Web of Lies

by Sara Dailey

  She let out an incredibly sexy little moan as my hands traveled their way up and down her back, in and out of all that gorgeous dark hair of hers, and around her small waist. Ninety-nine percent of my body was urging me forward, pressuring me to take this to the next level, but there was that damn one percent that was begging me to slow down. Begging me to try for something more. That unsettling one percent managed to get my attention and I slowed down, first my hands, then my breathing, and finally my lips.

  With Scarlett still sitting on my lap, I rested my forehead against her chest and listened to the pounding of her heart. Closing my eyes, I breathed in Scarlett’s unique scent, now mixed with the heady scent of need, and thought I might come undone right there in her arms. With one last deep breath, I had no choice but to remove my head from her chest, fearing I would lose control and bury my face in the cleavage that had been teasing me all night. Sensing my retreat, Scarlett slid off my lap and left me feeling empty and alone.

  Since I had already bared my soul, one more confession wasn’t going to ruin anything tonight.

  “Scarlett,” I said taking her hand in mine, “I don’t understand why, and I know I may sound like a silly made-for-TV movie, but for the first time ever, I want us to take this slow. I’m not used to caring. I know that makes me sound horrible, but it’s true. I just don’t want to screw this up like I seem to do everything else. I want to give whatever this thing is between us a real chance.”

  The worried expression on her face faded as she leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on the corner of my mouth before she whispered, “Me too.”

  It was getting late, so I drove Scarlett home in what now could only be explained as a comfortable silence. She was sitting next to me, resting her head on my shoulder. For a moment, I thought she had fallen asleep, but as we pulled up to her house, she gently squeezed my hand and leaned over to kiss me goodbye. Scarlett was halfway out of the truck when she stopped and said, “You know, I had a really good time with you today.”

  Before I could respond, she’d shut the car door and was walking to her front door. I realized only then that I should have walked her to her door, but it was too late now. Next time, I thought. Because there was definitely going to be a next time.

  As I drove home, I thought about all the things I needed to learn. I’d never been in an actual relationship before, not a real one anyway. It should have occurred to me to do things like walk her to her door and be the one to tell her that I had a good time, but it didn’t. I’d never really tried to act like a gentleman or to make someone feel special before, but I was a quick study, and lucky for me, there was always tomorrow.

  I was surprised not to see my dad’s car in the driveway when I got home. I looked around the house trying to find any signs that my dad had even come home at all. Nothing looked different than it did this morning. An uneasy feeling crept over me because this was very unlike my father. If he had a change of plans and decided not to come home for a few days, he would have called. Hell, if he was even going to be an hour late, he would have called. My entire body tensed as I picked up my phone and tried my dad’s number. The call went straight to his voicemail. After I left a message, I sent him a text asking him to call me and let me know where he was and that he was okay, but no response followed.

  *****

  Hours later, I was lying awake in my bed. The house was eerily quiet except for the wind that had picked up outside. I knew that I hadn’t missed my dad’s call, but I checked my phone one more time just to make sure. I had made a deal with myself and with my missing father: I would give him until the morning. If I hadn’t heard from him by then, my search would begin.

  As I set my phone down on my nightstand, I closed my eyes, and Scarlett’s breathtaking face immediately appeared. Why did I listen to that stupid, measly one percent today? Instead of lying here worrying about my dad, who was probably fine and had just decided to spend a couple of days with Michelle, I could have been taking advantage of an empty house with a certain sexy brunette for the entire night. For a brief moment, I contemplated calling Scarlett to tell her just how stupid I was today and to beg her to come over and keep me warm tonight, but that would definitely not be taking it slow.

  I knew that one day I would inevitably screw this up with Scarlett. Sadly, that was just a given. I tried to push that nagging thought aside, but I couldn’t. I’d probably end up taking off when things got too real, but for the first time in my life, I really wanted to give this a try. It may have sounded totally cheesy and lame, but I didn’t care. Scarlett Reed made me want things I’d never even dreamed of wanting before.

