Page 147 of XO Karma

“No.” Jackson tilts his head. “The Kodak Killer.”

“That’s not possible.” Is it?

In a split second, our entire relationship flashes before my eyes. Every accidental run-in that didn’t feel so accidental. The mysterious gifts that would appear either right before or after seeing him. His obsession with me that began long before we officially met. Even our so-called heart to heart last night. Was it all bullshit? Manipulation so I’d trust him?

This can’t be true.

“Aster fooled you,” Jax says like a slap to the face. “He fooled everyone.”

“No.” I shake my head, unwilling to believe it. The man that I know, that I love, he wouldn’t have lied to me. “I don’t believe this. You said yourself he’s a good guy.”

“I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong. Are you?”

Irritation buzzes through me. “I’m never above admitting that, but you are wrong about this.” Things don’t add up. Aster and I were even together during a Kodak kill. Could he have had a partner? He did have a contact he was cagey about. Was it all an elaborate deception? “I refuse to believe it.”

“Lily!” Jackson shouts, and I flinch. “What more evidence do you need? What kind of sicko sends gifts and calls you just to mess with you?” My head rears back. I blink. I blink again. “That’s insanity. How can you not see that?!” I step away. “Lil?” His voice shakes, tone unsteady.

“How did you know about the gifts?” I ask, my tone far calmer than I feel inside.

“Oh.” A beat passes between us. “Liam told me.” I try to silence the alarm bells. That makes sense. Liam might have told him that.

My mind races. Calls you just to mess with you…

The only person I told about the calls was Aster. I pull out my burner, and Jackson’s eyes drop to it. “What are you doing?” He snatches it from me before I can even press a single button.

“Give that back,” I shriek.

“You have no clue what’s going on here.” Jackson’s tone is sharp. “What you’re dealing with.”

There’s only one way Jackson would know about the calls. My body floods with rage, and I shove him. “It was you!” He stumbles as my mind spins on overdrive.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

I release a steady breath. “I never told Liam about the calls.”

“You must have.” His jaw ticks.

“No.” I take a step away from him. “I didn’t.” I reach for my dagger, but it’s not there. Damn it. It’s somewhere in Aster’s bedroom.

Aster.

Oh my god. Is Jackson framing him as the Kodak Killer? I need to get out of here. And go where? I have no clue. Should I tell Liam? Would he believe me after all the secrets I’ve kept?

I retreat another step, and Jackson says, “Lil, I can explain.”

“Explain?!” I screech, tears pricking my vision once more. “Are you the Kodak Killer? Did you—did you kill Violet?!”

“Just listen to me,” he says, ignoring my questions. Then again, I guess I should know better than to ask a man two questions at once. “What happened with Violet was necessary.”

Panic consumes me at his confession as I realize I’m in serious danger. I bolt towards the kitchen, his footsteps booming behind me, but not quick enough. Grabbing the kitchen knife Aster left on the counter, I point it towards Jackson to hold space between us.

“What the fuck?!”

“You killed Violet!” Tears burn my eyes once more. I’m so sick of the tears. “Why?”

“Violet’s death.” He shakes his head. “It was the only way.”

“The only way for what?”