Page 99 of Tangled In Lies

My gaze is on my fingers as they tap on my leg.

I inhale deeply and say, “Can we talk when I’m done?”

Although it’s just a simple question, the intent behind it turns my stomach sour. But I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. I’m pretty sure this will suck pretty badly. But nothing has changed about my earlier epiphany or resolve. It’s time. We both deserve some honesty, and I’ll figure out the rest. I only hope I won’t destroy his life even more.

His throat works on a swallow before he opens his mouth. “Of course. But will you answer one question for me before I leave?”

“Yes.”

“Is the person who’s responsible for the bomb also the reason why I was in prison?”

Our gazes lock, and I’m incapable of breaking eye contact. At this moment, I realize he doesn’t need me to respond to his question because he already knows the answer. It’s written all over his face: the disbelief and acceptance, the anger and sorrow.

The air in the room is stifling, threatening to pull me under, but I do what’s been long overdue and what he deserves to happen: I give him a sliver of truth.

One word.

One word that will change everything.

“Yes.”

Chapter 24

Phoenix

Ipace along the length of the room, back and forth. Back and forth.

What the fuck?

What. The. Fuck.

I had an inkling something happened back then, and it wasn’t just Eve.

But I’m not sure I believed it.

It was so easy to let my anger consume me while I was in prison and couldn’t see her. And then my mysterious person kept sending me pictures of her and how happy she was while I was in prison.

My mysterious person took pictures of her.

The person who told me I could call them Angel, which I refused to do for several reasons, one being I thought of Eve as Angel, and I didn’t want the name reminder.

I saved them in my phone as Canary instead, like an informant.

Did Eve’s person tell her their name is Freddy?

I’m two seconds away from storming into the bathroom to demand more answers.

I rake a hand through my hair.

Fuck.

There’s a quiet knock on my door.

Holden. I texted him to come up.

I open the door, pressing my index finger to my lips and pointing at the bathroom door. I wanted to leave it open to hear her in case she needed help, but she looked so devastated after her admission that I wanted to give her some space.

I step out into the hallway but leave the door ajar.

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