Twisted Lies (Twisted, #4)

by Ana Huang

The less Stella reacted, the more the pressure in my chest expanded. I didn’t know where it came from, but I loathed it as much as I loathed polyester, incompetence, and dessert.

I didn’t deserve to touch her, but I wanted her too much to care.

She’d been in my house for less than two hours, and she was already wreaking havoc on my life.

“Mr. Harper told me it was your favorite.” She winked at me while Christian glared at her. “That’ll be all for now. Thank you.”

Alex Volkov was a force of his own, and while he made me a bit uneasy—I was almost certain he harbored psychopathic tendencies—he would put his life on the line to protect Ava.

“You’re not dragging us anywhere. We want to be there. You’re our friend, Stella,” Ava said gently. “If you’re in danger, we want to help. That’s what friends do. That’s what you would do for us.”

We’d been there for each other through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and even if I’d shielded them from the worst in my life, just knowing they were there helped me make it through the day. Sometimes, all we needed was the knowledge someone somewhere cared about us.

Even her closest friends thought she was unflappable when the signs of her anxiety were so clear—the way her breathing changed and her eyes darkened, the way she twisted her necklace around her finger whenever she was upset.

“Plus, I can say I was there from the start when you become the next big thing,” I added. “You sound so sure that’ll happen.” “I am sure.”

“You’re talented. Don’t let anyone, including yourself, tell you otherwise.”

“Bad day at work?” I asked. “Or is morphing into a mercurial beast part of your nighttime routine?”

What was wrong with me? I’d never gotten so worked up over a guy before. I even visited a sex therapist once in case my low libido was cause for concern, but she’d reassured me it was normal. Not everyone experienced sexual attraction all the time or in the same way.

But once you reach a certain level of wealth, money is just money. It doesn’t add any inherent value beyond that of ego. What’s more important is your network. Access. The people you know and the things they’re willing to do for you.”

“I think you’re one of the most fascinating men I’ve ever met.” It was a bold admission, one that had his eyes darkening into a rich, molten amber. “One of?”

My nails sank into my knees, and I waited, not breathing, not moving, as Christian lowered his head— “Mr. Harper, apologies for the interruption.

I was too unsettled by the knowledge that Christian Harper had been about to kiss me again…and that I’d desperately wanted him to.

Because I’d spent the past decade cultivating an image that had become a cage as much as it had a lifeline. Because I was deceiving my followers and almost everyone I knew to achieve some stupid, arbitrary measure of success. Because I was desperate to prove I could succeed to people who didn’t even care.

Think about how much time you invested to get to where you are now. How much have you achieved? How many people have you outlasted? You downplay your accomplishments as ordinary when you would hail them as extraordinary on anyone else.”

“If you saw yourself the way other people see you,” he said quietly, “you’d never doubt again.” Curiosity and something infinitely sweeter and more dangerous fluttered to life in my heart. “How do other people see me?” Christian’s eyes didn’t leave mine. “Like you’re the most beautiful, most remarkable thing they’ve ever seen.”

Instead of adding a brick to my worries about not living up to expectations, his faith in me fortified me enough to lock those ugly, taunting voices in my head back in the box where they belonged.

The butterflies lying dormant in my stomach went crazy, and I suddenly knew, with all the certainty in the world, that they were there to stay.

Christian was a finely honed assassin’s blade sheathed in velvet; Dante was a hammer burning bright with deadly intent. Lethal and striking, with no ambiguity as to the damage he could inflict if crossed. His fiancée, Vivian, on the other hand, was open-faced and friendly, with beautiful dark eyes and a warm smile.

Strangely enough, she was quick to grace everyone with that smile except Dante. The engaged pair hadn’t looked at each other once since Christian and I arrived.

AHHHHHH I finally read King of Wrath and I'm losing my shit 😍

“I never thought I’d see the day when Christian Harper would get a girlfriend.” “Neither did I, but Stella took me by surprise.” His reply was so warm and intimate, I almost believed it.