  The sudden realization that I may never be able to give her the happy-ever-after that she deserved to have wreaked havoc on my already tense body. There in the dark, I promised myself that when that time came, I’d let her go, but for now, I just wanted to feel something. Scarlett did that for me. She made me feel something deep inside. What, I wasn’t sure, but something. It was there, it was real, and it felt right.

  CHAPTER 31

  Drew

  I finally arrived home after a long day and found Scarlett lying on the couch watching TV all dreamy-eyed and smiling. I couldn’t decide if this was a good thing or bad. One, she wasn’t locked in her bedroom, and two, she looked like a love-drunk fool. God help us all if she had fallen in love. I stood at the foot of the couch and stared down at her. “What’s with the cheesy look on your face?”

  “What cheesy look? I’m just relaxing. Where have you and Dad been all day?” she asked.

  “We drove back home today. My dad wanted an update, face-to-face. Your dad decided to stay the night and catch up on some work.”

  “Okay. Well it’s late, so I’m going to bed. Goodnight,” she replied and started for the stairs.

  “Wait,” I said, stopping her. “How’s it going with Luke? Him and Aiden buddies yet?”

  She turned to me and grinned. “Things with Luke are good. We hung out today.”

  “And Aiden?”

  Her gaze fell to the floor as she admitted, “I’m still working on that.”

  She looked back up, and the doe-eyed, lovesick expression on her face told me it was time for a wake-up call. I walked over to her and slung my arm over her shoulder to lead her to the kitchen.

  “Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett,” I started in my most patronizing tone. I sat her down at the kitchen table before I walked over to the fridge, grabbed us a couple of Cokes, and handed her one.

  “Drew, I’m tired. What do you want?” she asked impatiently.

  “I’m worried about you. You’re not getting too attached to that meathead, are you?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest defensively. “I’m fine, Drew. I can handle Luke. You don’t need to worry about me,”

  She was a bad liar. Time to stop being friendly and open her pretty little eyes. “I can’t believe you’re so ridiculously stupid.”

  I paused for a brief moment to gauge her reaction. Her jaw dropped, but before she could respond, I continued. “What do you think is going to happen between you and Luke? He’s not your boyfriend. He can never be your boyfriend. You are using him and that’s all. You can pretend for now if you want, but get your head out of your ass for a minute and think. When Luke discovers the truth about us, about you, what do you think he’s going to do? You think he’s going to forgive you? Tell you that it doesn’t matter that you lied and manipulated him?”

  I thought that she would yell back or throw her Coke at me or something, but she didn’t. She just sat there staring at the can in her hands.

  “Maybe your dad was right. Maybe you aren’t cut out for this. He should send you home before you screw this up any further.”

  She looked up then. Finally, something I said was at least sinking into her thick skull, but I wasn’t finished just yet.

  “Is that what you want? You want to go back home with everyone knowing that you failed?” I asked, my voice seething with pity. “Haven’t you screwed up
enough?”

  That did it. She was pissed now. Good! She needed to be furious. If she messed this up, our entire pack would suffer. If she couldn’t do this, I would rather her just leave now before it was too late.

  “I can handle this,” she said, standing up and pushing in her chair.

  “I hope you can for your sake, but I don’t know. I’m not convinced. Maybe you should just go and leave Luke to me,” I threatened.

  Scarlett smiled, but her eyes narrowed and stared into my own. “In your dreams. You may be our next alpha, but you saw what Luke did last night to Cade and Aiden. What makes you think he couldn’t do the same to you?” she stated defiantly.

  She started to leave the kitchen, but there was no way in hell that Scarlett was going to have the last word. I stood in the doorway, blocking her exit. “You’re right, Scar. Sure, Luke could kick my ass. No doubt about that, but you know me. I’ve never played by the rules.”

  “Let me pass,” she sneered.

