Perfect Liar: A Dark Romance Thriller (Beautiful Ashes Book 1) Read online

  For my dear friend, Elena.

  You are beautiful, inside and out.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Connect with Dori Lavelle

  Chapter One

  Bree

  Hunter slides an arm around my body and lays his warm palm on my bare stomach. He brings his mouth to my ear and nibbles my earlobe. “Bree, wake up, baby.”

  “Why?” I grab a pillow and press it against my face. My body knows it’s not time to get out of bed yet. “I have a busy day tomorrow.”

  “I know, sweetheart. But we need to celebrate.”

  I open my eyes slowly, even though my lids fight me all the way. I turn to face him.

  The lamp on his side of the bed is switched on.

  I squint at him. “What do we need to celebrate?”

  “Our wedding anniversary.”

  A slow smile curls the corners of my lips. “We’ve only been married for six months, silly.”

  “Six beautiful months.” He lays a hand on my cheek. “Some married couples never make it this far. Let’s keep our marriage fresh.”

  I shake my head. “You’re such a romantic. I love that about you. I love everything about you.”

  Many people never thought we’d make it this far. My friends, Karen Martinez and Vivian King, signed me up on a dating site as a joke. I was really annoyed at first, then I got a message from a handsome stranger who said all the things I wanted to hear. I was shocked at myself when, after a month of writing each other, I agreed to go on a date with him.

  I expected candles, champagne, and caviar. That’s what most men tried to impress me with. But Hunter bought me hot dogs, and a candy apple for dessert. Then he took me on a rollercoaster ride. After that, we sat in a park until late into the night just talking. Two weeks later, we had mind-blowing sex, the best I’d ever had.

  Six months after that, his ring was on my finger. My friends were horrified. They were not on board with me marrying him so soon, but no one had the power to talk me out of becoming Hunter Tyler’s wife. He sucked me right into his world.

  After dozens of disastrous dates and relationships, I finally found a man who isn’t intimidated by my success and loves me for me. It probably helps that he has a good job at one of the largest investment banks in the country. At thirty-seven, he’s successful in his own right.

  “I love you.” I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close, allowing his warm lips to brush mine.

  “Show me.” He flips me onto my back, pressing me into the mattress with his body, pushing my legs apart.

  My hands slide down to his sexy ass. “As sexy as this all is, you do know that I have to be in court tomorrow, right? Remember the case I’ve been working on for months?” I smile. “If I do well, it might increase my chances of being promoted to partner.” My dream is to be made partner before I’m thirty-seven. Two years to go.

  “This moment is more important.” Since I’m already naked after making love to him before we went to bed, he’s able to slide right into me without resistance. And I’m ready. I’m always ready for him. One thrust and my body responds with a rush of heat.

  I tip my head back and close my eyes, a soft moan bursting from my lips. “I know it is, but—”

  “Stop talking, woman.” He thrusts deeper, then even deeper. “See, this is so much better than sleep.” He increases his pace, his hands pushing under me, pulling me closer to him.

  “I agree,” I say, but at the back of my mind I know I might regret it in the morning. I’m going to be participating in one of the most important trials in America. A woman who is being accused of murdering her two-year-old by bludgeoning her to death and setting her corpse on fire depends on me to prove her innocence. I need to have a clear head, but I also need this. I need Hunter.

  After a few minutes, Hunter let’s out a guttural groan and I scream out his name. We collapse into the arms of ecstasy together.

  “Let’s go outside for some air.” He withdraws from me and swings his legs out of bed.

  “You’re crazy.” I pull the sheets over my body. “What time is it anyway?”

  “Three o’clock, but time doesn’t matter. Let’s go out onto the balcony for a few minutes.” He yanks the covers off me and gathers me into his arms. Outside, he lowers me to one of the loungers and covers my nakedness with a blanket.

  While the world is still asleep, we curl up into each other and watch the stars in silence until sleep sneaks up on me again.

  “Okay, sleepyhead.” Hunter gets to his feet. “Let me take you back to bed.”

  He carries me back into the room and tucks me in. The way he cares for me and takes advantage of every moment to prove his love for me never ceases to amaze me.

  “Good night, my darling,” he whispers into the night.

  I murmur out something that sounds like good night.

  The alarm rings after what feels like only five minutes.

  I wake up to the rich aromas of eggs, bacon, pancakes, and orange juice on a breakfast tray next to me on the bed.

  Hunter normally cooks me breakfast on the weekends. To treat me on a weekday, he must still be on a mission to celebrate our six-month anniversary.

  Standing next to the bed in his boxer shorts, he looks proud of himself. I can’t take my eyes off the hairy line that travels from his naval and disappears into his shorts.

  The place between my legs starts to tingle, but I don’t have time to get sucked back in.

  “If you’re treating me like this after only six months in this marriage, I wonder what you’ll do when we celebrate our one year.”

  “What I have in mind is something you’ll never forget.”

  To distract myself, I reach for a piece of crispy bacon, bite off a piece, then put it back on the plate. “What you did is really sweet, but I don’t have time for breakfast right now.”

