Page 15 of Perfect Liar

He gently lifted Lissie into his arms, shifting her into just one after she accepted him.

My niece was smaller than average for her seven years. She looked almost like a toddler against Will’s broad chest.

I grabbed a sweater and put it over Lissie’s head.

She whimpered and stuck out her hand to grip my shoulder.

Will’s hand covered the small of my back.

“Stay close to me, Ellie.”

A large man with a buzz cut appeared at the bottom of the stairs with a pistol drawn.

My heart pounded faster, and I stiffened, but Will nudged me forward.

“It’s all right. Keep moving. Ben’s with me.”

To keep myself from looking at my family, I concentrated on Ben’s appearance as we came down.

Black hair.

A thick, oblique scar slashed over his forehead.

He dressed like a soldier…black t-shirt, military trousers, combat boots.

Will and Ben shielded me with their bodies as we hurried out the door to the black SUV waiting in the street. Will pushed me onto the backseat, handed Lissie over to me, and climbed in with us. He cuffed the driver’s shoulder.

“Move it, John. Drive north, then take the southbound motorway.”

I held Lissie close, kissing the top of her head while she cried for Isabel. Once the car hit the main highway, I shut my eyes and battled for control of my own emotions.

“I’ll take you to the beach house. It’s safe there for now,” Will said.

It was exactly where I would’ve gone on my own. I had nowhere else to go.

We rode in silence, though he watched me like he waited for me to break.

Finally, he said, “I’ll keep you both safe.”

I turned away from him and stared at the blurred passing roadside, because letting go of one word was all it would take for me to fall apart.

Will slid closer to me and held the back of my head in his hand.

“Look at me, Ellie.”

I turned to him, but for a long moment, neither of us said anything. I swallowed against the lump in my throat and dropped my eyes. He lowered his hand to the nape of my neck. And when I lifted my eyes again, his were still there, waiting for mine to come back.

“You have my word. I’ll protect the two of you at any cost.”

Avoiding his words, the horrific reason he needed to say them, I chose to say something I thought I could handle.

“Who’s Ethan?”

His hand dropped.

“He’s my brother.”

“He knew my sister?”