Page 107 of Perfect Liar

For some reason, I compared his words to my last nightmare.

Someone’s coming for us.

Catching me unaware, Will appeared between Thomas and me and smacked a newspaper against his brother’s chest.

“What the fuck,” he said.

Ethan must have noticed the tension. He came right out and grabbed the newspaper.

“Where did this one come from? Christ.”

He arched up into Thomas’s face to say something only the two of them could hear.

Thomas snapped something back, but then made his way back inside.

I pried the paper out of Ethan’s fingers.

“What is it? Let me see.”

I’d seen most of the tabloids earlier that day but not that one—the one with a closeup of Thomas and me. I knew the exact moment it had been snapped, after pushing me into the alcove and shielding me with his body.

I turned to Will and put my hands on his chest.

“You know what happened, Will. You know it’s just another tabloid lie.”

He took hold of my wrists.

“It’s fucking inexcusable. Until I’m finished here, you’ll go inside and sit.”

Ethan interrupted before I could snap back.

“Ellie, let me talk to my brother for a minute.”

I pulled my wrists free and walked away, trusting Ethan would manage his brothers.

Will followed Ethan to the bar while glaring over his shoulder at me. I turned away. Only minutes later, Ethan stood over the sofa, offering me more champagne.

“I need your help, Ellie.”

I shook my head at the glass.

“How can I handle him if you can’t?”

“No one can. It’s about influence, not control. And you own more influence with him than you understand. Learn to tap into it.”

I shrugged.

What the hell is he even talking about?

Ethan sighed as he sat down, took a drink from his glass, and then he went on.

“Darlin, the public seeing a photo like that stings his ego. It would mine as well. The photo is no one’s fault, and he knows that. He’ll come round in a minute.”

“His reaction?—”

“—was what it’ll always be when it comes to you.”

I rolled my eyes.