Page 100 of XO Karma

His mouth falls open. “Are you serious? When the hell did you start hurting people? What happened to the hands-off approach?”

Aster must be rubbing off on me because the next words out of my mouth are, “Some people require more than that. Vetrel certainly did. Looks like someone else felt the same way.”

“That sounds an awful lot like motive.”

“I didn’t kill him.” But I know who did.

“Do you know who did?” Yes.

“No, of course not.” Guilt settles in my chest at how easy it is to lie. But for some insane reason, I want to protect Aster. And I do truly believe the world is better without Frederick Vetrel in it.

So if my brother wants to figure out who killed him, it certainly won’t be with my help.

“I really hope you’re telling me the truth,” Liam growls before stalking down the stairs, then slamming the front door after him.

“Okay, then,” I mutter to myself, returning to my place on the bed. My cell phone rings, and I sigh. Who the hell needs something now? Picking it up, I note Unknown on the caller ID.

I’m getting whiplash. My hot killer boyfriend left me a dress, my brother’s accusing me of a murder, and now this fucking guy?

“What?” I say after pressing accept.

“Well, that’s not a very nice way to greet someone trying to help you,” they say in that deep digitized voice.

“Help me? I was almost caught witnessing a murder because of you!”

“And what makes you think that wasn’t intentional?”

I freeze. Time stands still. It was… planned? “What?” I whisper.

“I thought you’d have figured it out by now.”

“Well, if you’re so interested in helping, maybe you’d care to give me a hint?”

A heavy sigh comes through. “I heard you’re attending the Westerfords’ gala tomorrow night. Guess I know why you wanted the schedule.”

“What can I say? They throw a good party.”

“Be careful.”

“Why do you care?” A silence falls between us. “Who are you?”

“You’re not asking the right questions.”

I rack my brain. “Will you be at the event tomorrow?” More silence. “If you really give a shit about helping, I need you to give me something.”

“I wonder how hard it is to get a bloodstain out of a Persian rug,” they say, and the line goes dead. Cleaning? That’s what they have for me?!

I’m never going to find the Kodak Killer.

31

ASTER

Lily opens the front door, and my heart stops. She’s even more stunning than I thought possible. The dress hugs her perfectly, emphasizing her cleavage in a way that ensures all I can think about is burying my face in it. Her hair is in loose waves, and I can’t wait to wrap it around my hand later.

I told Lily the gift was selfish, and it was, but I also may have inflicted my own torment for the rest of the night.

“You’re…” I struggle for words as she closes the door behind her. “Wow.”