Web Of Lies (The Lies Trilogy Book 1)

by J. G. Sumner

  I nod even though I don’t appreciate being talked to like a child. I let him get away with it this time because he’s so damned stressed. If Parker wasn’t here, I could fix that for him.

  “Let’s go, Parker. Trent reaches for her hand and escorts her toward the door.

  Jealousy washes over me, leaving an unsavory, bitter taste in my mouth. I want to claw her eyes out. I hate her now that she’s leaving with my man.

  This was supposed to be the night we had the conversation that Trent was leaving her. Or that’s what I thought when I came over here. I thought Trent and I would be leaving together. Not this. She’s probably using this situation to worm herself back into Trent’s life.

  Guess what lady. He’s mine now. Mine! You got that?

  I can’t help but scream internally. It’s not like I can do it. Not now.

  “Remember, don’t let anyone in,” Trent says, “and call me if anything usual happens.” He shuts the door behind him without giving me time to respond. Weird stuff has been going on in Trent’s family, especially with his father. While he hasn’t confided in me a whole lot, it’s important that he does if we’re going to become lifelong partners. I guess I can’t expect everything to happen overnight. Divorce isn’t easy for anyone, it’s a process. One that I hope I’ll never have to endure.

  I pick up one of Parker’s fashion magazines and flip through it trying to find a distraction. After a couple of minutes of no sound except for the turning of the pages, I turn on the television and search through various channels. Nothing much is on. It’s summertime and there’s nothing but reruns.

  When the doorbell rings I freeze, remembering Trent’s instructions: Don’t let anyone in.

  Surely whoever it is knows that someone is here. The lights and music are on, and if they looked through any of the windows they could probably see me. I approach the door.

  “Who is it?” I ask, my heart racing.

  “Eddie from E&P security. I want to let you know that we’ve arrived and are securing the perimeter.”

  “Okay, thank you.” With a sigh of relief I return to the couch and again start fantasizing about Trent and our future life together. Instead of me sitting alone on this couch, he’ll be by my side while we make out. I put my hands on my breasts where his should be and caress them. I start to become aroused and reach one hand inside of my pants. I imagine it’s Trent’s and he’s rubbing me with his dexterous fingers. I can feel his breath on my neck as he plants soft kisses and small nibbles down it. I bring myself so close to climax. Just a little more.

  “Miss Beth? Where’s Tanner?” TJ calls from the bottom of the stairs.

  I immediately snatch my hands from my pants and rush to his side. “He should be in his room asleep.”

  “He’s not. I’ve looked all over for him. Tyler is there but Tanner isn’t.”

  I dart upstairs to Tanner’s bedroom. Sure enough, there’s no sign of him, only an open window. I run through the upstairs, searching frantically through all of the rooms, calling his name quietly so as not wake Tyler. I run back downstairs and search through all the rooms. Still nothing. I run to the front door and open it, screaming for the security guard.

  “Hey! Hello? Is anyone out there?”

  A giant of a man approaches. I swear he’s about six-foot seven, heavyset, with dark hair. I almost miss that he’s carrying Tanner in his arms. “Looking for him?”

  “Yeah! Where did you find him?”

  The man steps through the door and places Tanner down on the floor. He immediately runs upstairs with TJ.

  “I’ll be right up there to tuck you into bed.” I smile at their cute selves scurrying away. I’m so distracted by it I don’t notice the guy move in behind me and place a cloth over my face.

  I try to fight, scratching at his hands and attempting to scream, but everything fades to black.

  ***

  I wake up bound to a chair with duct tape over my mouth, the muscles in my neck sore and stiff. My fingers are numb from the ropes being too tight around my wrists. I try to scream but the tape prevents it. I’m not sure where my captor is. As far as I can tell, I’m alone here in the kitchen. I have no idea if there’s anything wrong with the kids or if they’re here for that matter.

