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

I only come out after changing back into my clothes and doing my makeup. Now, I understand why Old Reina needed to do that whenever she went out. I didn’t like being put under the spotlight if I didn’t have some sort of shield. My perfect face and appearance were it.

It was a defense mechanism to hide my true feelings. I was a pro at that.

Detective Daniels waits for me with two buff officers wearing hats near the door. He’s had a smug grin on his face since he revealed the arrest warrant.

Perspiration coats my skin as one bleak thought after another barges into my mind. What if they actually found Reina’s body?

No. Alex said his guy sent him a text after that night saying she was safe.

My sister is a fighter; she wouldn’t just die.

Asher paces the length of the room, a phone to his ear. “Pick the fuck up, Alexander.”

“It’s okay.” I place a hand on his arm, forcing him to stop. “Go find him at the firm. He’s probably in a meeting.”

Still clutching the phone, he palms both my cheeks and tugs up so I’m staring straight at his pained eyes. “I’ll get you out of there. I promise.”

My limbs start to shake as if about to give up on me. If he keeps touching me, I’ll surrender to all those gloomy thoughts and break.

I can’t do that when I have to find my sister.

I try to wiggle away from his touch but he pins me in place, the forest green color of his eyes turning somber. “Are you running away from me, prom queen?”

“No.” Yes.

“You can’t leave me, not anymore.” His lips brush against mine in a brief, heartbreaking kiss. “You’re my world now.”

Tears well in my eyes, and I wrench myself from him before I start crying.

I can’t do that. Not now.

I stride toward the detective and the officers. My heart begs for one last glance at Asher, but I deny that request. I need to be strong for this, and I can’t do that if I keep thinking about Asher’s last words.

As soon as I’m in front of them, Detective Daniels tells me I’m under arrest for murder and reads me my rights, then he leans in to whisper, “I told you I’d get you.”

My expression doesn’t change, but my pulse rises at the contempt in his tone.

I walk with them down the hall and through the lobby where people stare at me all the way. Gaige runs toward me with a frown etched between his brows, but I stop him. “It’s okay, just try to reach Alex.”

He gives a sharp nod and retrieves his phone. My only option is to remain silent until Alex shows up. I’m sure he’ll be able to shut the detective down like before, that is if they didn’t really find a body.

The officers don’t say a word. They’re bulky with tattoos sneaking down their sleeves. One has an untamed beard and the other has a permanent sneer. Is that a scar over his jaw?

One of the officers takes the wheel as the other one opens the back door. Daniels retrieves cuffs and tries to restrain me.

I pull my hands free. “I didn’t resist arrest—there’s no need for those.”

“I’m the one who decides whether you resisted or not,” he snarls then snaps the handcuffs on my wrists.

I gulp at the feeling of being handled like a criminal. I hate this. The detective shoves me inside so I’m sandwiched between him and the other officer.

The pungent smell of coffee and smoke fill the car and the windows are securely closed. Of course. I try to breathe through my mouth as we drive down Blackwood’s streets.

We go for about fifteen minutes in suffocating silence. They don’t talk and I’m determined to keep my right to remain silent.

Why is the station so far away?

Something vibrates at my side before the officer beside me picks up. He speaks in Russian, and even though mine is rusty, I recognize the words loud and clear.

We got her.

Oh, God. Oh, no.

I try to keep my expression neutral, to not show I know what he’s saying.

This must be Ivan Sokolov, my mom’s killer, the reason Reina disappeared.

Now, he’s coming after me.

I stare out the window and sure enough, we’re out of the civilized area and headed to the highway that leads to the forest.

Shit, shit.

Think. I need to think about a way out of this. What would Mom have done under the circumstances?

“I need to use the bathroom,” I say in a bored voice.

“You’ll do that when we get to the station,” Detective Daniels says.

He’s in on this, too. He must be. That’s why he was so focused on my case like a parasite. It wasn’t for justice; it was because he works for Ivan.

“Well, it’s urgent. You got me out in a rush.” I roll my eyes. “I’m fine if you want piss all over your seat.”

The officer beside me curses me in Russian.

Well, fuck you, too.

He taps the barrier separating us from the driver and tells him something. They exchange tense words for a bit and I keep a bored façade as I try to figure out what they’re saying.

One of them is saying no, and the other says the boss won’t be happy if something happens to me. Finally, they decide to make a stop at a gas station. Detective Daniels is the one to accompany me.

“Behave.” He flashes me his gun as he stands at the entrance.