head.

The glass flies across the room before splintering and staining the carpet red. “You thought you couldpoisonme?” she seethes. “I’mthe one that taught you about drugging and poisoning someone.”

Where has this woman come from?

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