  I moved in closer. Scarlett knew better then to turn away from me, but I could tell that she wanted to. I made her uncomfortable, and I was going to use that fact to my advantage.

  “I need to believe you, Scarlett. I need to be able to trust that you will do what is best for our pack. Can I trust you, Scar?” I asked softly in her ear as I pressed my entire body against hers. “Tell me, Scarlett. Tell me I can trust you.”

  Her body quivered slightly, but she didn’t move away. She didn’t respond either, so I kept her there close to me. I would be her alpha one day soon, and she needed to know her place.

  “Repeat after me,” I commanded. “Luke is not my boyfriend.”

  Scarlett remained silent, so I wrapped my arms around the small of her back and pulled her even closer, so close that the lengths of our entire bodies were completely enmeshed. When I felt her body stiffen, smelled the fear that was building inside her, and heard her heart rate increase, it instantly made me hard as a rock. I pressed myself against her to make sure she could feel it. With my lips only a millimeter away from hers, I whispered, “Say it, Scarlett.”

  She relented, knowing I wouldn’t back down. “Luke is not my boyfriend.”

  “I will not get attached,” I said.

  “I will not get attached.”

  I grinded against her again before I continued. “I will do what is best for my pack.”

  “I will do what is best for my pack,” she repeated.

  My lips almost touched hers as I looked into her eyes and whispered, “Good girl.”

  I lingered there a while longer, sensing that her fear and agitation were only increasing. I smiled and then brushed my lips lightly against hers. Her body tensed even more. Deciding that she’d had enough, I stepped aside and let her pass. In true Scarlett form, she held her head high, looked me right in the eyes, and walked passed me.

  Just as she reached the stairs I said, “Hey, Scar.”

  She stopped but didn’t look at me.

  “Want me to come up and tuck you in, baby?”

  Scarlett turned around, gave me the finger, and went upstairs. I stood there and waited for what I knew would come.

  Once her door slammed and I heard it lock, I smiled triumphantly and went into the living room to watch TV.

  CHAPTER 32

  Scarlett

  Flattening my back against my bedroom door, I slid to the ground and wrapped my arms around my knees. I dropped my head and finally allowed the tears I’d been holding back to fall freely. I’d refused to let Drew see me cry, but with his body pressed against mine, it took all I had not to break down right there in front of him.

  I needed a shower to wash away his stench, but fear kept me bound to the safety of my room. I didn’t have the strength to face him again tonight. It was bad enough that I’d have to wake up in the morning and act like nothing had happened. There was nothing I could do about it. Drew knew that, and I hated him for it. Evil son of a bitch.

  As I crawled into bed, I couldn’t get Drew’s words out of my head. As much as I despised him, he had one thing right. If I told Luke the truth, he would never speak to me again. But he was going to find out at some point whether it was me who told him or not. Either way, I’d lose him. There would never be a future for us, no matter how much I cared about him, no matter how much I regretted what I’d willingly agreed to do.

  Once again, tears stung my eyes, and I clinched them shut, desperately trying to stop the pain coursing through me, but it did no good. The vice grip around my heart tightened, and I gasped for air as I sobbed uncontrollably. I hadn’t wept like this since the night my mother died. That night, I thought my endless tears would never dry up, and now I felt as if I’d been cast right back into that dark, dreadful place I thought I’d never escape from.

  Trying to calm myself, I took deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly. But then my mind would turn to Luke, and I’d lose it all over again. If I told him the truth, he’d hate me forever. I wouldn’t be able to go back home. Betraying my pack…if it didn’t get me killed, it would most certainly get me banished. My father would never speak to me again. I’d lose everything, everyone. Everyone except Gavin. He would never turn his back on me.

  Before I realized what I was doing, I’d reached for my phone, found his name, and pushed the call button. Seconds later, Gavin answered, concern filling his voice. I tried to disguise my tears as I said his name, but I knew it would be in vain.

