“Hold her still.”
Tamara screams and tries to scramble away, but Barrett is fast and strong and pins her wrists to the floor easily as she kicks.
Holding out my favourite killing blade, I offer the handle to my ex-husband.
“Go for the throat. A clean slice from one side of her neck to the other.” I bob my head down to Tamara, who is still screaming through her sobs. “That’ll shut her up and kill her quickly.”
I expect Alex to hesitate, but he doesn’t, reaching out to take my knife.
As he turns to face his wife, I pull my gun, ready to shoot him dead if he tries anything on me or Barrett, and watch as he kneels next to his wife as she tries to flail.
“No! Alexander, please! I love you!” she begs. “I don’t care about the money, I swear!”
Kneeling next to Alexander, I use my free hand to wrap around his and guide it to her throat.
“That’s it,” I say next to his ear. “Nice and slow.” Together, we press the blade to her skin and hold it there. “Last chance to back out,” I say, but he shakes his head.
“This is the easiest decision I’ve ever had to make,” he admits before directing his next words to his wife. “No more using Melanie against me. No more brainwashing her and making her think her brothers don’t want to meet her. No more of your manipulations.”
It’s then that I feel him press the blade into her skin, and Ikeep mine there over his, guiding him through the slice as blood gushes out, Tamara’s cries turning to gurgles.
Their precious white carpet is now red, as too are Alex’s clothes.
When I know the job is done, I tug Alex’s hand back, drawing the knife away, and Barrett releases his hold on Tamara’s arms as they go lax against the carpet.
“Be right back,” Barrett mutters, leaving the room as I slowly pry Alexander’s trembling fingers from around the hilt.
Still kneeling, Alex just stares at his wife, her life source gushing out like a river into their carpet.
“It’s really been you…” he whispers. “All this time?”
When his gaze flicks to me, I nod, waiting for him to lose it, but it never comes.
When he goes to stand, I stop him.
“Stay right there.” I point to the pool of blood. “If you track the blood around the house, the detectives will know it was you.”
Barrett returns then, plastic coveralls in one hand, and a large clear bag in the other. He passes me the clear bag, and I slip my knife into it before sealing it shut.
“Why are you doing that?” Alex asks, and I shrug, like it’s no big deal.
“If you try to fuck me over, then I have the evidence right here.” I hold up the bag, which is when he must realise how he fucked up.
I’m wearing gloves and he isn’t. Hell, even Barrett has gloves on.
“So youaregoing to turn me in for this?” he chokes out, and I shake my head.
“Not unless you fuck me and my family over. You need to say you came in and found her this way.”
His brows hitch, looking down at the blood coating his hands.
“But I’m covered in her blood.”
“Slowly stand and step back,” Barrett mutters, and Alex looks behind him to see a plastic sheet Barrett has laid out behind him. “Take your clothes off on this.”
In a dazed state, Alex does as he’s told, and I watch as Barrett helps him out of every bit of clothing, wiping as much blood off his skin as possible.
As Barrett helps him dress into the coveralls, I swipe up some of Tamara’s blood on my gloved finger and get started on my artwork, painting the wings with the halo above it.
