Because…
I love Lily.“Hold on, sweets.Hold on.”
ChapterTwenty-Seven
“You bitch,you nearly broke my wrist!”
Nearly?How unfortunate.She’d hoped that she had succeeded in breaking his bones.Lily slowly opened her eyes.“Better go to the hospital and get that checked out, just in case…” Her voice came out raspy.A little too rough.“And while you’re there…” She focused on the jerk in front of her.“You can explain why a dead man is still alive and kicking, Detective Swain.”Because the absolute bastard Benedict Swain was standing in front of her.“I’ve got to say, death has been very kind to you.”
“Are you fucking joking right now?”
“Why are people always asking me that?No, I’m not joking.Death was kind.But I can promise you, that kindness will not last much longer.”A sad shake of her head that sent some nausea flooding through her.What had been in that needle?“You’re about to meet hell.”
He laughed in her face.
Sort of the reaction she’d expected, but, still, annoying.“Do you think I won’t be found?”
The laughter lingered in the air, his amusement so very heavy.Stifling.“Who’s gonna find you?”A smirk.“Your Fed ex?You think FBI Special Agent Gage Emerick is going to rush to the rescue and be your big hero?”
She didn’t want a hero.
“Forget it.That dumbass is probably on his way down to New Orleans.Besides, you and I both know he couldn’t find his own asshole with a flashlight.”More laughter.“He always used you for the hard work.I did my research.I know just how useless he is.”
“The man can at least find his own asshole.With or without a flashlight.”She shifted in the wooden chair as she tried to take stock of her surroundings.Her hands were cuffed behind her.The cold metal dug into her wrists.“You’re underestimating him.”
“No, I’m just anticipating his moves.You told Gage that my next vics would be either Hatch Davis or Westin Blanchard.”The smug smirk lingered on his lips.“He always follows what you say.Westin is the one with the history of violence, so that means the Fed will figure I am going after him.Gage likes glory, so he’ll probably want to swoop down to the Big Easy and try to catch me himself.”One hand grabbed her shoulder as he leaned forward and put his mouth to her ear.“But I’m not there.”
“Obviously.”She didn’t let any emotion enter her voice.“How do you know what I told him?”
“I still have a lot of access to police info.Back doors in, if you will.Plenty of chatter went down when Gage was trying to get protection for the vics he thought would be hit next.”
“Are you really going to tell me that I was wrong?That youdon’tintend to kill Hatch and Westin?”Where was she?Her gaze darted around.There were fishing poles on the walls.Wooden walls.Faded furniture.A little kitchen to the right.“Are we in yet another cabin?Just how are you finding these places?”
He released her and straightened to his full height as he glared down at her.She knew he wanted her to be afraid.Too bad for him.She was far too angry to be afraid.
“This was my father’s place,” he snapped at her.“Even has a beautiful fucking lake not too far away.Not that I ever got to see it, not while I was growing up.I didn’t exactly fit into my old man’s life.”His eyes glinted.“That lake is gonna be your final resting place.No one will ever find you.Atlas Bennett will spend the rest of his days searching for you.Think that will rip him apart?”
“I doubt it.Atlas doesn’t love me so I don’t see why he would be ripped apart by my absence.”
Her calm words and certain tone had him blinking…and backing up another step.A holster rested on his hip.A gun inside that holster.She was sure he must have a knife on him, too.
The better to carve me open?She was getting away.She wouldnotgo out screaming in agony with this sonofabitch.
But he was blinking at her now.Confusion had appeared on his face.
“Is that why you took me?”Lily asked him, voice polite.Curious.“Because you thought it would hurt Atlas?”Her lips tightened.“If so, that annoys me.I’m more than some tool to be used to hurt a man.”
“You’re afuckingkiller!Just like your mother!”The smirk was gone.The confusion gone.Spittle flew from his mouth.
Oh, yes, that’s the way.Put that DNA everywhere.“What on earth makes you think that?I research killers, I?—”
“You fuck them, Lily.”His breath huffed out.“You think I don’t know what you did with Atlas?You moved in with him right away.I wasn’t even cold in the ground!”
“Hate to point out the obvious, but you are not in the ground.Also, we weren’t involved, so I could do whatever I wanted.By the way, IwantedAtlas.”
“And I wanted to be wrong about you!Ilikedyou.”
“Did you?”She wasn’t so sure about that.