  Even though my feet are bound together, I can still move the chair a couple of inches at a time across the floor. I don’t know where I’m going or what I’m going to do, but maybe I’ll be able to get loose somehow.

  “It’s about time you woke up.” The gargantuan of a man rips the tape from my mouth and I scream out in pain as some of the skin from my lips is pulled away.

  I rub my mouth on my shoulder. “Where are the kids?”

  “They’re fine. Nothing for you to worry about there. Besides, what I want only you can give me.” The man flashes a sadistic grin and I become worried he’s going to try and have his way with me.

  I squeeze my legs tight. I don’t know why. If this guy wanted to, he could throw me across the room with his pinky. There’s nothing my scrawny legs can do to prevent him from raping me.

  “Don’t worry, I don’t want anything like that from you,” he says as though he read my mind.

  “What do you want?”

  “I want you to give me some information. Once I get it, you’ll be free to go.”

  The smell of body odor from his skin is making me sick to my stomach. I turn my head to get away from his stench.

  “What’s wrong? Do I disgust you?” He lets out a huge belch. “If you tell me what I want to know then I’ll go away. You go back to reading your magazines and feeling yourself up.”

  With a flush of embarrassment I ask, “What do you want to know?”

  “What is your relationship with Trent Davis?”

  “I’m the nanny for his children.”

  “Yeah, well, nannies don’t go on trips to the Cayman Islands without the kids. Tell me more.”

  Crap! How does this guy know about me and Trent? Why does everyone seem to know?

  “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can help you out with more. It’s a platonic relationship.”

  “So how did you end up in the Caymans?”

  I’ve got to think of something good. I have to get free so I can make sure the kids are okay and call Trent. “I heard that he was going to New York to identify his father. I figured the entire family was there. I took the train to meet them there in case they needed help. I had no idea Trent was alone. He didn’t want me traveling back by myself, so he took me with him and then made sure I got home safely. It was nothing.”

  The sting to my face catches me off guard. A tear streams out of my eye, cooling my hot flesh. I’ve never been hit by a man before. I can’t say it’s the most pleasant thing.

  “Come on now. You don’t think I’m that dumb, do you? Look, I have this picture of the two of you. Seems like you’re naked.” The ogre holds his phone up for me to take a look.

  I squint through the eye that’s already starting to swell. Sure as shit, there’s a picture of Trent and I standing on the balcony of the hotel. It’s when I was sunbathing and he had just gotten back.

  “Are you still going to tell me there’s nothing going on?”

  “He was at a meeting. I wanted to lay out in the sun and I didn’t have a bathing suit. He caught me by surprise. I immediately went inside and put on some clothes. Really, it was all innocent. I don’t know what you want me to say. If there’s something specific, just let me know and I’ll say it. I’ll do anything if you just let me go,” I plead, hoping something will work.

  “By the look on this guy’s face his thoughts are anything but innocent. Would you care to comment on that?”

  “I’m sure if you saw me standing here naked your thoughts would be less than pure as well. I’m damned good looking, if I do say so myself. At least I was until you gave me this shiner.”

  “Watch your mouth or I’ll give you one on the other side to match. Now answer my question. Did the two of you sleep together?”


  “No, I didn’t sleep with him. He’s a little old for my taste. I like guys with tanned skin, six pack abs, and in their twenties. Besides, Mr. Davis is married.”

  I double over in pain from the fist to my stomach. I’ve never been hit so hard in my life. I hold back the urge to vomit although the gagging makes it extremely difficult.

  “You’d better answer the rest of my questions truthfully or you’ll be feeling a lot more pain. Tell me what name he deposited his money under in that bank in the Caymans.”

  “I-I—” The front door slams, startling me. I’m very afraid of who might be coming in. The bumbling oaf wasn’t that bad, but what if he has someone he’s working with who would hurt me? I glance back at my captor and he’s gone. I blink my eyes hard thinking that maybe it’s just the swelling of my eye and I can’t see very well. But when I look around again, there is still no sign of him.

