Tangled IN LIES (Book#3, IN YOU)

by Cassandra Night

  My lungs freeze in my chest, and I can feel little pricks digging in my chest as I wait for his response. His gaze, devoid of emotions, meets mine, and I gasp. My chin wobbles and I stand.

  I need to get away from him.

  “Where are my kids?” I demand.

  Not waiting for his response, I stride straight to the door, leading to the spacious living space. I find Liane and Leon drawing with a nanny they hired to look after them. Before I can utter a word, Darren grabs my arm and turns me to face him.

  “Everything right now seems worse than it is, Cassandra. But the truth will never change. You are my family and the mother of those two beautiful grandkids.” He motions to my unaware twins, playing behind me. “I’m not your enemy.” His pleading eyes burrow into mine.

  “It’s hard to believe you.” I slip away from his grip. “It’s difficult to trust the man who holds secrets from his family, who manipulates our lives by pulling strings and casting smoke screens. I don’t want any part of your games. My children won’t be a part of this either. If you dare to fight for the custody of my children, I will do everything to destroy you.”

  “Such brave words for a little mouse like you.” Those words twist, plunging me to that day when Logan and I met. I cover my mouth, but traitorous tears burst of their own accord anyway.

  “Cassandra . . .” he starts, but I rip my hand out of his hold and turn to my babies, who just now noticed us. They jump to their feet and run straight into my arms, screeching like two happy goofballs.

  “Mommy, Mommy, you’re here!” Liane’s hands clutch me, but Leon has a frown on his cute face. I rarely can hide anything from him. Leon has this emotional radar so unusual for his age. I smile, encouraging him to relax.

  “I missed you so much. Have you enjoyed your day with your grandparents?” He nods, still fixated on my face, judging my mood. But when his smile breaks free, my heart melts. Just like this, my son dissolves all the negative energy clinging to me.

  “Let’s go home, all right?”

  They nod, grabbing their things, and start recounting all the adventures they had today.

  Before I leave, I cast a glance at Darren. The nailing determination on his face directed at me scares the hell out of me. It’s obvious he’s going to war. Whatever is happening, I’m the person they’re willing to sacrifice for their family’s welfare. I’m just an outsider, collateral damage to their social, business games. I’m a bad guy in their story.

  The drive home is full of animated chatter with my kids, while my head’s spinning with the things I can’t control or even fix. How the hell did my relationship with the Cades get so bad we can’t stand each other? This isn’t how we were at the beginning.

  The pain is changing us.

  When the car pulls up in the driveway, Mark opens the door, strolling toward us. I see protectiveness etched in his every move and his sharp gaze, scanning the surroundings like he’s anticipating trouble. I don’t remember how, but I’m out of the car and in his strong arms, sucking his unique scent into my lungs.

  “Hey.” His forehead creases in worry when he kisses me.

  “Sir, we locked up and going to do a perimeter check. There are a few paparazzi across the street. You might want to get inside.”

  My head rests on his chest, listening to the sexy rumble, letting someone else take care of us.

  “Thanks, please make sure there are no breaches.”

  Small hands start to pry us from each other, trying to get in between.

  “Hi, you two want a cuddle too?” Mark’s velvety voice sounds hopeful as he asks them. Both kids jump into his arms, giggling when he spins them around.

  I watch them play together, afraid this moment is too fleeting, the sense of happiness too deceitful. A threat is too real. This time I can sense the danger, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.

  “Let’s go inside. I made pasta and have something special for dessert.”

  “Yeah.” Their voices boom in unison, making me chuckle as I watch their eyes sparkle with eager excitement. “Will you play with us afterward?”

  Mark winks at me, and he skips to the house with them both screeching in delight. “Only if you tidy up your toys. Is that a deal?”

  Before I enter the house, I cast my gaze over the street and see somebody sitting in the car, watching us. Cold apprehension treks down my spine as I notice the cameras, flashing at me.

