Page 99 of Liar

“I don’t believe you.”

He moves around me, then flings open the doors. “Javier.”

Within seconds, the three of us are crowded into the small room.

“Tell her how it’s been since she left the Hole.”

“Boss?” Javier’s eyes go wide.

“Would you say I’ve been a downright evil bastard? Ill-humored? Unbearable to work for?”

“Uh ...”

“Behind my back, tell her what everyone has been saying is the cause?”

I gasp.

Javier looks from the Liar to my shocked expression then back. “Boss.”

“Tell her.”

He glances at me. “It’s you, Luciana. Only you.”

The air in the room thins, and I suddenly feel dizzy.

“Give him a chance. Because I really believe he—”

“Leave!”

“Boss?”

Hayden opens a door and shoves Javier out.

“You won’t let him finish?”

“No.”

“Why?” I can hardly get the word out.

“Do you honestly think I’d allow anyone other than myself to marry you?”

“That’s not the point. No one has to marry me. Like I said, I’ve always wanted to vacation at Disney—”

“You’ll have my name. My protection.”

“But not your love.”

His expression softens and his lips curl up into a sexy smile. “Do you think I’m a fool?”

I blink. “I think you’re a lot of things. A fool isn’t one of them.”

“I’ll do what is necessary to protect you. But that’s not the reason I’m marrying you.”

“It’s ... not?”

“Ask me what I said to her, the woman you saw me with.”

I swallow hard. “What did you say?”