  “I’m in here!” I cry out. “Help! I need help!”

  A man dressed in a suit comes running to my side. “Are you okay, ma’am?”

  I nod. “Please untie me. I’ve got to check on the kids.”

  He quickly gets the ropes off. “What happened? Who did this to you?”

  “Forget about me. Who are you and how did you get in this house?” I stand up. I’m a little dizzy. Maybe it’s from whatever drug I was given or maybe from being slapped, I’m not sure.

  “I was hired by Mr. Davis to secure his property. I saw the front door cracked and decided to check out the inside.”

  “Please, there are supposed to be three kids upstairs. Can you please check on them? I’m not feeling too well.”

  “Ma’am, should I call for medical help?’

  “No! Please go make sure the kids are okay. They are what’s most important here.”

  The man scampers off, leaving me alone to process what just happened. Tears come flowing as my body trembles. I’m scared. More so than I ever have been. I start to sob uncontrollably. I don’t know why since I’m out of harm’s way now.

  I stand there a moment to get my bearings before shuffling over to the sink for a glass of water. I’m still a little lightheaded, but able to function. I don’t know what’s going on with Trent and his family, but I’m certainly not ready to ever be tied up again.

  I want so bad to run out of this house and never come back. If I wasn’t so in love with Trent, I’d be out the door. Yet I can’t imagine my life without him. Hopefully he can get all of this worked out so we don’t have to live in fear or look over our shoulders all the time.

  The security guard comes back into the kitchen. “The children are sleeping comfortably in their beds. How are you? I think we should call an ambulance and have you checked out. You don’t look so good.”

  A mixture of relief and nausea washes over me and I fight the urge to pass out. “I’ve got to sit down.” I take a step in the direction of the chair and my legs give out as my world turns dark.

  Chapter 27

  Trent

  “Are you ready for this?”

  I look at Parker to make sure she’s okay. She’s gone through a lot today, including having to ask my mistress for help. In addition, she’s found out she and Porter don’t share the same dad and her trust fund is gone. I can’t begin to imagine how that’s impacting her. Parker is stronger than I gave her credit for.

  Parker nods. “We need to do this. We need to stop this family war. I don’t see any other way out of it. Besides, Porter deserves to know who his family is. Our entire lives the two of you have always acted like brothers. Come to find out you actually are.”

  She’s right. Porter has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. When we were young we cut our fingers and became blood brothers. Who knew we already were?

  We stand on the porch of Porter’s house, both of us hesitant to ring the bell even though this is what’s best. It’s never easy sharing with a person that their world isn’t what they thought it was.

  I press the button. It’s now or never. We need to get this over with. It takes forever for Porter to come to the door. When he does answer, the expression on his face is one of shock.

  “Hi, I wasn’t expecting you.”

  We all stand there motionless.

  “Are you going to let us in?” Parker asks.

  Porter fumbles with the door. “This isn’t a good time.”

  Now I’m the one surprised. Porter has never turned us away. He’s always had an open door policy, and we used to walk in without knocking.

  “Porter, please,” Parker pleads. “It’s important.”

  Porter hesitates before opening the door further. “Yeah, come on in.”

  I take Parker’s hand in mine and we step through the door. Right now, we’re a united front. I want her to know that I’m standing here with her through the mess.

  Parker squeezes my hand, silently acknowledging my presence.

  We move to the couch and have a seat.

  “Can I get you anything to drink?”

  Parker and I both refuse. I need to have a clear head in this moment, although I suspect Porter may need a drink after he hears what we have to say.

  “So what’s up?” Porter stands with his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his feet. He looks nervous and antsy. It’s quite obvious he’s hiding something. “We have something we need to tell you,” I announce.

  Porter laughs. “You aren’t pregnant again are you?” He looks to me and then Parker.

