by Ella Miles
“I should go,” she says.
I nod. I can’t form words.
She opens her mouth like she wants to speak but then closes it.
“You aren’t going to try to protect me anymore, right? That’s what being free is,” Kai says.
I clear my throat. “I won’t protect you anymore,” I lie.
“Thank you.”
“And you won’t protect me,” I say.
“I won’t protect you,” she lies.
And then she’s gone.
I follow up to the top deck to watch her leave. Langston joins me.
“Why are you letting her go when you know Milo is still out there? You know he survived,” Langston says.
“Because it’s the only way to save her.”
“What? That makes no sense.”
“It doesn’t, but it’s the truth.” Unlike everything we just said to each other. Everything we said before was lies. I will always try to protect her. And she will always try to protect me.
We both knew Milo is still alive.
We both knew the other tried to make a deal with the devil himself.
But Milo will only take one of our deals—mine. He will not take Kai. Kai will be free. And when the deal is done, Kai will disappear into the crowd. She will no longer be in danger. She will get a fresh start.
She will be safe; I’ll make Langston swear to that.
She will always be protected; even if she never learns of the love I have for her, she will be safe. That’s the promise I vowed to keep no matter what. No matter if I have to sacrifice my own life to keep it.
29
KAI
Kai’s Lie
ENZO GAVE ME MY FREEDOM.
Or at least the illusion of freedom.
He set me free. He gave me the one thing I’ve been asking for since he took me.
I should be happy, grateful, elated.
Instead, I’m focused on saving Enzo from the danger.
I’m tired of fighting.
I’m tired of losing people. Zeke is enough. I can’t bear to lose Enzo too.
So I lied to Enzo.
Repeatedly.
I lied when I said Milo was dead, when I overheard Enzo and Langston talking about Milo being alive.
I lied when I said I wouldn’t protect Enzo, because the only thing I care about is keeping him safe.
And I lied to myself when I pretended I can survive being separated from Enzo—I can’t.
I made a deal with the devil to keep Enzo safe.
When Milo came to the yacht searching for me before the war started, we had a moment to talk—alone.
And I gave him what he wanted—me.
I would give myself to Milo freely and willingly for the rest of my life, if he sparred Enzo. If he let Enzo live, then I would be his. If he let the Black empire remain Enzo’s, I would be his.
Milo said he would consider my offer and left. I yelled into the darkness if he killed Enzo, even if Enzo provoked him first, the deal was off. I would never be his.
And I could see in Milo’s eyes as he drove off into the night how badly he wanted me. He wanted me more than he wanted the empire. That’s who Milo is. Women he keeps as slaves are his ultimate goal. Not money, and not power over men. Power over women—that’s what he wants. And I’m his ultimate prize.
I know Enzo tried to make his own deal with Milo. But I know Milo will take my deal, because he loves controlling women more than he loves money and power.
I will save you Enzo. I will save you from any more pain or loss. You’ve already lost too much. I will keep you from losing more.
I find the number Milo gave me to contact him when I’m ready to make the deal. And then I dial.
30
ENZO
Enzo’s Lie
“WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” Langston asks.
“To make a phone call,” I say, walking back into my private cabins. I don’t need Langston following me and trying to stop me.
The guilt eats at me as I walk. Is it okay to lie to those you love, even to protect them?
I’m sure it’s a sin, but one I’m willing to commit again and again to keep Kai safe.
Because the lies I told her were limitless.
I claimed Milo was dead when we both knew he wasn’t.
I lied when I said I wouldn’t protect her—I always will.
And I lied when I didn’t tell her I loved her.
I should have told her. Maybe that would have changed everything. Or maybe it would have risked everything. Because the only way to keep her safe is to make this deal. She deserves a life free of all of this.
Away from Milo.
Away from Black.
Away from me.
I made a deal that ensures she will be free and protected forever.
As soon as I realized Milo was alive, I lost it. I wanted him dead. But we watched him. After news of Rowan’s death spread, my enemies all converged and sided with Milo. They will all attack together because they see the Black empire as too big, too powerful. I’m too big of a threat. And it would be suicide to fight them all at the same time.
The only way to end Milo and keep Kai safe is to give everything to Milo.
So when I realized Milo was alive, I made a phone call. I offered up everything he has ever wanted. I named him my heir. Found some deep buried blood connection and said if I were to die, he could fight in my place to become Black.
