The Lies We Tell (The Four #1)

by Becca Steele

You may tell the greatest lies and wear a brilliant disguise, but you can't escape the eyes of the one who sees right through you.

“Have you met my sons yet?” Arlo’s loud boom made me jump, and I heard Weston snigger.

Was it illegal to stab your stepbrother with a fork?

Silence fell, then Arlo clapped his hands loudly, making me jump again. This time Weston laughed aloud. “Jumpy, aren’t you?”

“Miss me already, babe?” The mocking voice came from right behind me, and I jumped, placing my hand on my heart. “Told you she was jumpy.” I turned to see Weston grinning at me,

“Winter? I think you’re wrong about him not liking you. He looked at me like he wanted to take me down a dark alley and beat the shit out of me when we were talking just now.”

“Come on, bro. Let’s do this.” “The feelings I’m having about you right now in that dress aren’t very brotherly,” he told me, pulling me closer to him. “That’s okay, we’re not properly related. I’m fine with you ogling me.” “I don’t think Cade shares your opinion.” Swinging my gaze from Weston’s to Caiden’s, I noticed the tense set of his jaw and the way his fists clenched at his sides. “I’ll escort her in,” he bit out. “I’m the older brother. It should be me.”

“Quadrantids,” I managed to stutter. “The fuck are you saying? Is that English?” “The tattoo.”

“Lena? What’re you doing with Granville?” Weston stared at the girl who had been standing with James, and she rolled her eyes. “He gave me a lift. Get over it. I’m here—that has to count for something.” Dismissing us, she strolled off and disappeared into the crowds. “Who was that?” “Lena Drummond. Cassius’ sister. She’s seventeen and…mad at the world? Or something? I don’t know. She’s moody.” “Right. Thanks for your insightful comments, West.” “Pleasure.”

We all ate silently, the food accompanied by huge mugs of tea and coffee courtesy of Zayde. He might not say much, but he was bloody good in the kitchen. Unfortunately, his cooking skills came with a downside. I tried to avoid his icy stare as I ate. If looks could kill, I’d be dead and buried by now. And actually… I eyed my almost empty mug of coffee with suspicion… I wouldn’t put it past him to try and fuck with my brunch in some way. I sighed. Well, if he’d poisoned me or something, it was too late now.

“Nice hoodie, babe. Sure I’ve seen Cade with one just like it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” “Sorry, what the fuck did you just say?” His eyes narrowed. “I said. Yes. Your. Highness.” I enunciated each word clearly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cassius collapse back on the sofa, laughing. “I’m so glad I was here when you said that. His face!” He succumbed to hysterics again, and Caiden shot a look of pure ice at us both.

“You want a bucket of ice to cool off?” Weston smirked at me. “What?” “I think we all noticed the way you were looking at my brother like he was your last meal.” “No, I wasn’t,” I said weakly.

“No, you don’t. You and me—we’re brother and sister. You and Cade—you’re…fire. A blazing inferno, burning everything in your path.”

“Why are you always in my fucking head?”

“You can sit on me, beautiful.” He collapsed into my chair and patted his thigh. “No.” Caiden’s voice rang out, startling me. Every single head turned towards him. “Where’s the fucking popcorn when you need it,” I heard Zayde comment under his breath.

“That’s it! You genius!” Caiden fist pumped the air, his voice triumphant. I was so shocked by the unexpected compliment I froze, then smiled to myself. Bet he hadn’t meant to compliment me.

He turned to me, shaking his head. “You don’t want Winter, huh?” “No.” “Deluded fool.”

“I see you.” There was a roaring in my ears, and the loud bangs of the fireworks echoed all around us, and I wasn’t sure if I’d imagined his words. “What did you say?” He lowered his head and skimmed his lips over my ear. “When I look at you. I see you. Not her. You.”

Mr… Oh. How rude of me! I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Summer.” A tiny, sly smile crossed her lips at this point. “And this is my brother, Barry. And you are…?” Barry? What the actual fuck? And brother? Yeah, okay, I was technically her stepbrother, but. Yeah, no.

“I have an Aston Martin on order. There’s a waiting list.” He pulled out his phone and proceeded to tell me, in much more detail than I needed, how amazing the Vantage AMS was and how he was having to get it specially resprayed in the matte-black paint that the Four seemed to favour. After I’d looked at close to a hundred photos and watched no less than three YouTube videos of the car in action on Weston’s phone,

Caiden and I ran through what had happened at the hotel. Or, more accurately, I ran through the events, while Caiden grew more and more tense next to me as I described my harmless flirting, and the others agreed it had been a genius idea. Cass seemed to find it hilarious that I’d given Caiden the name “Barry,” but after Caiden threatened to punch him in the face, he stopped taunting him. As I described how I’d touched Petr’s hand to get a closer look, on the pretence of admiring his jewellery, Caiden growled under his breath and suddenly tugged me into his lap, putting his arms around my waist and burying his face in my hair.

“Everyone clear on what’s happening?” No one spoke.

I know he’s drunk but he’s been talking about you nonstop for the past 10 mins. Not just in a friends kind of way either. Can’t explain it properly but if you were here you’d see.

“I succeeded in my mission. Operation AMC is a success!” Everyone stared at him, our expressions ranging from blank to unamused. He frowned, then tried again. “The board members voted, and thanks to my dad’s persuasion, they agreed to let us have a trial run at Alstone Members Club.” “Fuck, yes!” Caiden punched the air. “Nice one, mate.” “Why didn’t you just say that to begin with?” I asked him. “I did.” He gave me a confused look, and I shook my head. “Never mind. Well done, Cass.”

“Insult my girl one more time and I’ll make your life hell.” Caiden’s low, growled threat came from behind me, close to my ear. My mouth fell open in shock. Portia’s brows flew up to her hairline, and her eyes flicked from me to Caiden in disbelief. “Your girl?” “You heard me.” He leaned forwards so his lips were right by my ear. “You okay, Snowflake?” “Your girl?” I repeated dumbly, as I noticed Portia storm off out of the corner of my eye. “What’s—I mean. We haven’t discussed.” I couldn’t get my brain to work properly. “Mine.” He brushed my hair away from my neck and kissed me once, just under my ear, then carried on speaking to Zayde as if nothing