Web Of Lies (The Lies Trilogy Book 1)

by J. G. Sumner

I use running as an excuse not to make love to Parker in the morning; I use fatigue to avoid it in the evenings. We had sex about a week after we got here because she started suspecting something and I didn’t feel I had a way out of it. I made sure her needs were met and then I finished myself off in the bathroom later that night while she was sleeping. I hate lying to her because I can tell she wants to make our marriage work. The problem is, I don’t. I want to be as far away from her crazy family as I can get.

  I’m about four miles into my run when it hits me. A plan. It has become abundantly clear that Parker’s family wants me out of their lives. While I don’t have a problem with this, my kids aren’t going to suffer from it. Step one is to liquidate my assets in the law firm. There isn’t a huge amount but there’s a couple of million that is rightfully mine. Then I need to leave Boston, maybe go live on the West Coast or someplace out of the country altogether. Finally, I need a way to ensure the custody of my children. I know Parker and her family would never allow that to happen, so there aren’t a lot of alternatives. I have to prove her to be an incompetent mother or catch her in something so bad there is no way she could argue with custody. This is going to be hard.

  I’m just about to write off that plan when I think of another. I have to destroy those who are trying to destroy me. I have to be one step ahead of them, and I need to find out Parker’s involvement in the whole thing. Instead of trying to avoid Parker, I need to get information from her. I know she loves our boys and I’d never want to take her away from them. Even more, the kids love her. I’d never want to deprive her of a relationship with them. That’s why I figure I’ll go with the second plan.

  I need to get a hold of my father and find out exactly what he knows. I stop running and look around. There is no one on this beach and I’m far enough away from the house we rented to worry about Parker finding me.

  I pull out the burner phone and press the button with my dad’s number stored in it. He answers after the first ring.

  “Son, is everything okay? How are my grandkids?”

  I smile at the irony that both of us are more worried about the boys than ourselves. “Yes, they’re fine. We’re on vacation on Mustique.”

  “Really? I’m surprised. You never go anywhere.”

  “I thought it would be best to get them out of Boston. That’s not why I’m calling though. Dad, I need to know the story. The entire story. I’m tired of being a victim. I want to fight back. I want my life back where I don’t have to look over my shoulder.”

  There’s silence on the other end. For a moment I think our connection has been severed. Then, “Are you alone? This is going to take some time.”

  I sit down on a nearby rock and brace myself for the story of a lifetime. “I’m ready.”

  “I’ve told you much of it. Your mother figured out early on that Porter was my child. Needless to say, she was devastated to know that I cheated while she was carrying you. Even more so she was angry with her best friend for sleeping with her husband. Your mother can be a bit vindictive and it never sat well that Suzanne had no consequences for her actions. Penelope started to threaten Suzanne with telling the truth to Edward and having her ostracized out of their social circle. Your mother owned Suzanne in every sense of the word.

  “When there was a business deal between us, Penelope made sure Suzanne knew her place to influence Edward in the dealings. Because of this, Edward lost a lot of money. At one time they almost had to claim bankruptcy. But Edward continued to do whatever Suzanne wanted because he loved her unconditionally.

  “Edward couldn’t tell his family that he pissed away the entire family fortune. He created so much debt trying to get it back that he started taking out loans with some unsavory people. He continued to spend and invest out of control in an attempt to make the money back, getting further and further into debt. As a result, he was unable to repay his debts and started owning favors to the people he borrowed from.

  “I was unaware of all of this when we formed the partnership. Edward used Porter’s and Parker’s trust funds for the endeavor. He still owed his creditors a ton of money, and even though we were generating a significant profit from the business, instead of paying back his debts, Edward spent the money on their lavish lifestyle, determined to keep up with the Jones’ or in this case, the Davis’. The Mafioso was done waiting for his payback and started making threats around our company. He held a gun to my head and made some very real threats. That’s when I pulled out of the company. I thought by doing so, I would be completely rid of them. I was wrong.

  “Your mother had no idea she had caused all these problems. She just thought she was putting Suzanne in her place in their social circle. So when I told her about the mob threat she was furious. She wasn’t happy that Edward or Suzanne put our family in jeopardy. She attacked him where it hurt by informing him that Porter wasn’t his. Little did she know that would only stoke the fire.

  “Edward went on to inform the Mafioso that I’m the one who took his money and ran with it. They’ve been on the hunt for me ever since. That’s why I had to fake my death and your mother’s disappearance. We needed some time to figure this situation out.”

  “So why is he coming after me?”

  “He won’t go so far as to kill you. He wants to destroy our family name and take all of our money. He’s going to recoup Parker’s trust fund by ensuring she gets yours.”

  “Why don’t we just pay off his debt for him? All this would go away.”

  “Ha! His debt is somewhere around five hundred million dollars. Do you have that? Even if I did I wouldn’t give it to him. I may have fucked his wife, but I’m not going to destroy my family’s inheritance because of it. Besides, even if the debt was paid off, I think he would still go after us. Edward has become very shady and has some extremely powerful connections.”