  The security guys zooming around the house make me feel a bit safer. I nod at one of them passing by and close the door behind me. The safety blanket wraps around me as soon as I smell the delicious scent of cooked food coming from the kitchen. Mark and the kids chatter as if the world isn’t trying to break us apart and shatter the idyllic peace. They’re oblivious to the enemies surrounding us.

  The smile stretches on my lips and my eyes well up with tears as I drink them in. Mark and my children are my islands of happiness. How am I going to keep us safe, away from dangers? I have no idea. But I’m going to fight for them with everything I have. The family’s falling apart, and I have to fix us somehow before it’s too late, before our enemies use it against us.

  Instead of joining them, I go to change my torn clothes. I strip and walk into the shower, letting the hot stream wash away all the tension and emotions sticking like grime to my skin. After I’m done with my shower routine, I wrap the towel around myself and go to find something to wear.

  The ringing smartphone in my bag stops me from reaching the wardrobe. “Hello?” Taking a few calming breaths, I press it to my ear. Shit, I completely forgot about Leif.

  “Where are you?”

  “At home with Mark, why?”

  “I’m coming to talk.” He hangs up.

  So I change before going downstairs to join my kids and the man I love.

  26

  Secret Pact

  ~Cassandra~

  As I come around the corner, I hear them talking. “Are you going to be our dad now?” Liane’s inquiring question startles me, so I press my back to the wall.

  “I don’t know, kitten. Why, would you want me to be your dad? You don’t know me.”

  Leon declares. “You can’t be our dad . . . unless you love o-our mom.” His voice is so determined and protective as he speaks with Mark, almost running out of air. “And you have to know how to make her smile. I do.”

  “Your mommy’s very precious to me. It hurts my heart when she’s unhappy.”

  Mark points to his chest as he speaks. “I promise to make her laugh every day at least once, all right?”

  They both nod and beam at him like he brought the sunshine.

  They launch in his embrace, wrapping around him like giggling, restless monkeys. And whatever they’re saying is too muffled for me to hear. It’s heartwarming to see them this way, forming a bond, a secret pact. They look like pieces of one puzzle ready to be assembled to make a perfect picture of happiness. Mark has never belonged, but he doesn’t need to be perfect to fit in with us.

  Someone leans and silently whispers, “Spying!”

  I lurch frightened, bumping into the corner of the side table, cursing as I see Leif trying not to laugh at me.

  Cackling, he draws me under his wing. “What are you up to, sis?”

  “You’re a jerk. I almost had a heart attack.”

  He chuckles, arching his eyebrow.

  “They’re bonding. I’m trying not to intrude,” I whisper angrily as he messes with my wet hair to further aggravate me. “How did you get in?”

  “Security let me in, and I got the spare key, remember?”

  I should change the locks in the future.

  “How're your girls?” We both watch Mark help Liane to cut her food while Leon feeds the Beast under the table. I should walk in there and tell him to stop. But I stay glued to the spot.

  “Asleep, tired, moody . . . you know, the usual.”

  I twist my head to look at him.

  Before I can open my mouth, he toots at me. “Na-ah,
kitten, your problems are much bigger than mine.”

  “You don’t get to choose my life over yours, Leif.”

  He looks down at me with deep worry etched on his face.

  “What—” But before I can say anything, Mark interrupts us.

  “I didn’t know you were here.”

  Our heads snap to him and Leif’s composure changes instantly. There’s something unresolved between those two.

  Leif doesn’t release me, and Mark’s gaze travels to his hand, draped across my shoulders. Jealous, he opens his arms for me as if asking to choose him. Frustrated with them both acting like two toddlers, I slip out from under Leif’s armpit and stride to the kitchen. I’m so done with them.

  “Mommy, the food is delicious. You should try it.” Leon extends the fork toward me, but Beast snatches it and dashes upstairs.

  “Hey,” Leon hollers.

  “Beast, no food upstairs! Come back, right now! You’re so punished for stealing my cutlery, you hear me!” Just great. I glare at Leif accusingly, who finds this situation hilarious. He cackles, and his eyes fill up with tears. Even Mark can’t keep his scowl any longer.