  “Scarlett, what’s wrong. What happened?”

  “Gavin, I’ve screwed everything up. I don’t know what to do,” I cried into the phone, gripping it tightly as if it was the only lifeline I had left.

  “Slow down. Tell me what’s going on. Do you need me to come there? I can be in the car in five minutes.”

  “No! You can’t. It will just make things worse. Drew is supposed to be you. I just…”

  “Hey, it’s me. You can tell me. What happened?” Gavin pleaded.

  Now that he was on the phone, I had no idea what to say. How to tell him how badly things had turned out, how wrong I was to agree to infiltrate the Red Ridge Pack. Gavin had warned me, but I refused to listen. Convincing myself that he was just jealous that Dad wanted my help, I’d completely ignored Gavin’s advice. I needed it now, and this time I would listen.

  “I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’m stuck. No matter what I do, I’ll lose him, Gavin.”

  “Who? What are you talking about?”

  “Luke. I think I might love him.” It wasn’t until the words were out of my mouth that I knew in my heart that it was true. I was falling in love with the one guy I could never have, not after what I’d done. The sobbing started all over again, this time with vengeance, but I focused on my brother’s voice as he tried to calm me down.

  “Breathe, Scarlett. You have to breathe. You are going to be okay, I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you, but right now, you have to breathe.”

  I did as he said, inhaled and exhaled over and over again. He gave me a moment to settle down before he told me what I needed to do. “Listen, this may not fix everything, but it will get you out of there in one piece. Just come home, Scarlett. Pack your shit and get out of there. Do not tell Luke about Dad and Drew. Do not tell anyone that you are leaving. Wait until Drew is asleep, and go.”

  “What? You think I should just leave? But what about Luke?”

  “I know what you’re thinking. You care about this guy, I get it, but you can’t tell him what’s going on. If you do, who knows what our alpha will do? Banishment will be the least of your worries. I need you safe. That’s what is most important. Please just come home.”

  I couldn’t believe what he was saying. Just leave, like nothing had happened. I couldn’t. “No Gavin, I can’t just take off. What will Luke think if he wakes up tomorrow, and I’m gone?”

  Sounding completely panicked, Gavin begged, “Just come home. There is nothing you can say or do to make this better. But if you stay, if you tell him, you’re putting your life
at risk. And Dad’s too. You don’t think he will be blamed for this? Of course he will. I’m sorry, it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. You don’t have a good option here, so you need to choose the one that’s best for you, for our family. You need to leave tonight.”

  I hardly recognized my own voice as I spoke. “Yeah, okay… okay, I will. I’ll leave tonight.”

  Over and over again, Gavin assured me that everything would be all right, but we both knew he was lying. I promised that I’d call him as soon as I was off the estate. His voice cracked as he told me he loved me. I hung up the phone, but I didn’t get up and pack. Instead, I lay in bed for over an hour, thinking about every possible option and every possible outcome. Gavin was right. I needed to leave, but not before I saw Luke one last time.

  CHAPTER 33

  Luke

  My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach when I woke up in the morning and my Dad was still not home. He didn’t come home. He didn’t call. Something was wrong. May dad would never be that thoughtless or irresponsible, and he would never leave his pack unprotected.

  I couldn’t sit around and wait any longer, so I threw on some jeans and a hoodie and went looking for him.

  It was only a twenty-minute drive from the estate into town, but it seemed to take forever. I had to see if Michelle, the woman my dad went out of town with, was back at work. I was really hoping that when I pulled up to the Red Mountain Ski Resort that she wouldn’t be there. Maybe the assistant manager would tell me that Michelle just called and said that she had fallen in love, ran off to Vegas, and gotten married or something crazy like that. That she and her new husband were staying there a few days for their honeymoon. I knew it was a stupid thought. I knew my dad, and Dad would never do anything like that, but all the other scenarios that were running through my head were too devastating to think about.