All The Truths (Lies & Truths Duet #2) by Rina Kent

I dig my nails into Asher’s skin, trying to shut him up. I’m sure he sees the way Jason has straightened. He hit a nerve, and if he doesn’t back off right now, we’ll lose our only thread to the truth.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jason maintains his cool façade.

“What did Ari tell you that day?” Asher’s threatening aura might as well have turned into smoke and be looming over us.

“She just told me to take care.”

Asher steps forward and I know he’s about to grab Jason, or worse, smash his fist into his face. He’s provoking him, and Asher has been volatile since the morning. It’s almost similar to the resurfacing of the old Asher with his quick fist and ever-changing moods.

I grab his arm with my free hand and say, “Do you know anything else? Something that could help us in uncovering the reason behind her death?”

Jason lifts a shoulder. “No, not really.”

He’s lying.

Even though there are no obvious tells, I can sense he’s hiding something. As I predicted, he’ll never say it in front of Asher.

Jason smiles at me. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

And with that, he gets into his truck and leaves the mansion.

A sigh tears out of me as I face Asher. “Happy now?”

“Why would I be happy?”

“You just ruined it. I could’ve gotten some answers if you’d let me talk to him alone.”

“That won’t happen, and it’s final.”

Ugh!

I remove my hand from his. “I’m going to say hi to Izzy and Alex.”

Two steps are all it takes before he grabs my arm and pulls me back. I gasp as I trip and nearly fall. Asher straightens me and grips me by the chin, forcing me to stare at those bottomless green eyes.

They’ve been gloomy like a forest under bleak weather today, and while I want to comfort him, his stubbornness is making me rage right now.

“Did you just snap at me?” he asks with a dangerous tone.

“Yes, I did! You’re infuriating. I don’t even know why I…” …keep loving you so much.

Damn. I almost said those words out loud.

What scares me more is how much those words are true, how much I really love him, have always loved him, and how much it hurt to be away from him and know he was never mine in the first place.

I guess I only came to terms with that fact after I lost my memories and gained some sort of freedom.

God, I love him.

I’m in love with him.

I have never felt as attuned to a person as I am to Asher. My orbit keeps turning around him, or rather, I keep floating in his orbit.

Although I don’t remember everything about the past, I remember my connection with him. Maybe that’s why it was so easy to let go after I lost my memories.

“Why you what?” He watches me intently, as if he can crack open my skull and peek into my thoughts.

“Nothing.” I wiggle free. “I’m going to see Izzy.”

If I stay with him one more minute, I might actually say the words out loud and put us both in a position neither of us can afford to be in.

I’ll deal with all these emotions later.

After I find my sister and uncover the truth about Arianna’s death.

Because what I feel for Asher is too raw and deep to be resolved so easily.

He doesn’t stop me this time, and I’m thankful for it.

Izzy greets me at the entrance, her face ashen. She keeps wiping her dry, clean hands on her apron over and over again. Upon seeing me, she reaches into her pocket then quickly shakes her head.

Has she been there all along? Did she see the exchange we had with Jason?

“Hey, Izzy.” I lean in for a hug and she returns it with a stiff smile.

Once we break apart, I notice she’s still watching Asher, who headed back to his car. No surprise there. He has no interest in seeing Alex, and now that he made sure Jason isn’t in the house, he’ll remain in the car until I come out. After all, he only dropped by to be with me—and ward off any one-on-one time with Jason.

“Is Alex here?” I ask as I walk inside.

“Yes…uh…he’s in his office.”

“Thanks, Izzy.” I smile, unsure why she’s in a jerky mood. “Are you okay?”

“Me?” She nearly yells then stops in her tracks by the stairs. Sweat beads on her forehead and she keeps wiping her hands on the apron.

“If there’s something going on, you can tell me.” I face her, softening my voice. “I’ll do whatever I can to help. You’ve done so much for me since I woke up with no memories, and I’ll never forget that.”

A sudden sob tears from her throat and my eyes widen. It’s the first time I’ve seen Izzy out of sorts like this. She is always the epitome of care and kindness.

“Izzy.” I clutch her shoulder. “Please tell me. I want to help.”

“Why did you have to be like this?” She sniffles. “It would’ve been so much easier if you were the old Reina. Ever since I found this, I can’t sleep.”

“Found what?”

“Even though I would give my life for him, I can’t do this to you or to Mr. Carson. He’s my savior and I owe him my life.

“You’re not making any sense, Izzy.”