  But Liane and Leon are watching me like I’m a horrible person for being mad at their dog. Their chins quiver. Shit! I take a few calming breaths before diving to tackle this crisis.

  After I settle the dog issue, the twins finish eating dessert and go to watch their favorite cartoons. We’re left alone, but the tension between Mark and Leif is getting on my last nerve. I’ll give them a few more minutes and then I’ll take things into my own hands.

  The delicious double chocolate cheesecake melts on my tongue like a piece of heaven. I savor the treat Mark brought for us, hoping they’ll stop this scowling contest and start acting like adults.

  But no.

  “That’s it, I’ve had enough of you two. Either you start talking, or I will.”

  They stay silent, glance at each other, and stuff their faces with cheesecake instead.

  “Want to tell me how you know each other?”

  Their heads snap toward me, but instead of answering, they both keep staring murder at each other.

  “I’m done with you hiding things from me. I want to know why you don’t want me to be with Mark,” I order Leif.

  Then my determined gaze connects with Mark’s. “Tell me the truth this time, because when I figure it out, and I will, I won’t be this forgiving.”

  “You want to know why I don’t want you to be with him?” Leif starts.

  “Oh, do tell us how much you hate me,” Mark grumbles, and Leif’s nostrils flare in annoyance. He clutches the fork as if he’s planning to stab Mark.

  “You’re a fucking idiot. You’re like a brother to me. Snap out of it.”

  “Nah, I’m not. You want me to be him like your mom, right, Leif? You lost your brother, and I’m a perfect replacement toy.”

  “No one is asking you to be him! You are the one who’s stepping into his shoes and taking his place. Look, you’re in his house, in his wife’s bed, with his children. What the fuck is wrong with you!” he growls at Mark, shoving the plate away from him. It almost topples over the edge.

  Mark launches from his seat like a bullet and grabs Leif by his collar, throwing him against the kitchen countertop. “I AM NOT HIM. Stop comparing us two. Besides, you and Lucas are the ones who filled that role, haven’t you?” he roars in his face, giving him a meaningful look. But Leif pushes him back, straightening his clothes.

  Affected by the aggression clinging to them, the deafening pulse starts to roar in my ears, but I stay quiet. When Ron, the security guy, appears from nowhere, silently asking me if he needs to interfere, I shake my head, knowing this confrontation was long coming.

  “Take my kids upstairs, please. They don’t need to see this,” I whisper, and he grabs them from the living room.

  My heart stops as Leif’s deep voice becomes emotional.

  “I’m only looking out for the people I care about. But you wouldn’t know anything about it. You were Logan’s best friend, and you went for his widow the moment you got her alone. How’s that for comparison, brother?”

  A cold shiver runs down my spine as I try to make sense of what Leif is saying.

  “Pretense is your family’s forte, not mine.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The moment Darren realized I inherited his brother’s fortune, I became a business affair. I thought Logan tried to protect me, but he was as hungry as your father. It never was about me being his brother. They both wanted what I had,” Mark chuckles. Sarcasm drips from every word, but I know he’s hurting. “He juggled the power of both Cade clans and got destroyed in the end, didn’t he?” As if Mark hit the chord, Leif's face becomes an ashen void, dread etched in his dark eyes.

  My lungs stop working as I watch him. The blood leaves my body, and I grab the side table for support, not wholly understanding what Mark is saying.

  As I watch them, the puzzle pieces click together. Standing in front of each other, Mark and Leif look like two brothers. Same height, same stature, same features. And there it is, the undeniable resemblance I failed to notice until now.

  Dark spots appear in my vision, but I blink them away, needing to be sure that’s true.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Leif objects, but he doesn’t look so certain anymore.

  “Don’t I, Leif? Your family’s in deep with Lester, and somehow, I end up with the twisted bastard? You tell me if I wasn’t some sort of business transaction. How your dad or uncle didn’t know about me?”