  “But I made such an effort.” He lowers himself to the bed and falls back onto the pillows.

  “I know, baby.” I get out of bed and disappear into the bathroom. “But I really need to get to the office early.” Since I started working at Denzel & Co. as a senior associate six years ago, I always try to be the first person at the office. It makes me feel in control and ready for anything.

  “Do you like your work more than me?” Hunter calls from the bedroom.

  I poke my head from around the bathroom door and shake my head. “You know that’s not true.”

  “You know I’m kidding.” He laughs. “I know you love me more.”

  “You better be kidding.” I get back to brushing my teeth. “I’ll make it up to you in the evening, I promise.” I can’t wait for tonight. Hopefully everything will go well in court, then we’ll have something extra to celebrate.

  “It’s my company’s fundraising event tonight. You’ll be there, won’t you?”

  I squeeze my eyes shut. “Yes, yes of course I’m coming.” I totally forgot about that. It’s not the first time I have forgotten one of the appointments we made together, and even though Hunter is understanding when it comes to my work, he hates it when I cancel appointments because I have to stay longer at the office. I won’t let him down.

  “But l
et’s also have lunch at Sandy’s Kitchen so I can tell you how it went in court.”

  “Sounds great.” He yawns while burying his fingers into his ebony hair.

  I take a quick shower, get dressed in my navy-blue power suit, and sweep my thick, strawberry blonde curls into a tight bun at the back of my head. Then I kiss my husband goodbye and walk out the door, hoping today will be the day everything I worked so hard for finally pays off.

  Chapter Two

  A small woman with a pale face and dark circles under her eyes rises to her feet and scans the room as she prepares to read the verdict that could change not only my client’s life, but also my career.

  She settles her gaze on Jolene Abrahams, my client, then glances down at the piece of paper in her hands. “As to the charge of first-degree murder, we the jury find the defendant not guilty.”

  A wave of relief sweeps through me as Jolene throws herself into my arms. “Oh my God. Thank you so much,” she says between sobs. “I was so...so scared.”

  “I know.” I run a hand down her back. “It’s over now. You’re free.”

  I always take on clients I secretly believe to be innocent. Sometimes I see it in their eyes and sometimes I read between the lines. Whatever clients say doesn’t hold as much weight as the way my heart translates their words.

  But this was by far the toughest trial in my entire career. Due to the overwhelming evidence against Jolene, there were times I secretly wondered if she was truly innocent.

  This success is one I’ll never forget. It puts me on the map as a damn good criminal defense attorney.

  Jolene pulls back and smiles at me. Tears are glistening on her cheeks. “Thank you for saving me.”

  “Enjoy your freedom,” I tell her, squeezing her shoulders. “And I’m sorry.”

  I’m sorry for everything she has lost. I can’t even start to imagine the torture she experienced in the past months. She not only lost her child, she was accused of the murder.

  As she walks away from me, I watch her for a moment before John Redford, the prosecutor, approaches me, hand outstretched.

  “Job well done,” he says in his smoker’s voice. “I underestimated you. You are an amazing lawyer.”

  Coming from him, it’s huge. He’s known to be one of the best lawyers in the country. Given that he had never lost a case before this one, I was terrified to go up against him.

  “Thank you, John.” I shake his hand. “No hard feelings I hope.”

  “Not at all.” He adjusts his tie. “Losing doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would.”

  “Come on, you don’t have to lie to me. The first cut is the deepest.”

  He chuckles. “You’re right, it hurts like hell, but I loved the challenge. Enjoy your success, Bree. You deserve it.”

  I nod, grab my bag, and walk to the double doors. I find Jacob Gunning, one of the partners at Denzel & Co., waiting outside the courtroom, flashing one of his infectious smiles. The man has the most perfectly even and white teeth I’d ever seen. When I first met him, I thought they were fake, but he assured me they’re not. He also has the perfect looks to match. Striking slate gray eyes, dark hair, and a sculpted face. He’s in his early forties, but he could easily fool someone into thinking he’s still in his mid-thirties.

  “You pulled it off,” he says, shaking his head. “For a moment there, I didn’t think it would happen. Congratulations, Bree.” I allow him to draw me into a congratulatory hug.

  I break our contact. “Please don’t say you also underestimated me, Jacob.”

  “I would never underestimate you.” He pauses. “The day you started at Denzel and Company, I knew without a doubt that you will do great things.”

  I believe him. Of all my colleagues, he’s the one who has always believed in me the most. He was actually the person who hired me when I was still green behind the ears. He saw something in me that I didn’t even see in myself at the time.

  “I really appreciate you saying that.” I pause. “I should go. I’m having lunch with my husband. I want to tell him the good news in person.”

  “I’m afraid you can’t leave yet, Miss Davis.” John runs a hand through his hair.

  “It’s Mrs. Tyler now, Jacob. I’m married now, remember?”

  “Oh yes, I forgot.” He smirks. “Anyway, the big boss wants to see you.”

  “Denzel?” I swallow hard and tighten my fingers around the handle of my bag. “Why?”

