Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“I know who her family is, and it doesn’t bother me,” Braxton tells him.
“It should.” Lucas lets out a groan, and I can imagine him throwing his hands in the air. “I can’t believe you fell under her spell. Sure, she’s easy on the eyes—”
“Don’t speak about my woman like that,” Braxton growls. “Or this conversation will change very quickly. I’m telling you now, you need to back off.”
“Have you taken money from her? Is that how you’re able to own this apartment building?” Lucas asks in disbelief. My nose scrunches up. Braxton owns this place? And not just his apartment, but the whole building? How did I not know that? Maybe he’s sneakier than I initially thought.
Braxton is quiet for a moment, and I wonder if that wasn’t common knowledge. “Have you been digging up information on me, Lucas?” he asks, his tone becoming more noticeably clipped.
“No, I just… I knew something about this case was making you act differently, and it didn’t make sense.”
“You told me you had evidence against her, which is why I invited you here. But if you’re wrong, Lucas…”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I’m definitely in a trap.
I look down at my phone. I know my father will be here in a matter of minutes.
My heart breaks as I realize I’m as gullible as Aunt Anya accused me of being. She was right. I was foolish to think he genuinely cared for me more than his job. He’s literally set me up.
A wild rage fuels my blood, and an insatiable urge to kill him takes over. I do everything in my power to stay where I am. My gift is being able to take men by surprise, but right now, there’s no way I’ll be able to overpower two men with a tiny pair of scissors. I text my father.
Me: Don’t kill him. His death is mine.
Fuck it. I have no loyalties to this man. My parents were right.
I was right.
This was only ever going to end one way.
“I can prove she’s the serial killer,” Lucas whispers, and my blood runs cold.
All my lies are about to catch up to me. And I grit my teeth, ready to fight. For myself. For my freedom. For my heart that’s bleeding all over the bathroom tiles of a man I thought I loved.
He tricked me. And as a single tear slides down my cheek, I applaud his gameplay as much as I’m ready to fucking ruin his life.
Braxton Hero will die tonight.
By my hand.
He will be the ultimate prize.
Yet, I’m not fueled by the usual rush and adrenaline. Instead, I want to cry.
Stupid, stupid girl.
CHAPTER 42
Braxton
Hope can most likely hear this entire conversation. A crackle of tension stirs in the air as Lucas sizes me up. Neither of us is sure about the other at the moment. Loyalties, once bound in blood to protect one another and have each other’s back, are being tested.
I knew the moment he sent me a message about Hope he was onto something. I wanted to hear it from him first. I don’t let my emotions get the best of me; I compartmentalize them, preparing myself for what I know has to be done.
It unnerves me to know he betrayed my trust and researched me, finding out about my living situation and this apartment building I own, especially when it might call into question my ability to afford such a place. I’m the only tenant because I prefer my peace and privacy not to be disturbed.
And right now, Lucas is being very disruptive.
“Okay. Well, you need to arrest her. I was coming to you as your friend first. But since she’s trapped in the bathroom, we need to work together on this. You need to trust me. There was something that didn’t make sense about all the murders. It felt like evidence kept coming up missing or was messed with.
“I noticed Tyson had taken a photo of a weapon at the crime scene of that murder with the multiple stab wounds months ago. The weapon never made it to the labs. But then I found this sucker,” He holds up a fine knife which would’ve aided in Hope opening the window to kill his sister. Fuck, if she wasn’t wearing gloves, it has her fingerprints all over it, which means she might’ve been startled by the boyfriend coming back into the room.
I thought hiding the boot print was enough but I didn’t see that in the bushes.
Messy. It’s all become so messy.
“I know you said we couldn’t trust anyone else, and I think someone really has been covering this serial killer’s ass.” He’s driven by the need to put someone, anyone, away for his sister’s death.
“The weapon had clay on it. And the footprint outside of Kylie’s lover’s house…” His voice trembles. “It might’ve been half covered up, but they’re certain it’s the same size as Hope Ivanov’s. Braxton, she’s the killer.”