When the games start, Langston will make sure Kai never shows up to fight. Milo will win by default. He will become Black. He will get my entire life's work. He will get what my father and generations of Millers and Rinaldis before fought so hard to build.
He will get to kill me and claim the Black empire. He will get everything he’s ever wanted.
I know Kai made her own deal with Milo. But he won’t take it. She offered him her body, while I’m offering him a chance to kill me and take an entire empire.
Milo will choose my deal. Kai will be safe.
I find Milo’s contact and dial the number. I will sacrifice everything to save her.
31
MILO
I SIT on my throne in my home in Italy, triumphant.
I won.
Enzo Black thought he did when we hit the water. He had no idea days later he would surrender everything to me.
He had no idea the woman he loves had already surrendered herself to me before the war even started.
I had won before the battle begun.
Enzo needed his woman to save him in the water that day, but I grew up in the sea. I know how to fight, hold my breath, and swim for the surface.
I know how to survive. And that’s what I did until my men found me.
And now, I have all the power.
Because I get to choose which life I take. I get to choose between the two fools.
Both Enzo and Kai are willing to give up everything to save the other—for true love.
Ugh, it makes me sick.
I can’t believe either was foolish enough to fall in love.
Love is a weakness. It makes you vulnerable. Case in point, both of them are willing to give up their lives in order to save the other.
And it makes getting to choose who I take all the sweeter.
Both are strong.
Both are fighters.
Both are stupid enough to fall in love.
Both hold the key to me taking over the Black empire.
But I have to make a choice.
I can’t pick both, as tempting as it is. If I kill both, then I won’t get to watch as the other crumbles into a pile of dust—self-destructing from the loss of the other.
Both think they are doing the right thing by saving the other. But neither realize by sacrificing themselves they are killing the one they leave behind. That is how love works.
So I must choose. And I know exactly who I will pick. I will pick the strongest. The one most likely to become Black. The one who will fight until they become Black and earn
me an empire. And then I will make them sacrifice their life, love, and empire to me.
The End
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Thank you so much for reading! Kai and Enzo’s story continues in Stolen by Truths!
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ALSO BY ELLA MILES
TRUTH OR LIES (Coming 2019):
Lured by Lies #0.5
Taken by Lies #1
Betrayed by Truths #2
Trapped by Lies #3
Stolen by Truths #4
Possessed by Lies #5
Consumed by Truths #6
DIRTY SERIES:
Dirty Beginning
Dirty Obsession
Dirty Addiction
Dirty Revenge
Dirty: The Complete Series
ALIGNED SERIES:
Aligned: Volume 1 (Free Series Starter)
Aligned: Volume 2
Aligned: Volume 3
Aligned: Volume 4
Aligned: The Complete Series Boxset
UNFORGIVABLE SERIES:
Heart of a Thief
Heart of a Liar
Heart of a Prick
Unforgivable: The Complete Series Boxset
MAYBE, DEFINITELY SERIES:
Maybe Yes
Maybe Never
Maybe Always
* * *
Definitely Yes
Definitely No
Definitely Forever
STANDALONES:
Pretend I’m Yours
Finding Perfect
Savage Love
Too Much
Not Sorry
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ella Miles writes steamy romance, including everything from dark suspense romance that will leave you on the edge of your seat to contemporary romance that will leave you laughing out loud or crying. Most importantly, she wants you to feel everything her characters feel as you read.
Ella is currently living her own happily ever after near the Rocky Mountains with her high school sweetheart husband. Her heart is also taken by her goofy five year old black lab who is scared of everything, including her own shadow.
Ella is a USA Today Bestselling Author & Top 50 Bestselling Author.
Stalk Ella at:
www.ellamiles.com
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Free Books
Truth or Lies Series
1. Kai
2. Enzo
3. Kai
4. Enzo
5. Kai
6. Enzo
7. Kai
8. Enzo
9. Kai
10. Enzo
11. Kai
12. Enzo
13. Kai
14. Enzo
15. Kai
16. Liesel
17. Kai
18. Enzo
19. Kai
20. Enzo
21. Kai
22. Milo
23. Enzo
24. Kai
25. Enzo
26. Kai
27. Enzo
28. Enzo
29. Kai
30. Enzo
31. Milo
Free Books
Also by Ella Miles
About the Author