  I wonder how much Parker knows about this. Perhaps she’s what could solve this problem. She loves me and she is loyal to me based on the fact that she threw away those bugs instead of installing them in my office. If I ask for her help, maybe she can talk some sense into her father.

  “Do you have a plan yet, or were you and Mom just going to remain hidden for the rest of your lives?”

  “No, son. At this time, I’m kind of at a loss of what to do. Your mother and I are enjoying our time together. We’ve never been able to travel like this. I’ve got to say with the exception of your wellbeing, we’re in no hurry to get back to our lives. Also, if something happens to us there are five offshore accounts set up under your various grandparents’ maiden names. You don’t ever have to work again, and neither do your boys. Do what you need to do to take care of them.”

  “Dad, why don’t we just pay these people off? I don’t care if I work and I think the boys should have to as well.”

  “It’s the principle of it. I know we can get through this without spending our family fortune, we just need a little more time. I’m working on something. Listen, I’ve got to get going. Your mother and I have a dinner reservation.”

  I hang up with my dad and ponder the situation. My father started this mess by sleeping with Suzanne, but my mother perpetuated everything out of control. I understand why Mom wanted revenge on her so called friend, but why didn’t she leave Dad? Why didn’t she walk away from the entire thing? I already know the answer. Davises don’t get divorced. They stick together no matter what. As least that’s the way it used to be. We’re no longer living in the south, times are more modern, and I’ve certainly paved my own way. Never have I relied on or been my father’s prodigy and I won’t start now. I must find a way to get us out of this mess.

  I take in the scenery for a bit longer. The water’s various shades of blue, the smell of sea salt in the air, and the sounds of seagulls flying around hoping to catch their next meal…it’s calm and relaxing. I think if I could spend the rest of my life here, I might consider it. The serenity and lack of anything pressing to do has relaxed me more than I’ve ever been. I could defi
nitely get used to this.

  The more I mull everything around, the more I’m certain I need to confide in Parker. She needs to be on same page. The only way we can win this war between our families is if we fight it together. As much as I would like to move on with my other life, I still need Parker and vice versa.

  I jump up and run back toward the house. The waves crash and run in around my feet. I make a game out of dodging the water. I glance behind me at the footprints that are quickly being washed away from the sandy white beach. On the sand in front of me there is a large, completely intact sand dollar. I pick it up to take it back to the boys. They’ve been collecting these since we got here. I heard somewhere if you break one in half the dove shaped pieces on the inside will be freed, granting peace and love. I resist the temptation and wait for my boys to do the honors.

  When I get back to the house, it’s completely empty. The lights are off and it’s deserted. No kids, no suitcases, no nothing. My worst nightmare has happened. Parker took off with the kids. I search around for any sign of why they might have left or where they might be. There’s a note on the kitchen counter:

  I’ve gone home. I think you’re right. Our relationship has taken its course. I’ll see you back in the States.

  Parker

  “Fuck!” I slam my fist against the wall. The one time I want her to be here for a serious conversation she’s gone.

  It’s been two hours since I left. She couldn’t have gone that far. Perhaps I can still catch her at the airport. I dash out to the garage and find the car is gone. I run back inside and call for a cab. Meanwhile, I check the status on flights off the island. The next one leaves in an hour. I feel some slight relief knowing I’ll be able to catch her. There is no way I’m letting her off this island with my children until we talk.

  When the cab rolls up I jump inside and order him to take me to the airport. It takes about twenty minutes, which only leaves me a few minutes to spare. I run into the terminal and am forced to purchase a ticket before being able to go through security.

  I’m running frantically and cursing like a sailor, trying to get to the gate before the doors close. One thing about this island and the airport is they cater to the obscenely rich clientele. They are closing the doors as I arrive to the gate. I come darting toward one of the attendants completely out of breath.

  “You’re just in time, sir. Please come in.” Her Caribbean accent is warm and inviting.

  “I need to get my wife and children off this plane. They can’t leave yet. Can I go in and retrieve them?”

  She smiles sweetly at me. “What are their names?”

  I give her the information. “I’m sorry, sir. There is no record of them on this plane.”

  “There must be some mistake. Please check again. Maybe they’re under the last name of Matthews, could you check that?”

  She types away. “No. I’m sorry. Perhaps they took a charter flight off the island.”

  I smack my hand against my head. Of course she would. She was looking for the fastest way off. If she didn’t want me to catch her, she would have had the flight arranged.

  I go to the credit card app on my phone and see that she did, in fact, arrange for a charter flight back to the mainland.

  I get on the plane in hopes that we make it back to Boston around the same time. There is no way I’m letting this woman run off with my children. I’m certain she’ll go to our house and grab some of the boys’ personal things before disappearing if that’s what she’s planning on doing. I’ve just got to make sure I beat her there.

  Chapter 25

  Parker

  I didn’t want to run, but after what my father told me there was no other choice. How could Trent do it? How could he buy a house for his mistress? For our nanny? I thought that we were on the right track. I thought that we were putting our marriage back together. If he had no intention of doing so, why would he take us all to that island?