  “No, it’s nothing like that.” Parker fidgets with her hands. “It’s more serious and probably not something you’re going to celebrate.”

  “You two look somber. How about you tell me what’s going on?”

  Parker and I discussed on the way here that she should be the one to tell Porter. He’s already trying to ruin me. He might not believe what I have to say. He’d never not believe Parker. I nod for her to go ahead.

  “Have you ever wondered why you have blond hair and I have black hair? Or maybe why we don’t look a lot alike?”

  “No, not really. I look more like Mom, and you look like Dad. It’s called genetics.”

  Parker swallows hard. “There’s a little more to it than that. I don’t know how else to say it, so I’m just going to come out with it. We have different fathers. Edward is my father, not yours.”

  Porter stares at us like we have multiple heads before laughing at us. “You two are funny.” His face becomes serious. “What are you two trying to pull here? What is it you’re trying to accomplish?”

  “Please, just listen. I’m not lying to you or trying to pull anything.”

  “You’ve got two minutes.”

  “Since you’re not giving me a lot of time, I’m just going to come out here and say this. Mom had an affair. She never told anyone but your father. Porter, you and Trent share the same dad. You two are brothers.”

  Again he looks between us to get some sort of confirmation that we’re not joking. “Have you lost your fucking mind? There is no way I’m related to him. Don’t you think I’d know that? Parker, do I need to remind you about some things?” Porter eyes Parker, trying to threaten her without me knowing. Unfortunately for him, I know him all too well.

  “No, you don’t have to remind me about anything. Trent knows about my past. He also is quite aware that my father has used up both of our trust funds. There is no money left for us. So whatever Edward is bribing you with, you should think twice.”

  Porter whips his head in my direction. “Did you put her up to this?”

  “No, I didn’t. Look, Porter, I know what you’ve been trying to do to me. I know all about the bugging. I also know that Edward is not only in trouble financially, but he has some issues with the mob as well. As a way to get back at Jonathan for impregnating your mother, he’s trying to get you destroy me and him. It’s poetic justice on his part. It’s time you know the truth so you’re no longer a pawn in his game.”

  He stares at us wild-eyed. “This story is so crazy.
You can’t make this shit up. Are you trying your hand at creative writing, Parker? Nobody is that manipulative.”

  “We have proof.” Parker stands up and goes to the door. She opens it and in comes Suzanne. She and Parker exchange kisses on the cheek before Suzanne comes in and sits down. Her blonde hair is in a short bob with every strand in place. She sits poised and proper, as though this discussion is beneath her.

  “Mom, we just told Porter about Jonathon. He doesn’t want to believe us.”

  “Son, Parker isn’t lying to you. I…I made a mistake when I was younger. I cheated on your father. It’s not something I’m proud of. However, I wouldn’t change it for the world because it gave me you. I know I should’ve told you a long time ago. I never told anyone. I was afraid your father would leave me. I didn’t want that. I really do love him. He’s a good man, he’s just made some poor choices.”

  Porter looks scared and unsure. I feel bad for him. I can only imagine what I do in this situation.

  “Jonathan Davis is my father?” He looks at Suzanne questioningly.

  “Yes, son. I’m so sorry I did this to you.” Suzanne tries to take Porter into her arms, but he pushes her away.

  “I didn’t get to say goodbye to him! I never got to call him Father or acknowledge him. I’ll never get the chance to ask him why he hid it all these years. You deprived me of that! How could you do that to me?”

  “I had no idea how much trouble this would cause. If I had, I would’ve told everyone sooner. I honestly thought I could keep this a secret and we’d be happy forever. I just wanted us to have a normal family. I tried not to do any damage between Edward and me and Penny and Jonathan. At the time, I thought it was the best decision. Again, I’m so sorry.” Suzanne embraces Porter. This time he allows her to.

  After a couple of minutes of crying into her shoulder, Porter looks at all of us. “Why now? Why did you all tell me now?”