I climbed out of the truck and walked in the opposite direction. Down the street, I slipped into the shadows and climbed a fence of a neighbor’s property. I knew where every security camera in the area was, and I followed the path through the blind spots to avoid detection.
Seconds later, I slipped over a fence and into Goodyear’s yard. Ahead was a patch of pristine green lawn and the edge of a gleaming blue swimming pool. I waited under the shadows of a large palm tree and checked my watch. Thirty seconds later, one of the guards appeared on the long outdoor terrace. He lazily scanned the pool, then turned a corner and disappeared again.
Moving quickly, I crossed the grass and moved onto the terrace. The house was all modern angles, glass, and gleaming tile. At the glass door that led into the laundry area, I pulled out my lockpick. It popped open ridiculously fast and then I was inside.
I moved steadily. I’d memorized the layout of the house months ago. Like the outside, it was glossy and fancy inside, with sleek furniture that looked uncomfortable, and lots of art on the walls. I took the sweeping curve of stairs to the upper level.
Goodyear’s bedroom was at the end of the long hall. His wife had the adjoining room. I didn’t blame her for not wanting to share a bed with the asshole, but I blamed her for staying with a man she knew was a sorry excuse for a human being.
I nudged the large, double doors open.
The bed was huge, with a giant headboard and black covers, and a chandelier overhead.
I went straight to the bathroom and shook my head. Goodyear decorated in gaudy. Like he thought the more he added to his décor, the more people would be amazed at how rich he was. There was no hint of subtlety in the floor-to-ceilingdark marble, another crystal chandelier, and gold accents on the walls. The large tub also had gold accents.
I went straight to the huge rectangular mirror framed in gold. I was already wearing gloves. I grabbed some soap and wrote a message on the mirror.
I know what you are.
Your time is running out.
For Brent Green, Austin Ramirez, August Zillman, and Jason Quinn.
I stared at my old name for a second.
And for Lili Armstrong. This was for her as well, but I didn’t want Goodyear any more focused on her than he already was.
I grabbed a cloth and carefully cleaned the soap off. But I knew that next time he showered, and the mirror steamed up, he’d see my message.
Back in the bedroom, I walked over to the huge bed. I knew he slept on the left side, where a phone charger and alarm clock sat.
I pulled out one of my knives. I already knew it was clean, with no fingerprints or DNA on it. Then I stabbed it into the center of Goodyear’s pillow.
It wasn’t enough.
For months, I’d been toying with him. But for touching Lili, more than once, for terrifying her, and being prepared to fucking ruin her life, I was done.
Goodyear was going to die.
Finally, I’d get revenge for my friends.
And set Lili free.
It would be so easy just to wait here. To be here when he stumbled back in, and end it with a slash of my knife.
Not yet.
But soon.
I slipped out the way I’d come. By the time I got back to my truck, I was ready to get back to Lili.
Fuck, seeing her so out of it tonight and the worry of knowing she had drugs surging through her had nearly pushed me over the edge. Now, I just needed to see her. To see her face, to see the steady rise and fall of her chest.
When I got back to my villa, only Georgie and Nash were there. I saw a flash of relief in Nash’s face as I walked in and put my keys down.
“Okay?” he asked.
I lifted my chin. “How’s Lili?”