  I felt trapped. I had to get off Mustique and get back to land where I could go wherever I wanted without having to wait for a plane to take me there. The boys didn’t want to go, but I told them there were things at home that needed to be tended to. I told them that Trent would meet us back home. What I didn’t tell them is that we were only going to be home long enough to pack our things and get the hell out. There’s no way I’m letting Trent have a happy ever after with that little whore. Even if I was the one who brought her into our family.

  I’m going to get my things and then go to my parents’. I’m going to ask Daddy for my trust fund, and then I’m leaving Boston. The boys and I will go live somewhere else, start a new life with Delia. If Trent wants to be a part of their lives, he’ll have to come visit—without Beth.

  When we landed in Boston, I hired a driver to take the boys and I home. Fuck Trent and his insistence that we don’t spend any money. I want a driver and live-in housekeeper. I want the nicer things that money can buy. I deserve them. I’m an Edwards and a Davis. There’s no reason I should be washing dishes or doing laundry. We should have people for that.

  The driver speeds us toward the house and a sense of relief washes over me. I feel a sense of renewal. I’m going to have my life back. I want to find the Parker who has been missing for so long. I don’t have to beg for Trent to be with me. Despite what my father says, there are others who love me, Delia being one of them.

  My life is going to be fabulous. I’ll have my own house with people to pamper me. I’ll sit on my porch while someone brings me a lemonade and someone else is cleaning everything from top to bottom. No more broken nails or dry and cracked hands for this girl, not that I had a problem anyway. The manicurist usually fixed any nail that broke and my hands are always soft thanks to the fancy skin cream I use. It’s just the point. I can and should have all of this stuff.

  I pay the driver while the boys shuffle out of the car, grabbing all of their things. I’m sure they’re tired from not sleeping on the plane and it was a long travel day. I retrieve our luggage and roll it to the front door. Before I can grab my keys to unlock the door, Tanner opens it up and goes inside. I stand there unable to figure out why the door would be unlocked.

  I grab a couple of the suitcases and move inside. I’m stopped in my steps by the sight of Trent sitting on the couch, his eyebrows raised as he stares at me. I drop the suitcases. My first reaction is to run, but from what? I’m the one who left him. “Shut the door, Parker.”

  I can’t move except for the involuntary shaking that has taken over my body.

  “I just want to talk. There is no reason to be frightened.” Trent stands and moves toward me.

  I still can’t move when he puts his hands on my shoulders and guides me over to the couch.

  “Please sit here. I’m going to get the boys settled upstairs.” Trent takes the suitcases and follows the boys to their rooms.

  My mind races, trying to figure out how he got here before I did. Why does he care that I left? He only wants the boys. He doesn’t give a crap about me.

  I go into Trent’s office and pour myself some of his good scotch. I need something strong to calm my nerves. This is the biggest decision I’ve ever made in my life. Trent is going to try to make it so I can’t take the boys with me. If anyone can prevent it, it’s him. There is no way I’m letting him take my babies away from me. They are the only good thing I’ve done in my life.

  When I sit back down on the couch, Trent makes his way back down the stairs, his face expressionless. I don’t know what he’s thinking or going to say. That in itself is scary. I left the man in another country and took his children. I don’t know how he couldn’t be furious with me. I’d never let him get away with what I did. Surprisingly, he doesn’t look mad.

  Trent sits across from me, folds his hands, and places two fingers in a triangle formation on the bridge of his nose. “What I’m about to tell you is going to be difficult for you to hear and possibly understand. Please know that I wouldn’t lie to you. This is the truth to the best
of my knowledge.” He pauses and takes a deep breath.

  Here we go. He’s going to tell me all about his relationship with Beth. “Please, if this is about your girlfriend, spare me the details. I don’t want to know.”

  “Please listen. God, I don’t even know where to start with this. It’s such a clusterfuck.” Trent gets up and paces, pulling his hand through his hair in frustration.

  I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him this stressed out. Now I’m very concerned. This is bigger than just him having a relationship with another woman. Is he sick? Perhaps there’s something wrong with him.

  “Trent, what is it?”

  “There are some things that happened before you and I were born that are impacting us now. Our parents made some very bad decisions that are threatening our livelihood and can end up affecting our children. I’m scared. I think the only way we’re going to be able to solve this problem is if we work together.”

  Now I’m even more confused.

  Trent sits down next to me. “Parker, I found out your mom and my dad had an affair a very long time ago. Actually, it was while my mom was pregnant with me. Your mom got pregnant and she never told Edward about it. He never knew Porter wasn’t his. Parker, Porter is my brother.”

  The wind is knocked out of my chest. I don’t know what I was expecting Trent to say, but it sure as hell wasn’t that. “You must be mistaken. There’s no way that could be true. My mother would’ve told me. Told us.”

  “Honey, it’s true.” Trent puts his arm around me and holds me close. I bury my head into his chest and allow the tears to flow as I try to wrap my brain around it.

  “Jonathon told my mother as soon as he found out. She understandably was very upset, and she retaliated against your mother. Long story short, both of our moms have made mistakes. Some of their actions have caused great financial instability in your family’s life. Here’s another big one. Your dad has pissed away your trust fund. He has no money.”