The Perfect Lie (The Perfect Stranger) Read online

  The Perfect Lie

  Charlotte Byrd

  Byrd Books

  Contents

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  About Charlotte Byrd

  Also by Charlotte Byrd

  The Perfect Lie

  1. Isabelle

  2. Isabelle

  3. Isabelle

  4. Tyler

  5. Isabelle

  6. Tyler

  7. Tyler

  8. Isabelle

  9. Isabelle

  10. Tyler

  11. Tyler

  12. Isabelle

  13. Isabelle

  14. Isabelle

  15. Isabelle

  16. Isabelle

  17. Tyler

  18. Tyler

  19. Tyler

  20. Isabelle

  21. Isabelle

  22. Isabelle

  23. Tyler

  24. Tyler

  25. Isabelle

  26. Isabelle

  27. Isabelle

  28. Isabele

  29. Isabelle

  30. Isabelle

  31. Isabelle

  32. Isabelle

  33. Isabelle

  34. Isabelle

  35. Tyler

  Connect with Charlotte Byrd

  Also by Charlotte Byrd

  About Charlotte Byrd

  Copyright © 2020 by Charlotte Byrd, LLC.

  All rights reserved.

  Proofreaders:

  Julie Deaton, Deaton Author Services, https://www.facebook.com/jdproofs/

  Renee Waring, Guardian Proofreading Services, https://www.facebook.com/GuardianProofreadingServices

  Savanah Cotton, Cotton's Incision Editing, https://www.facebook.com/Cottons-Incision-Editing-512917856115256/

  Cover Design: Charlotte Byrd

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a word of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Visit my website at www.charlotte-byrd.com

  Created with Vellum

  Praise for Charlotte Byrd

  “BEST AUTHOR YET! Charlotte has done it again! There is a reason she is an amazing author and she continues to prove it! I was definitely not disappointed in this series!!” ★★★★★

  “LOVE!!! I loved this book and the whole series!!! I just wish it didn't have to end. I am definitely a fan for life!!! ★★★★★

  “Extremely captivating, sexy, steamy, intriguing, and intense!” ★★★★★

  “Addictive and impossible to put down.” ★★★★★

  “What a magnificent story from the 1st book through book 6 it never slowed down always surprising the reader in one way or the other. Nicholas and Olive's paths crossed in a most unorthodox way and that's how their story begins it's exhilarating with that nail biting suspense that keeps you riding on the edge the whole series. You'll love it!” ★★★★★

  “What is Love Worth. This is a great epic ending to this series. Nicholas and Olive have a deep connection and the mystery surrounding the deaths of the people he is accused of murdering is to be read. Olive is one strong woman with deep convictions. The twists, angst, confusion is all put together to make this worthwhile read.” ★★★★★

  “Fast-paced romantic suspense filled with twists and turns, danger, betrayal, and so much more.” ★★★★★

  “Decadent, delicious, & dangerously addictive!” - Amazon Review ★★★★★

  “Titillation so masterfully woven, no reader can resist its pull. A MUST-BUY!” - Bobbi Koe, Amazon Review ★★★★★

  “Captivating!” - Crystal Jones, Amazon Review ★★★★★

  “Sexy, secretive, pulsating chemistry…” - Mrs. K, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★

  “Charlotte Byrd is a brilliant writer. I've read loads and I've laughed and cried. She writes a balanced book with brilliant characters. Well done!” -Amazon Review ★★★★★

  “Hot, steamy, and a great storyline.” - Christine Reese ★★★★★

  “My oh my....Charlotte has made me a fan for life.” - JJ, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★

  “Wow. Just wow. Charlotte Byrd leaves me speechless and humble… It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. Once you pick it up, you won't put it down.” - Amazon Review ★★★★★

  “ Intrigue, lust, and great characters...what more could you ask for?!” - Dragonfly Lady ★★★★★

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  About Charlotte Byrd

  Charlotte Byrd is the bestselling author of romantic suspense novels. She has sold over 1 million books and has been translated into five languages.

  She lives near Palm Springs, California with her husband, son, and a toy Australian Shepherd who hates water. Charlotte is addicted to books and Netflix and she loves hot weather and crystal blue water.