  Mason Denzel is not only the managing partner, he’s also one of the founding lawyers of the firm. When he calls someone to his office, it usually means something big is about to happen. Either you’re hired, promoted, or fired. It can only mean one thing for me. I hope it does. What if I’m wrong?

  Jacob shrugs. “No idea. I’m only the messenger. He’s expecting you in half an hour.” Jacob walks away.

  On my way back to the office, I can barely breathe. By the time I get to the glass and steel building, my armpits are drenched with sweat. I sneak to my office to change into a new shirt before I go to the top floor, where Mason’s office is located.

  Thank God I keep a change of clothes at the office. Dressed in a fresh midnight blue satin blouse, I switch on my phone. I always switch it off when in court.

  I have quite a few missed calls. Several are from Hunter and two from Mason. Before I leave my office, I give Hunter a call to let him know I can’t make lunch. But I can’t reach him, so I send a message instead.

  Sorry, baby. I can’t do lunch. I have an important meeting. I’ll call you as soon as I can. Love you.

  I rush to Mason’s office, calm and confident on the outside, but a nervous wreck on the inside.

  “Is he in?” I ask Laura, his secretary.

  “Yes,” she says, looking up from her computer. “He’s waiting for you. Go right in.”

  Outside the door to Mason’s office, I stand for a moment, drawing in a deep, calming breath. Then I push down the handle and step inside.

  The sudden rupture of noise takes me by surprise. I reel back as though something has knocked into me.

  The room is crowded with partners, junior and senior associates, and even interns. They’re all holding champagne glasses and cheering words of congratulations.

  “Well done, Bree,” Mason says with a smile. I feel honored because his smiles are quite rare. “You did a fantastic job in the courtroom today. We watched every second of it.” He hands me a glass of champagne.

  “Thank you, Mason.” I smile at everyone else in the room. “Thank you, everyone. This means so much to me.” It’s a struggle to keep the tears from being detectable in my voice. Showing emotion at work is not something I do. But now I can feel the tears burning the backs of my eyes, forcing themselves out. I blink them back.

  Everyone, including Jacob, gives me hugs, handshakes, or pats on the back. Then finally, Mason tells me the words I’ve waited years to hear.

  “Bree Tyler, it’s my pleasure to inform you that we have decided to make you partner.”

  Even though I visualized hearing those words in my head many times, they still blow me away. The first thing that comes to mind as soon as I hear them is that I can’t wait to tell my husband.

  After grueling years in law school and many sleepless nights, I have finally arrived. I do not only have my dream career, I have my dream man. Who says you can’t have it all?

  As soon as I return to my office, I get a call from one of my best friends. Karen Martinez is the CEO of one of the largest luxury hotel chains in the world. Her business is her life, and even at thirty-six, she has no plans to get married or have kids.

  “Well done, honey.” Her voice is deep and strong. I’ve always envied her for it. It makes her sound so powerful. “You said you’d win that case and you did.”

  I swivel my desk chair to face the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the city of Houston, Texas. “Honestly, I’m still in shock. I can’t believe it’s over.”

  “And you kicked ass.”

&nbs
p; I close my eyes. “I’m just happy my client is not going to prison for a crime she didn’t commit.”

  “Are you really one hundred percent sure she didn’t do it?”

  “Come on, Karen.” I sigh. “Don’t go there again.”

  “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it.” She laughs. “It’s just that sometimes it doesn’t matter whether someone committed a crime or not. It’s all about how good your lawyer is. And she had a damn good one.”

  “All that matters is she’s free. I know my opinion doesn’t really matter as much as the evidence, but I do believe she’s innocent.”

  “I’m so ridiculously proud of you.” The warmth in Karen’s words touches my heart. I can tell that she’s genuinely happy for me. “Let’s have lunch tomorrow to celebrate. I’ll book a table at Moreno’s. I’ll also let Vivian know.”

  “Thank you. Let’s do it.”

  “I’m sure Hunter is so proud of you.”

  “I’m sure he is. I haven’t talked to him yet. I was in a meeting.” My heart flutters at the thought of Hunter’s face when I tell him my good news, if he doesn’t already know from the news. “I have more good news.” My face spreads into a grin. “The case wasn’t my only success today. I also made partner.”

  “No way,” she screams. “You’re joking, right?”

  “Would I joke about something this important?”

  “Wow. You did it. You have it all, like you said you would. How does it feel to be the first female partner at Denzel and Company?”

  “Surreal. I think it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

  I swivel my chair around again and pick up my champagne glass. I raise it to my lips and take a sip. It’s the same drink Mason had given me earlier. Like me, everyone had only taken a few sips of bubbly before they returned to their desks.

  “Look, Karen, I have to go. There’s a call coming in. It’s Vivian. I’ll speak to you later, okay?”

  “Sure. Congratulations again, sweetheart. I’m proud of you.”

  “I’m proud of me too.” I hang up and pick up Vivian’s call. We hold a similar conversation, then we hang up and promise to see each other at Moreno’s tomorrow.