Page 123 of Coveted By Cupid

Her nostrils flare. “Fake? You’re going to wish it was. Boyfriend dearest has been scouting the campus for the Black Market Railroad with me.”

My mouth drops. Of all the things Riley could have revealed, never would I have guessed that the two of them were luring women into sex trafficking. To think I once cared for this guy, slept with him while I was none the wiser.

Carefully pulling away from his embrace, I stare at Boden like I’ve never seen him before. My acting skills are no longer needed—I am truly floored.

“Is it true?” I ask him, bewildered.

Boden opens his mouth, but Riley cuts him off before he can speak.

“It’s all true,” Riley says in a singsong voice. “That’s not even half of it.”

Boden slams his fist into the metal medical cabinet next to us, a bang echoing through the room. “Shut your fucking mouth, you bitch!”

Jesus Christ! It’s true.

My arms cradle around my midsection, sick to my stomach with this revelation. My mouth moves, but no sound comes out.

“He sold you out to our boss when you refused to take him back. That’s why you were attacked on the road that night. You were going to be used by our men until you learned the only place you belonged was with him.”

All the sound around me turns to static—my ears ringing with the truth.

Oh…my God.

Boden drops to his knees in front of me, already begging for forgiveness without asking for it. “Vanessa Baby, don’t listen to her. She lies. It’s all lies!”

I step back, inching around the other side of the mortuary table, creating as much distance as possible between me and the monster.

“Vanessa,” Boden says, reaching out for me. “None of it matters. We’re back together. We’re going to be happy.”

My lips tremble, horrified beyond words. Subconsciously, I shake my head.

Seeing he’s lost me, at least again in his eyes, he whirls to his feet to face Riley. “You fucking cunt! You poisoned her against me.”

“You did it yourself,” Riley shouts back with as much fury in her voice as he gives.

“I’LL KILL YOU!” Boden charges at his partner in crime, shoving her up against the far wall with his free hand around her throat.

With Riley struggling with Boden and his back to us, I quickly remove the bungees strapping Romy down. She sits upright on the table, yanking the gag out of her mouth with her bound hands. I run around to the foot of the table, untying the bonds around her ankles. Romy can run with her wrists restrained, but she needs her feet free.

Working as fast as I can, I try but cannot push out the sounds of slapping, choking, and Boden’s cursing behind me. I can’t let fear stop me from escaping with Romy.

As soon as the rope around Romy’s ankles comes free, she jumps off the table, grabs my hand with her bound ones, and we’re running. We sprint down the corridor, looking over our shoulders once to make sure no one follows. My heart is pounding in my throat, as I’m sure Romy’s is.

At the end of the hallway near the elevator, Romy rams her tiny body against a steel door. It flies open, revealing a staircase. I follow on her heels, racing upstairs as fast as I can.

We shove through another steel door at the top, practically stumbling over each other when we reach the main level of the funeral home. We’re sprinting for the front door when a single gunshot rings out.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

CUPID

I’ve just parked my bike outside when I hear the faint sound of a gunshot.

The air stalls in my lungs. No, no, no, no, no!

Out of my mind with worry, I sprint up the porch steps, ramming my shoulder into the old Victorian door. The door gives way, crashing loudly on the ground, followed by screams of panic.

My eyes land on Vanessa and Romy, huddled on the floor. They’re wrapped around each other with their heads buried into each other’s shoulder like they’re bracing themselves for some fresh horrors.