I firmly believed that if someone showed you who they were, you should believe them.

It was nice. Better than nice. If he acted this way all the time… I took another gulp of wine before I finished my thought. Don’t go there.

“He usually has more discerning taste.” The compliment came out grudgingly, like she was reluctant to ascribe any positive qualities to her fiancé.

For all my aversion to relationships, I was a romantic in my most secret of hearts,

He was dangerous, not just to his enemies but to those close to him. And the only way to save myself was to make sure I stayed as far away from him as possible.

Pro tip: Don’t grocery shop when frustrated.

I didn’t see anyone suspicious, but the ominous shift in the air was so tangible I tasted it in the back of my throat.

I didn’t have to see Christian to feel him. He consumed every room he walked into.

Some sense of achievement that would validate all the hard work I’d put into my account and the feeling that I’d made it, whatever it was. But other than an excited, emoji-filled text from Brady and an inbox bursting with DMs, I was the same person I’d been an hour ago, with the same worries and insecurities.

but I’d always wished for things I couldn’t have. Love. Affection. Worthiness. Something deep and unconditional that I could call my own.

I feel like I’m your mistress, except we’re not having sex. You’re not my boyfriend. I’m not sure if we’re even friends. So tell me, why are you doing all this? And don’t tell me it’s to congratulate me on my follower count or because you feel guilty someone broke into my apartment. I’m an optimist, not an idiot.”

He was a vault, brimming with secrets and sealed with a lock not even a master thief could pick. Danger pulsed around him, screaming at me to stop and turn back before it was too late. Like a reckless fool, I forged on.

“I didn’t ask you what we’re supposed to be. I asked you what we are.”

“It’s because you haven’t looked me in the eye since New York. Because you’re all I can fucking think about no matter where I am or who I’m with, and the thought of you hurt or upset makes me want to raze this city to the ground.” Soft, almost desperate viciousness coated his voice. “I’ve never wanted someone more, and I’ve never hated myself more for it.”

I couldn’t hear the footage, but I could hear the boom in my head as his car exploded into flames. By the time Victor ran out, it was already a twisted, blackened hunk of metal beneath the raging fire. For the first time that night, I smiled a genuine smile. Much better.

She was good at bluffing; I was better at detecting bullshit.

I wanted to wrap her hair in my hand and tug her head back until those eyes were on mine. To mark that perfect skin with my teeth and claim her mouth in a kiss so fucking deep it would erase the notion that we were just housemates.

“Ask me what you really want to know, Stella.”

“I’m not a jealous man, Stella. I have never envied someone for what they have or who they’re with, and yet…” My fingers glided down to her wrist. “I’m jealous of every person you smile at.” A brush over her fingers. “Every laugh I don’t hear.” My touch dipped to her knee and made a slow, languorous journey up her thigh. “Every breeze that touches your skin and every sound that pours through your lips. It. Is. Maddening.”

Every muscle tightened at the whisper of my name. It sounded so sweet coming from her mouth, like it was the sound of salvation instead of ruin.

Stella had seared so deep into my consciousness that she was all I could smell. All I could feel. And even when I closed my eyes, all I could see.

I could’ve kissed her. I could’ve fisted her hair and branded her with my mouth until I proved there was nothing fake about the dark fire that burned between us.

I’d waited this long. I could wait a while longer.

BUT I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGERRRR 😭😭😭

“I’m a doctor, and I still can’t find a medical reason for why girls always have to use the bathroom at the same time,” I heard Josh muse as we left. “You’re an idiot,” Alex said.

I raised my glass. “It’s nice to see you again, Larsen.” “I wish I could say the same.”

they love each other 🥰

Rhys was a royal pain in my ass, not only because he was one of the few people unafraid to stand up to me, but because he was observant as fuck and knew me better than anyone except Dante.