Tangled Web: A Small Town Romance (The Cortell Brothers Book 6) by Giulia Lagomarsino (an ebook reader txt) 📕

nothing to fear. Invite them into your house. That’ll keep things informal and show that you have nothing to hide. Tell them they can walk around the damn house if they want.”

“Alright, I’ll leave tomorrow.”

I chewed my fingernail as he continued to give me instructions, which were basically things he had already told me. I could do this. I’d been playing the game since I turned eighteen. This would be a cake walk for me.

Andrew

I laid in bed for a few minutes, but when I heard her talking on the other side of the door, I got out and pulled on some pants, creeping over to the door. I didn’t know many people that actually left the room just because they were on the phone. At least, not down here. Everyone knew everyone’s business, not that she shouldn’t have any privacy, but now I was curious as to why she felt she needed to leave the room. Pressing my ear to the door, I strained to listen to what was being said.

“Okay, so that means I don’t have to go, right?” There was a pause and then she said, “I don’t understand. What do they want to talk to me about?”

I leaned harder against the door, trying to hear what she was saying. What I wouldn’t give to hear the other end of that phone call right now.

“Yeah, he’s already made those claims.” Another pause. “The police might open an investigation.”

Shit. This was about her husband. It had to be. I closed my eyes, mentally smacking myself for being such an idiot. I’d gotten so wrapped up in Lorelei and the fact that I was falling for her that I hadn’t stopped to consider that maybe I was missing something. I knew she had secrets and I hadn’t tried to find out more.

“Callum, I’ve already killed three people. How the hell am I supposed to walk in there and convince them I’m innocent?”

I flinched back, staring at the door in shock. She had just admitted to killing three people. Three fucking people. That was insane. I was sleeping with a murderer. All this time, I thought that I was the crazy one, that Barty had it all wrong. I was so fucking sure of it because she seemed so damn normal. Granted, I still couldn’t figure her out, but she was a woman. But now that I knew, what the hell was I going to do? I actually felt something for her. That was her plan, of course. She wanted me to feel something for her. She wanted me on her side, to trust in her and believe that she was an innocent person. She wanted someone on her side when the police came knocking, and here they were.

Did she want me for a character witness or something? Or maybe that wasn’t it at all. Maybe I was just a pawn in her game. Maybe I was still the next target. It made sense. If she had any kind of resources on her side, she would know that I made plenty of money. Hell, I could have bought this house and redone it the exact same way she had. My days as a hacker had been very lucrative, though none of my family knew that.

I stepped away from the door and tried to figure out my next move. I couldn’t just run out of here. She would think that I was on to her, and if I was on to her, I would be collateral damage. I was caught in her web, and I couldn’t see a clear way out. I pulled out my phone and texted Robert, giving him the signal that I needed an out. Just as I was finishing up and pulling on my shirt, the door flung open and Lorelei walked through with a questioning look on her face.

“I thought you weren’t finished with me,” she said saucily.

I laughed nervously, smoothing my hand through my hair. “No—what?” My voice kind of cracked, making me sound like a moron. “Yeah, I was just going to find some food or a log…for the fire.”

She looked at me strangely. “The fireplace that’s still blazing?”

I smacked myself in the head, laughing like I was just being an idiot. “Right, I totally see where you’re going with this. The fireplace doesn’t need any more wood, so why would I need another log.”

“Why are you being weird?”

“Me? Weird? Psh, this is just my normal, everyday charm,” I said, swallowing hard.

She took a step toward me and I involuntarily took a step back, terrified she was going to snap my neck or something. I’ve already killed three people.

“Why are you acting like you’re afraid of me?”

“Me? Afraid?” My voice cracked as I spoke.

“And why do you keep asking questions about my questions?”

“Me? I’m not— No, I’m not doing that. I’m just…just tidying up the room. You were out there and I was in here and…” I glanced around the room, noting that it was already pretty clean. “I thought I would do the laundry. You know, a dirty comforter is a breeding ground for…dirt.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and stared me down. “Okay, what’s really going on here?”

Luckily, my phone rang, saving me from having to answer, but she snatched it out of my hand before I had the chance to answer it. She slid the bar to answer the phone and put it on speakerphone. My brother’s voice filled the air.

“Hey, I need your help…blah, blah, blah. I think I broke my leg. By the way, I’m not sure why you’re trying to get away from that hottie, but you should definitely reconsider.”

I wanted to interrupt him so many times, but it wouldn’t have mattered. She already knew what was happening.

“I mean, I agree with Joe, she sounds a little psychotic, but that can be a good thing. You know, tie you up and all that fun stuff. Just make sure you’re clear about knife play first.”

I closed my