  Write her here:

  [email protected]

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  Also by Charlotte Byrd

  All books are available at ALL major retailers! If you can’t find it, please email me at [email protected]

  The Perfect Stranger Series

  The Perfect Stranger

  The Perfect Cover

  The Perfect Lie

  The Perfect Life

  The Perfect Getaway

  The Perfect Couple

  All the Lies Series

  All the Lies

  All the Secrets

  All the Doubts

  All the Truths

  All the Promises

  All the Hopes

  Tell me Series

  Tell Me to Stop

  Tell Me to Go

  Tell Me to Stay

  Tell Me to Run

  Tell Me to Fight

  Tell Me to Lie

  Wedlocked Trilogy

  Dangerous Engagement

  Lethal Wedding

  Fatal Wedding

  Tangled Series

  Tangled up in Ice

  Tangled up in Pain

  Tangled up in Lace

  Tangled up in Hate

  Tangled up in Love

  Black Series

  Black Edge

  Black Rules

  Black Bounds

  Black Contract

  Black Limit

  Not into you Duet

  Not into you
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  Still not into you

  Lavish Trilogy

  Lavish Lies

  Lavish Betrayal

  Lavish Obsession

  Standalone Novels

  Dressing Mr. Dalton

  Debt

  Offer

  Unknown

  The Perfect Lie

  This was supposed to be so easy.

  We go out west and start a new life.

  But then a gun goes off and everything changes.

  What happens now?

  How do we get through this?

  My hopes start to evaporate with each passing moment.

  But as long as Tyler is breathing, I have to keep fighting.

  I am fighting for both of us now.

  But is that enough?

  What happens when that love is not enough?

  1

  Isabelle

  Tyler falls onto the ground and the world goes blank.

  My ears start to buzz and my vision gets blurry. I want to reach out to him, but I can't.

  My body remains rigid and immobile as if I'm chained to the ground.

  Then, just as fast as it all happened, the world suddenly comes back.

  I run over to Tyler and press my hand to his shoulder. Lying on the ground, he's wincing in pain.

  I don't know what to do.

  I grab my phone, but I don't have any reception.

  I need to turn back time and make all of this stop, but I don't know how.

  “What have you done?” I roar at Mac. “Why did you do this?”

  I press my hand firmly into Tyler's shoulder to stop the bleeding, but I need something better.

  I pull off my shirt, leaving myself in just a tank top, and tie it firmly around his shoulder.

  When I look up to say something to Mac again, I see him backing away, into his car.

  “Where are you going? You have to help me!”

  “I'm really sorry about this, Isabelle,” Maggie says and climbs into the passenger seat.

  “We can’t just leave them here,” Nicholas says and my hopes rise.

  “Get in the fucking car or I’ll shoot you, too,” Mac says through his teeth, pointing his gun at him.

  A few moments later, the car spins around and Tessa looks at me from the back seat.

  Watching them drive away feels like the wind being knocked out of me.

  They are leaving Tyler here to die.

  They're leaving me here to watch him die.

  “No,” I say, forcing myself up to my feet. “No, not today. You're not going to die today.”

  “Isabelle, please,” Tyler says, reaching up to me.

  I try to make a plan. The car!

  I run over and push the front passenger seat as far back as it can go and recline it to make it comfortable for him.

  When I rush back, Tyler smiles at me.

  “I'm going to help you. Let me help you get into the car.”

  Slowly, he rises up to his feet and slumps his body over mine.

  You never know how heavy a person can be who isn't holding up his own body weight.

  I strain under the pressure, but I force myself to keep going. Eventually, we make our way to the car and I help him into the front seat.

  “Everything is going to be fine,” I say, getting behind the wheel. “I'm going to take you to the hospital and they're going to fix everything up.”

  “No,” Tyler mumbles. “No, you can't do that.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “If you take me to a hospital, they’re going to call the police. They report all gun crime victims.”

  “You need someone to take out the bullet. You need medical help. Professional help.”

  “If you take me to the hospital, you are signing my death warrant,” he mumbles through the pain.

  “They're going to save your life!” I yell frantically.

