Page 159 of Lust & Lies

I smiled, or at least I thought I did. I couldn’t be sure, since everything was starting to blur, and I didn’t know whether I was coming or going.Shit. I was pretty sure I was starting to fall.

“I’ve got you,” a deep voice told me.

Strong arms wrapped around me as my eyes drifted shut. And then I was being lifted up, swept off my feet.Oooh, this wasso much better than standing. I felt like I was floating on clouds. Muffled voices filled the air.

“Aiden, you put her down right now,” Gertrude yelled.

“I’m never letting you go,” Aiden whispered for my ears only. “Don’t ever run from me again, Noe,” he told me, voice shaking. “I thought I lost... I woke up and you were gone. I thought I’d lost you.”

“Youhavelost me,” I whispered, eyes still closed. “I remember... my sister... your real wife...”

That was all I could get out. Even talking was exhausting. Aiden seemed to understand what I was trying to say.

“I never touched her, ever,” he told me, voice starting to fade. “You, Noelani Cartwright, are the only woman I’ve ever been with. The only woman I’ve ever loved. The only woman I will ever love. And you’re not allowed to leave me again. If I have to lock your ass up, I will.”

I wanted to reply. I wanted to tell him he was crazy. But the darkness was tugging hard on me. I gave up and let it pull me under. But my last thoughts were...

“If he never touched my twin, did that mean I could forgive him and get more of those forehead kisses? Or was this just another one of his lies? Please, God, don’t let this be a lie. I really need a forehead kiss right now.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

NOELANI

MY MEMORIES LIKED RETURNINGto me when my mind was quiet. The problem was that they returned in fragmented scenes, bits and pieces, never revealing the whole story to me. But some of those pieces were beginning to meld together.

The picture they painted shocked me. My dreams carried me back to the night my twin told me she was going to discuss her wedding with Aiden. My Aiden.

“I’ll soon be Mrs. Park. Mrs. Noelle Park,” Ellie said, smiling cruelly. “It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it, sis?”

Laughing, she left the house, leaving me staring after her, wondering which one of us would really walk down the aisle with Aiden.

“Noe!” Grandpa Park yelled again.

I glanced toward the staircase to see him glaring at me. Standing next to him was Seo-Jin. I hated that the Leader was seeing me like this, seeing me weak. Though he knew my real identity, he still expected me to be in Mist Mode at all times.

Never weak. Never showing my vulnerable side. I’d never seen the Leader cry. I’d never seen him let his emotions take over him. That was why Grandpa Park wanted Seo-Jin and me to be together.

The Leader and his right-hand lady, Mist. He wanted us two killing machines to have an emotionless relationship and focussolely on The Watchdogs. Probably wanted us to breed future Watchdogs to take our places when we died, like I was taking my father’s place and Seo-Jin was taking his parents’ place.

“Noe! My office now. Or you will be punished.” Grandpa Park turned and headed toward his office, expecting me to follow.

I swallowed down my tears. I didn’t have to go after Ellie. I would trust Aiden. I trusted him not to choose my sister. His heart belonged to me. Together, we could defy all odds. I turned and headed toward the stairs.

When I brushed past Seo-Jin, he tried to grab my hand, surprising me, because he’d never done that before.

“What are you doing?” I asked, glaring up at him.

“Stop. For just a second.” He reached for me again.

“Don’t touch me,” I hissed.

“Why can’t you see me? Why is Aiden the only person you see?

I met Seo-Jin’s gaze, wondering what the hell had gotten into him. I took in his appearance. He looked tired, ragged. His dark hair, which was usually pulled back into a ponytail, was down, dropping to his shoulders. His usually clean-shaven face now had goatee fuzz growing.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked, genuinely concerned.

“Nothing.”