Page 159 of XO Karma

“What? Did you fall into the middle of an illegal art ring?” I scoff, and she and Jackson share a look. One of my earlier theories comes to mind. “How could it be that bad? I don’t understand.”

“Lil.” She takes my hands. “The details don’t matter.”

“Details are everything!” I rip out of her hold. “I thought you were dead!”

“I know,” she says, eyes dropping to the floor. “It was the only way.”

“What was?” I throw my hands in the air. “You’re not making any sense.”

“The deal I made with Jude… what I had to do in return required faking my death. I needed to remain anonymous. No one’s looking for a dead girl.”

I drag my hands through my hair, hoping it can ease my aching brain. “Why can’t you just leave?” I ask, and she glances at Jackson again. “Would you stop fucking looking at each other and having all these silent conversations? I’m. Right. Here!”

“Jude said if I ever left, he’d take you to replace me,” Violet admits, and I suck in a breath.

“Me?” I scoff. “Why me?”

The corner of her lip quirks upwards. “Do you really think no one in this city has figured out you’re Karma?”

My heart stops. She knows I’m Karma? He knows? “Jude knows?” She nods. “How long? How the hell does he know?” Memories of running into Jackson outside the masquerade party flash before me. My eyes meet his. “How do you know?”

“Liam told me earlier this year.” Liam?! Is no one trustworthy? “I was intrigued by the whole idea, and he was worried I’d go looking into it.”

“But you never said anything.”

He shrugs. “I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.”

Anger thrums through my veins. “Well, clearly my radar was right not to because you went and told Jude?!”

“He has eyes everywhere.” His face drains of color. “Then he asked me point blank a few months ago and told me if I lied, he’d put a bullet in your head. I couldn’t risk it.”

“So he knew the entire time,” I say, eyes wide. “Anything else I should know?”

“We…” Jackson shares a look with Violet. “We may have tricked Aster into thinking you were dead.”

“What?!” I shout. “Why the fuck would you do that? Do you even understand what you’ve done?” Aster is going to kill them. He’s going to kill all of them.

“We thought if we could get him to Jude’s… he might be able to take Violet’s place.”

“Place as what?!” Fury flows through me, and I shove Jackson. “You sold him out! He trusted you!”

“I was trying to protect Violet,” he argues. “Help her find a way out.”

“In exchange for Aster?” My voice cracks, eyes wandering to Violet’s, and I can’t express the overwhelming gratitude that she’s alive. But there’s an all-consuming ache at the thought of me getting her back at the expense of him. He said I’m the love of his life.

Turns out he’s mine.

“Screw you!” I shout at Jackson. “I understand, partially, all the theatrics and how dangerous Jude is. I understand you were trying to protect yourself,” I tell Violet. “But why not just go to the cops?”

“In case you haven’t been able to tell, the Westerfords own this city,” Violet says.

“Do they own you?” I ask, and neither of them deny it. “That’s what I thought.” I pace the room, sick of the runaround. “Stop the bullshit.” My eyes meet Violet’s. “What were you doing for Jude? What job did he need you to replace?”

“Last year…” Violet sighs. “I got a tip about a hitman in Cleosville… so I took him out.” I freeze in place, my skin buzzing.

“What do you mean you ‘took him out?’” I ask, using air quotes.

She gnaws on her lip. “I killed him.”