Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(28)

Lizzy sat in silence as both powerful men were motionless. They looked at each other as if trying to read into the other’s every move and motive. Sebastian’s lips thinned as he pressed them together so hard that they turned white.

“You knew, didn’t you?” Birch asked quietly as he let out a long sigh. “Seb, just be honest with me.”

It was as if all the air was let out of Sebastian. “Yes, I knew. Or at least I suspected. I knew about Manuel. That was why I was trying to get that other woman to let me go with her to Mexico. I guessed that was where she was going when she hopped on my plane with me and compared me to him. I’m guessing she’s dead now.”

“No, she’s not,” Lizzy said with her jaw clenched. She stood up and poked Sebastian in the chest. “You should have told me!”

“I assumed you knew where she was going and why.”

“But you shouldn’t assume that I knew,” Birch said, stopping Lizzy from poking Sebastian again. “Tell me what you know.”

“Well, know and know are two different things. Manuel is the go-to man for business in Mexico. All those manufacturing plants, resorts, anything . . . they all make payments to Manuel. But last time I was down there checking in on my resort, Roland was there. It was two months ago now. He couldn’t stop bragging about how big he was and that he was in a new investment. I gathered it had to do with Manuel. Then when you told me about Mollia Domini, I figured that’s what he was talking about.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Birch asked with disbelief.

“I had no evidence. It was just a feeling.”

“What else do you know or think you might know?” Lizzy asked as she clenched her fist. They could have been miles ahead in this operation if she’d known about Roland.

“That’s about it. I know I’ve been approached by numerous people about a particular secret investment, but those people have mysteriously disappeared recently.”

“Is Roland the head of the investment group he talked about?” Birch asked.

“I don’t know. I’m sorry—”

Birch shook his head, cutting Sebastian off. “Don’t say something you don’t mean. I don’t even know who you are anymore, Sebastian. You would sit back and let me be killed instead of coming to me? How do I know you’re telling me the truth now? How do I know you’re not the head of Mollia Domini, and you’re just stringing me along so you can know what’s going on?”

“I am not a part of that. I would never hurt you, Birch.”

“How can I know that? Look at your actions. You’re playing both sides, waiting to see who the winner is so you can take advantage, aren’t you? Well, Sebastian, your time is up. Choose right now. Whose side are you on?”

Lizzy moved to the edge of her seat, ready to stop Sebastian if he decided to either run or attack. By the way Sebastian’s jaw was moving as he ground his teeth, Birch had hit the nail on the head. Sebastian was playing both sides.

“What can I do to prove to you that I’m on your side?”

“Well, since you’re so good at laundering money, you’re going to transfer $20,000,000 and one jet into an account we’ll set up. That way we’ll be completely autonomous from you from now on,” Birch told him, knowing it was just a drop in the bucket for Sebastian.

“Done.”

“And I want you to get me two invites for Kerra Ruby’s birthday party in Los Angeles,” Lizzy told him.

“Done.”

“Any strings?” Lizzy asked, knowing every time she’d asked for a favor there had been strings attached.

“No.”

Birch looked at his childhood friend and shook his head. “It’s not easy, you know. This hurt more than the fact someone tried to kill me. Who have you turned into, Sebastian?”

“Someone who will never be beat up again,” Sebastian said softly. Lizzy saw the pained look in Birch’s eyes.

“We’ve come a long way from the two boys who would get into trouble on the base. We had a rough start, but would you change it? I wouldn’t.”

“No, I wouldn’t. We were innocent then.” Sebastian looked at the floor and took a breath. “I’ll have everything done in a couple of hours.”

Lizzy stood to leave with Sebastian, but he held out his hand. “Not now, Miss James.”

Sebastian walked out of the room and down the hall, never looking back.

“Shit, Lizzy. What have I done? He’s my best friend, but you saw it, didn’t you?”

Lizzy’s heart broke for Birch. And even for Sebastian. Friendships should never be taken for granted. Sometimes they were as dear to you as family—even more so since you chose your friends. But even family and friends sometimes lose their way and no one sees it until it’s too late.

“Yes. He’s still withholding information.”

Humphrey wheeled Tate back into the room. “How did it go?”

Birch just shook his head. He was lost in the past and the future while trying to figure out where his best friend fit into all of that. “Lizzy, you better go. They’re opening the wing back up soon. We get to go home tomorrow, or I guess the day after tomorrow technically since it won’t be until the middle of the night. We’re hoping I’ll have a chance to get home without the press knowing to give me time to settle in.”