The Good Lie Ar Torre Novels & Stories

I said quietly, “don’t do this.” He didn’t blink. “You love her.” It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t an accusation. It was a verdict. I swallowed hard. “Yes.” Torres shifted behind us, tension radiating off him like heat. Reaper leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching us like we were the entertainment he’d been waiting for. Armando stepped closer. Too close. His voice dropped to a whisper. “Since when?” My throat tightened. “It doesn’t matter.” “It matters to me.”

“I’m all of it,” I whispered. “Scared. Angry. Guilty. Relieved. I’m everything all at once, and it’s tearing me apart.” He kissed the side of my neck gently. “We’ll put you back together. I promise.” I turned in his arms and looked up at him. “Do you really think we’ll be safe?” He didn’t answer right away. “Not forever. But long enough to start fighting back. You don’t have to run anymore. We can build something. We can make it so he doesn’t get to control the narrative.”

Taking in a deep breath, I re-open my eyes, to see that the game has continued. "Never have I ever... lied to my best friend," Finn says and I raise my eyebrows. I half-expect him to look at Alec, but his eyes are on Miles. Miles takes a sip, keeping a blank expression on his face. I see that Alec does as well, but Finn's attention isn't on him. "Never have I ever... smoked or taken any illegal drugs." Becca pipes up. I smile at her. Pretty much everyone, besides me and Becca, takes a drink. Even Jai, which surprises me.

I nod and he clenches his eyes shut and inhales sharply. “Why?” he whispers, pain lacing his question. I take his hand, he barely lets me. Sighing, I unbuckle my seatbelt and climb over to his seat and onto his thighs. “Tore,” I say as I palm his cheeks. “How could I deny the man in power?” Another lie, but one that Tore blindly believes. Silly man, he is more gullible than Ian.

She groaned, the prospect of dealing with our psychotic parent looming over her but her worry was gone the minute she spotted my wide grin as I raised my left hand that brandished my diamond engagement and wedding rings that glimmered beautifully under the afternoon sun. "Well, Papa doesn't own or control me anymore. I guess its time I started using my marriage privileges. I mean, its not the best of circumstances but its better to deal with Draken rather than Papa. You can stay with me for the night. I promise that I'll make sure you get into no trouble whatsoever. So, how about we go a little wild?" My grin of mischief was seemingly infectious as Tori returned it with equal parts excitemen

“They’re not wrong.” I cup her jaw. “They’ll never lay a finger on you.” My phone lights up. Unknown number. I put it on speaker. A woman’s voice speaks out with hate. “You took my husband, Mr. Cross. Tonight the world will see you for who you are.” Mrs. Torrino. I let the silence stretch just long enough for her to feel it. “Mrs. Torrino, your husband died because he was sloppy. I paid for his funeral, his kids’ college, and the house you still live in. You took my money for fifteen years, and now you sell lies to television vultures because the cheques stopped?”

Six years ago, when the Berlandi family accused Nico Valenti of leaking their financial records, I found the evidence that proved him innocent. When they still refused to take him back, I mortgaged my mother's restaurant and put everything I owned on the line for him. With my backing, Nico eventually became the person in charge of Saint Vito Port. He promised that at this year's council meeting, he would openly introduce me as his wife. But that night, I was stranded at Blackwater Docks. I called Nico for help twelve times. He never came. Instead, he was at the council giving my pin to my best friend, Bianca Rossi, and letting her take my seat as his wife. When Bianca finally answered my cal

“Ashley, can we do this—“ I said, then she cut in, “no Janelle, we can’t.” “You said you’re fine, but I’m not. Let’s just party, we’ll be back soon, okay?” She begged, then I had no choice but to give in. She hugged me and happily hailed a taxi. “Downtown club,” she said as we got in. The city buildings blurred past us, and I replayed what I had earlier read. “Loan collateral: His granddaughter, Janelle Peters.” How could he do this to me? And what on earth did he borrow to have a debt of $500,000?

my mother's head drops as she looks at the ground and says "I am sorry my love but he is not lying, I was the one that owed the money to the mafia, I was the one that had your father whore you out to those men, It was me not your father." To Be Continued....

And somewhere in the Neon Wards tonight someone was waiting who had known my father long enough to learn his knots and had trusted me enough to use them. That was either the most dangerous thing that had happened all week. Or the only honest one. Tor reached for the paper. "Give that to me. Varek needs to see it." Folded in half and pushed deep into my jacket pocket. "It's nothing," I said. Looking Tor dead in the eye. "Fake numbers. Doesn't mean anything." Tor's jaw went tight. Not a single word of it was believed. Visible all over his face. Up and walking back to the house.