I texted Waylon to meet me at my apartment, but I never got a response. I don’t know if he’ll be here or not. I don’t know if he called the police and filed a missing person report. I don’t know if he’s given up on me coming back.
I get to my apartment door and realize I don’t have my key. I knock, hoping Waylon is inside, so I don’t have to break into my own apartment.
I hear footsteps inside, and I fidget with the hem of my black T-shirt. Will Waylon notice that I’m not wearing my usual power dress? Will he know that something’s instantly wrong? Will he ask me a dozen questions about where I’ve been or what I’ve been up to?
What do I tell him? How do I keep him safe?
The door swings open—the moment of reckoning.
“Baby, I didn’t think you were getting back from your trip for a while. I’m so happy you decided to change your plans and head home early.” He grabs me by the back of my neck and kisses me in a friendly kiss. His tongue parts my lips, his hand massages my neck, and he moans softly against my lips. It’s a good kiss—a grateful kiss, but not an ‘I was worried you were kidnapped, murdered, or dropped off the face of the earth’ kiss.
“Yep, I missed you. Thought I’d come back early.”
Waylon pulls me tightly to him, until I’m pressed up against him. That’s when I get a whiff of him—a musky, sweaty scent. I scan him up and down and realize he’s in a T-shirt and gym shorts. He must have just worked out.
“We are going to have to celebrate later, though. How about Noda for dinner in three hours? I need to shower, and then I have a quick meeting. After that, I’m all yours.” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
My body melts at his proposal. I need to let off some steam, and fucking Waylon all night is just the way to do it.
Waylon notices my body’s reaction. He leans in and kisses me softly on the lips. The kiss is full of promise for tonight.
I want to protest and tell him I want him now, but a knock at the door interrupts my plea.
We both groan in annoyance at whoever is at the door, who interrupted our kiss.
“I really need to shower and get to my meeting. Soon, love,” Waylon says, and then he’s jogging down the hallway to the bathroom.
I turn to the door, hoping it’s just a delivery. If it’s Siren, I’m going to kill her.
I open the door.
Langston is standing in the hallway with a heavy scowl, dark eyes, and an evil grin twisted on his face.
“I told you to come find me,” he growls.
My stomach drops as he pushes his way into my apartment and back into my world in record time. There is no getting rid of him, not unless I kill him.
“Waylon is in the shower. You can’t stay.”
“Good. It’s time I find out the truth. If he’s here, you won’t be able to lie about the status of your marriage.”
4
Langston
As I step closer to Liesel, she retreats—backing away, but not backing down. Her scowl and ridges between her eyes shoot through my body. She doesn’t want me here.
Well, too bad. I don’t want to be here either.
If she hadn’t forced my hand, if she’d at the very least stayed on the island, then I wouldn’t be invading her apartment with her supposed husband in the next room.
I kick the door closed behind me, purposefully slamming it.
“Shh,” Liesel hisses.
I tilt my head. “Why? Worried dear old hubby will notice?”
“Don’t make fun of Waylon.”
“I’m not making fun of him. I just can’t imagine you’re married to that fossil.”
“I am,” she says without hesitation, with as much conviction as she can muster.
“Well, that’s the problem—I don’t believe a word you say.”
She shrugs. “That’s not my problem. Now get out of my house.”
“We had a deal.”
“No, you kidnapped me and forced me to agree to your terms. So unless you’re planning on kidnapping me again, we’re done here.”
Oh, I plan on kidnapping her again if I need to. But I’ll take my time. First, I want answers. Then I can worry about what I’m going to do with her.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re on the island or not. Our deal remains. You will tell me truths, and I’ll give you more time to live. You tell me lies, and I’ll give you less time. You’re down to eleven months. I took off a month after you ran and made me come after you. Now’s your chance to earn some time back.”
Liesel glances down the hallway as she bites her bottom lip. The shower is still running, so we have some time before Waylon joins us.
“Did Siren rat me out?” Liesel asks.
No, she didn’t. But I won’t let Liesel think she has any friends on her side. Liesel needs to know that she’s all alone battling me.
I’ll have to deal with Siren later, though. I can’t have her intervening in my plan. It’s probably time I told Siren the truth. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about whose side she’s on. She would be firmly on mine.
“Of course. You really think you could turn one of my best friends so easily?”
Her eyes narrow, searching for the truth in my eyes. In my words. In my body language.
I don’t let my anger rise beyond my gut. I don’t let my voice carry my pain. I don’t let my eyes widen in worry.
Liesel sighs. “Maybe not, but she freed me. She’s clearly not as close to you as you think.”
I chuckle and step closer to her, forcing her to step back. “You think you’re free?”
“I’m in my own damn house, and as soon as Waylon gets out of the shower, he’ll kick your ass if you don’t leave.”
“Will he?” I take another step, and her back hits the wall.
She glares as she