  “And then send me back to prison. Away from you. Forever.” He winces.

  “But at least you’ll be alive,” I plead and drive as fast as I can down the dusty desert road.

  We argue back and forth until I get to the Marine base in Twentynine Palms, but by then he’s too weak to fight me any longer.

  “I love you, Isabelle,” he whispers and lets his body go limp.

  “Tyler, Tyler, wake up!” I try to rouse him but continue to drive.

  He doesn't wake up.

  When I get to the outskirts of Joshua Tree, I see the big red sign for the Desert Regional Hospital.

  I slow down at the light, trying to decide what to do. Do I turn around, go to the emergency room, save his life, and possibly send him back to prison, or do I just let him die right here, right now?

  No, there has to be another solution. There has to be something else.

  The light turns green and I keep driving.

  I don't make the turn.

  I don't take him to the hospital.

  I press my hand to his chest. I can feel that his heart is still pumping. He doesn't have much time, but for now, he's alive.

  I have never been here in my life and I don't know anyone here.

  Who can I trust?

  Who even has the medical knowledge to help me with this?

  Another sign appears: Joshua Tree Veterinary Clinic.

  I make a hard right turn and pull into the small parking lot. There's only one other car there and hopefully it belongs to a veterinarian.

  I grab my bag and leave Tyler for now.

  Bursting through the door, I run straight back looking for the doctor.

  An older man in his seventies is watching YouTube videos on his laptop in the back. When I swing the door open after a quick knock, he jumps.

  “Please, he’s been shot. You have to help,” I plead.

  The man in the white coat shakes his head,

  but I grab his hand and practically force him to follow me to the car. His face drops when he sees Tyler in the front seat.

  “The hospital's right over there, ma'am,” he says. “This is a veterinary clinic for animals.”

  “I can't go to the hospital. He asked me not to. Please, you have to help.”

  The man looks at me compassionately but doesn't budge.

  He keeps insisting that I have to take him to the hospital and that he can't work on him.

  Finally, I’ve reached my limit. I reach into my bag and pull out the gun that Tessa left in the back seat. I spotted it when I first put Tyler in the car and didn't realize that I was going to have to use it so soon.

  He throws his arms up when he sees it and his eyes become huge and round.

  “You have to help me. I can't go to the hospital. Do something.”

  I open the door to pull Tyler out. But it’s a struggle. He is unconscious and I can’t do it by myself. I look over at the vet for help.

  “Please!” I yell.

  Finally, he caves. We carry Tyler into the back of the clinic and I immediately confiscate the doctor’s phone.

  “I'm going to give this back to you after we’re done, but I can't trust you with it right now,” I say when he looks up at me.

  The vet unwraps Tyler's shoulder. He gets his supplies and starts to clean it up. As soon as the alcohol touches the skin, Tyler wakes up.

  The vet gives him one shot followed by one more.

  “I don't exactly have all of the medical equipment that I need to work on a person.”

  “I know,” I say. “I really appreciate you doing anything you can.”

  The man shakes his head and says, “I don't feel comfortable using an anesthetic made for animals.”

  “Why?” I ask.

  “Anesthesia is all about doses. The dose that you give a horse is different from what you give a cat or a rabbit or a human being.”

  “Can't you just estimate using the size of a big dog. Like a Great Dane?” I suggest.

  He looks at me, scandalized, and says, “No, absolutely not.”

  “It's okay,” Tyler says.

  “No,
it's not okay. I can't leave this bullet in your shoulder. It's going to get infected.”

  “So just take it out without anesthesia,” Tyler says.

  “You don't know what you're asking.”

  “I don't want to waste your time, Doc,” Tyler says.

  The doctor shakes his head again and then brings over a thick towel.

  “What's this for?” I ask.

  “Put it between his teeth so that he has something to bite down on.”

  I gasp and take a step away from him.

  “That's what they used to do during… The Civil War?”

  “That's what we all do when we don't have any anesthesia. If you don't have something between your teeth, you can break them. Now do you want me to do this or not?”

  “It's going to be fine,” Tyler says. “I've been shot before, remember?”

  I put the towel in his mouth and turn my face away as the doctor takes out the bullet.