Page 52 of Twisted Lies

Pouring myself a drink, I sit at the table with my thoughts. What am I going to do with Lily? If I were a better man, I would release her now and tell her to get as far away from me as possible. But I’m not a good man. I’ve claimed her. She’s mine, and I can’t release her. I’m better with her. I want to be better for her. Without her, I fear I’ll be shadowed in more darkness. The kind of darkness that stains the soul to the core. I like to believe I still have some good in me, if only a little bit. Lily brings that part of me out.

Rebecca is another issue I don’t want to face. She’s coming for me. I can sense it in the air. I can sense my enemies getting closer, ready to strike. I know what I’ll do to all of them, except Rebecca. She’s the wild card. She’s the one who will keep me up at night. I fear I’ll have to choose between my sisters. If it comes down to it, I know who I’ll choose. I just hope I won’t have to make a choice.

* * *

Sleep. Deep, pure sleep. It has been so long since I’ve experienced it. Lily lying next to me gives me that restful sleep. I can never let her go. I thought I was strong enough to give her freedom once it was safe, but I know now I can’t. I’m in her bed for the third night in a row. I tried to stay away. I left my bed for my office and spent an hour pacing and drinking, trying to find a resemblance of what I have discovered with Lily. Finally, I gave up.

She doesn’t stir as I wrap my body around hers and close my eyes. Breathing deeply, I finally sleep—a deep, restful sleep. I’m unsure of the time when she begins to shake. It starts off small, and I hardly take note in my sleep, but then they grow in strength. Jerking up, I wait for my eyes to adjust to the darkness and take in her features. Her lips part to give way to blood-curdling screams. Her eyes are wide open but not seeing. Placing my hands on her tiny body, I try to shake her awake.

“Lily, wake up,” I demand. “Lily, wake up. Now.” Her screams don’t stop even as my men start to pile into the room, looking for trouble. Guns are drawn and ready. “Leave us,” I tell them. I know she wouldn’t want anyone seeing her this way. I don’t need them seeing either of us like this. Just as quick as they had appeared in the room, they disappear. The ones fully loyal to Connor will tell him of this evening. His men had arrived as promised early in the day. Once more of my men get here, I can send his men back. The sooner the better.

Soon he’ll learn I’m sleeping with Lily. In her room even. Whatever leverage he can use, he will. I’ll have to do damage control in the morning, but now is not the time to think about that. Now is the time to get Lily under control and find out what the hell is going on.

Her screams quiet to whimpers, and I hold her close. No longer trying to wake her, just letting her ride out whatever terror is going on in her mind. She starts to mutter words, and I learn to try to make them out, hoping they give me some clue. “Blood. All the blood. They’re all dead. Dead. Dead. Can’t—can’t breathe.” Till finally, silence.

I know the moment she becomes aware of her surroundings. Her tensions change when she realizes I’m next to her. She pulls away, and I allow her to escape. She sits up slowly, as if debating her following words. “Please leave.”

“You know I can’t do that. What was that?” I ask, sitting up as well.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with. I’m fine. Just a bad dream,” she says, but I know she’s lying, as she looks down mid-sentence.

“It was much more than a bad dream. Don’t take me for a fool. You kept speaking about blood. Tell me. Tell me the truth,” I demand, resting my hand on her cheek, enjoying how she leans into my hand.

“You have your past, I have mine. You once asked me to leave it, now I’m asking you.” I want to demand she tell me, but her eyes brim with tears, and I can’t bear her tears. Nodding, I pull her back to the bed and hold her tight.

“I’ll leave it. For now.”

“I want to forget,” she whispers against my ear.

“I know. Sometimes to forget you have to face it. Let me help you.”

“Maybe,” she whispers as she falls back asleep.

I stay awake, trying to piece together what is happening in her world.

* * *

I wake up to Lily sitting up in bed with the covers wrapped around her. If it were possible, she looks smaller than usual. Sitting up, I wait for her to speak. I know she has something on her mind, and me pushing her to tell me will get me nowhere.

“My father…my father always had cash lying around the house, but he never had a nine to five job. I never gave it much thought when I was little. I just know that he did jobs for people. We used to spend some time with his boss at parties. Barbecues, that sort of thing.” She stares at the wall. “I remember playing with his kids. They were nice and had a huge swing set. One day the police picked my dad up at a gas station and took him in for questioning. The next night they came.” She stops for a moment to gather her thoughts and emotions. Her hand moves to wipe her eyes before any moisture can escape. My gut twists, knowing where this story is going. “I woke to my parents’ begging screams. A man came and got me. He was dressed in all black, but I saw his tattoo. I guess he wasn’t concerned, as I wasn’t supposed to live much longer. He dragged me down the stairs to where my family was. They didn’t bother to tie my little brother down. He just sat in the corner, terrified. I didn’t cry. I feel that’s important for you to know.”

A tear escapes at her words, and I place my hand on her shoulder. “Dad told them he didn’t say anything, but we all knew he had. Even back then, I would say my father would crack at the slightest pressure. They stabbed us all till blood was everywhere. The smell and the sight I’ll never be able to forget. They thought I was dead when they left. I barely made it out of the house and into the woods behind my house. I knew that if I went to the hospital and lived, they would find me and finish the job. I lucked out. I woke up in a weird home covered in newspapers. The woman there was terrified of the government and lived off the grid. She saved me and got me a new identity. I lived on the streets for a while, doing jobs where I could. Changed names now and then. That night at Connor’s event, I saw someone with the same tattoo on his arm. I thought he was there to kill me. I’m terrified they’ll find me and finish the job. I know they probably haven’t thought of me in years, but still, they haunt me.” Her lips part as she finishes, still staring at the white wall.

Moving around, I sit in front of her, forcing her to look at me. “I’ll never let them touch you. I’ll look into who was at the party and see what I can do. No one is going to come close enough to touch you. Do you believe me?” I ask, knowing she needs to know it without a shadow of a doubt. Her eyes glance away, but I make her look back at me. “Lily, tell me you understand. You must understand how I feel about you.”

“How do you feel about me?” she asks, her eyes large.

I try to find the words. Words I never thought I would speak to another person. Words were never my strong suit. Instead, I do the one thing I am good at. Actions. Removing my hand from her chin, I bend forward and kiss her lips in a desperate attempt for her to feel all my love in action. Her lips melt against mine, and she kisses me back with the same emotion and passion. Everything we are both feeling is reflected in the kiss. The sadness, hate, love, and affection all melt into one kiss.

* * *

LILY

I dissolve into the kiss. I can feel everything in this kiss. It’s unlike all the other kisses we’ve shared up until this point. I know he’s trying to say something with this kiss, something neither of us can put into words at this time. I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my chest after speaking the words of my past to another living soul. It’s as if I’m free. The past will come calling, and when it does, I’ll have Elijah by my side.

ChapterNineteen

LILY

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