My entire time in that meeting, I was holding my breath. They didn't discuss their plans in length because they didn't quite trust me yet but the main gist was obvious- they wanted Darius dead. It was hard pretending like I was on the same page with them and although I knew it was to help Darius in the long run, I couldn't help but feel like I was betraying him. I kept glancing at Jared and wondering how easy it was for him to betray Darius after everything they had been through together. I didn't know their story but I knew that for him to be Darius' third in command they had to have been through a lot together.
"What time does she need to be home?" Brandon asked Jared snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Darius has already realized she is missing. He has been mind-linking me the entire time. I told him I was searching for her but I don't think he will buy that forever."
Brandon hummed and I couldn't help but stare at Jared in anger. The lies flowed smoothly off his tongue and I wanted nothing more than to out him to the others but I knew that if I did, he would out me to Brandon and everything we worked for would have gone down the drain.
"You should go back now," Brandon said to me and Jared began to work on my bindings. "When we need you again, Jared will bring you to us."
Jared dragged me to my feet but I had a question. "Did you find Liam's laptop? Were you ever really looking for it because if it were as important as you said it was, wouldn't you have searched for it more?"
Brandon and the other leaders looked between themselves and I knew they were involved in a silent conversation. I could feel Jared's hold on me tightening almost to the point of pain. He was trying to tell me to drop it but I wasn't going to. I wanted to know whether I needed to dissuade Darius from spending days scouring a laptop that would prove fruitless.
"If you must know," Brandon began after a moment of deliberation. "We have been searching for the laptop for the past week. Jared has been in charge of that but unfortunately, Darius keeps it on hand at all times. If you do find a way to get it off him then we will be ever indebted to you."
That didn't make sense. The laptop had been with Jared for the past week and if he was really helping them look for it then he would have handed it over to them. Jared pulled me away from the clearing before I could say something to give myself away. He dragged me into the car and I waited until he had driven a certain distance away before I spoke.
"Why did you lie to them?" I asked. "What are you playing at, Jared? Are you with them or with us? Are you on your own team?"
"Shut up," he had never spoken to me with so much venom before and I couldn't help but fall silent. He kept his eyes fixated on the road as he spoke. âIf Darius asks, you got a text from Brandon asking to meet and you asked me to take you. When we got there, we were ambushed and knocked out. You woke up in the clearing talking to them and once they were done, they blindfolded you and dumped you on the side of the road where you found me tied up and we came back home."
"Darius would never believe that. He wouldn't trust you anymore."
"He will if you're the one who tells it to him."
"Why would I lie for you? I don't trust you anymore."
"You would be stupid if you did. Lie or not, that isn't my problem but if you don't and I don't show up at the next meeting, they will know that you told and your entire plan will go down the drain. If you want to protect Darius then you will do as I said, am I clear?"
"Don't you want him dead too? You are a part of them, aren't you?"
"I want Darius dead as much as I want you dead."
"That means nothing to me anymore."
"I don't care if it does. Just know this, I have never lied to you or Darius outside of this. Now the ball is in your court, you can either lie to him or not, just know that you will be losing a lot if you don't."
I knew he was right and I hated it. When we got to the house, Darius was pacing at the front doors as he waited for me. As soon as I got out of the car, he rushed over to my side and scanned my body for obvious injuries. Once he was sure that I was safe, he pulled me into a bone-crushing hug and kissed me deeply.
"What happened to you? Who took you?" he asked and I opened my mouth to speak but closed it almost immediately. "Tell me, baby, who did this to you?"
"I didn't see them. While we were in the living room, I got a text from Brandon and I asked Jared to come with me. We were ambushed and when I woke up, I was in the woods with Brandon. He said he couldn't tell me who the traitor was yet so as not to compromise their identity."
With each lie I told, it felt like my heart was cracking open. I hated lying to Darius and I hated the fact that I was lying for Jared. I caught Jared's eyes over Darius' shoulder and he nodded subtly as if encouraging me to continue.
"When they were done talking to me, they put a sac around my head and dropped me off at the side of the road. Jared found me there and he brought me home. I'm sorry that I can't be of more help. I wish I knew how to get to their spot, maybe then we could have found something."
Darius looked between Jared and me as if trying to decipher if I was lying. I could tell that he was torn between wanting to believe me and being logical. The lie made zero sense because Jared would have told Darius if I had gotten a text. Darius reluctantly pulled away from me and walked over to Jared.
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I didn't expect him to grab Jared by his neck and throw him harshly against the wall. "What happened?"
"Darius," I reached out for him but he held out a hand to keep me in place.
"I'm giving you one chance to tell me the truth. What really happened?"
"Everything happened just as Leindra said it did," he spoke so smoothly. There was not
a hint of fear in his voice which was shocking considering the fact that his life was in Darius' hands. "I have no reason to lie to you, Darius."
"That story is bull and you know it," he released Jared and turned to Ian. "Find out what actually happened. If anything differs from what I have heard, past be damned, I will kill you, Jared."
Ian nodded and he walked away without another word. Jared didn't even look scared, it was like he was certain they wouldn't find anything. He had broken my phone so they couldn't confirm the text. No one except the two of us could confirm the story.
I stood with my head pointed at the ground as Darius made his way over to me. He stopped in front of me and lifted my chin with one hand. His eyes bore into mine almost as if he was trying to see into my soul.
"I don't know why you're lying for him but I will find out why," he said it like more of a promise than a statement. "Is Jared the traitor?"
"I don't know," I lied. "I was ambushed. If Jared was one of them then I don't know."
Darius sighed and took a step back. "Okay, let's go in and you can tell me what you do know."
Darius led me into the house and Amy appeared out of nowhere with a steaming mug of chamomile tea. I took it from her with a soft smile as I told them everything. Jared didn't join us as I spoke and I assumed it was because Darius wasn't quite sure where he stood with him.
I told them about the hunter's plan to kill Darius and how Brandon was one of the leaders. When I got to the part of my parent's death, I choked because I couldn't find it in myself to utter the words but I didn't need to because they immediately understood.
If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "This is getting serious, I think you should pull out," Amy said softly. "They sound dangerous. Who is to say that they won't kill you when all is said and done with? There is still the issue of the traitor. What if they know about the plan?"
"Amaris is right, you need to put an end to this, now."
I didn't know how to tell them that it was impossible. I couldn't just take a step back because Jared was involved. Darius didn't seem to care about the threat to his life but I did. I didn't want him to die and that was what was going to happen if I took a step back so I told my second lie of the day.
"Okay, I will."
Darius sighed in relief when he heard those words and he reached out for my hand to squeeze softly. "I know how much time and effort you have put into this but it isn't worth it anymore. Until I can ascertain that Jared is not the traitor then I don't want you anywhere around Brandon or the hunters. They are too unpredictable. I need you to promise me, Leindra."
"I promise."
The lie tasted like ash on my tongue but it was a necessary evil and I just hoped that Darius would forgive me for it. I stood to my feet and I didn't even have to feign tiredness because I was exhausted. As I was leaving the room, Amy grabbed my arm. "Let me walk you to your room."
I knew she wanted to talk to me so I nodded and allowed her to lead me out.
She waited until we were a good distance away from the room before she spoke. "I
know you, Leindra, please don't do anything stupid."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"At least let me know what you're planning."
"Right now, I am planning to go to my room and rest. I made a promise."
She pursed her lips and I knew she didn't believe me but she nodded and released my
arm. "Have a good rest then, Leindra."