  Leif shakes his head, swallowing hard, his hands balled into fists as he tries to deny it. But the doubt snakes into him. I can feel, even from here, the grip it has on him.

  “Your family isn’t what they say they are. That’s why you ran from their life, and that’s why you’re here, staying close to the woman I love. Because the threat is real. We’re the collateral damage to the power games they’re playing.”

  “Is this why you and Logan had a fallout?” Leif asks, defeated.

  Mark nods, looking away to hide his wounded expression.

  “He lied to me, Leif. I trusted him, loved him like the brother I never had. I would have taken a bullet for him if he asked me. He took my inheritance, and when he left the States, I followed him. But Logan pushed me out of his life and told me to stay away from his new family. I was discarded like trash, but at least you got back in.”

  “You knew Logan.” I force the words out, tasting bitterness in my dry mouth. “You’re related to the Cades. You knew who I was from the beginning.” I lock my gaze with Mark. He closes his eyes and takes a huge gulp of breath before turning those ambers glowing with guilt back at me. “You played me.” I gasp as pain burrows into me.

  “Cassandra.”

  My chin trembles, but I try to contain my emotions to get to the bottom of this.

  “Let me explain . . .” His husky tone’s digging a hole into my breaking heart.

  I wipe the tears off my cheeks, glaring at him. I’m done waiting. Done with his games.

  The raw anguish twists his handsome features, adding to my turmoil, but I’m determined to stand my ground. He takes a tentative step closer.

  “Then explain.”

  He jerks to a stop, hearing my cold tone like a wall thrust between us.

  “And don’t you lie to me.”

  We remain locked in a strange bubble, searching for fragments of trust to hold onto.

  “Mr. Lawson, your head of security is here. He wants to talk,” Ron interrupts us.

  “Where is he?”

  “Outside.”

  “I’ll be there in a minute.” When Ron leaves, Mark turns around to face me.

  “I’ll tell you everything.” Mark steps closer. His hands rise to touch me, but I shift away from him. “But you have to promise me not to run.” His eyes darken with rejection, but I won’t put up with bullshit anymore even if my heart’s breaking
watching him in pain.

  He struggles with fear etched deep in his soul, but I refuse to be kept in the dark. He needs to tell me the truth and let me decide what I’ll do with it.

  “I won’t,” I promise and he leaves.

  Once we’re left alone, I lock my accusing gaze on my brother-in-law. “You said you want to talk about something. What is it?”

  “Cassandra.” Leif closes his eyes, rubbing his face in apprehension.

  “Was it about Mark?” I snap, wounded. “Do you want to tell me the whole truth or drip-feed me with snippets like a bird?” I’m frustrated with him for being such an ass about Mark and keeping so many secrets from me.

  “I guess it’s not my place anymore . . .”

  My eyes narrow as I watch him shift on his feet.

  “He promised to tell you everything. I won’t get in between you two.”

  I snort at that.

  “I thought you were a genuine one, that I could trust you. But you aren’t and I can’t, can I? What’s happening, Leif, why are you keeping me in the dark?”

  Leif, seeing my frustration bordering on bitterness, grasps my elbow and leads me farther to the corner.

  “I know you’re mad. You want to know everything right now. But some truths are harder to tell because they aren’t easy to understand. So have patience because we’re looking out for you. We’re family, Cassandra.”

  “I know,” I whisper, tilting my head and looking him straight in the eye. “But lately, this family’s playing a game I never knew I was part of. You’re standing in my way of happiness.”

  He straightens his back, and his nostrils flare, a glint of annoyance entering his eyes.

  “You aren’t the brother who stood by my side, who helped me raise my children, or who gave me comfort after we lost Logan. No, you are the man who isn’t ready to give me away.”

  “That’s not true.” He looks away from me, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

  “You took on the mission to help me. I’m so damn grateful you did. It’s you who kept me afloat, dragged me out of the abyss. You took care of my children like they were yours.”