Page 128 of Taken by Lies (Truth or Lies 1)

He looks pained as I continue to touch his heart.

“Sex with a worthy man was something to look forward to. A goal to get back to.”

He grabs my wrist forcefully. The most forceful touch I’ve felt since I was released.

“Stop looking at me like you see me bringing you chocolates and flowers. I’m not your knight in shining armor. I’m not your savior. I made a mistake all those years ago. One I plan to rectify very soon. I just need you healed before I carry out my plan. Because I’m not so ruthless to destroy a broken girl.”

He releases me and steps back. “You aren’t broken anymore. Now I can ruin you.”

He walks away.

I want to be fucked by a worthy man. Enzo Black isn’t that man. He never will be.

30

Enzo

Kai is no longer afraid.

She can walk in the light.

She dons clothes instead of going bare.

She slept in my bed.

And her body is hers again.

She’s healed. There are still fragile parts, pieces that will take longer to fit back into her body. Pieces that still appear broken and can’t be fixed in a single night. But she doesn’t need me anymore. She’s healing on her own.

There is no denying she isn’t broken. The shattered pieces of her icy cage are being put back up, but this time, she let me in first.

It was the one thing she shouldn’t have done—trust me.

Healing her broke me in ways I wasn’t expecting. She’s no longer shattered, but I am. Because as much as I want to pretend it’s better that she’s healed, it’s not. I know what darkness comes next, even if I don’t want to face it.

The door to my lair at Surrender opens, and Langston walks in, followed by Zeke, Westcott, and Archard, my lawyer.

I motion for all the men to take a seat at the long conference like table I have brought in for meetings like this.

“You all know why I gathered you here for this meeting,” I start.

“The girl,” Langston answers.

I nod.

“She’s the one? Kai? The one you killed six years ago?” Langston continues.

“Yes, one and the same.”

“But how is she alive, if you killed her?” Zeke asks.

All of the men stare at me with bated breath as they wait for my answer.

“Because I didn’t kill her.”

; “Why not?” Zeke asks.