Page 46 of XO Karma

“Shh, shh, shh!” I dart my eyes around. “Lower your voice.”

“Why? Is it a secret?” A secret? The hell is she on about? My eyes snag on the service door on the far side of the room where the waiters emerged. I head towards it, tugging her behind me. “Where are you taking me?”

An older man eyes us, gaze dropping to my hold on her, so I slow my pace to avoid drawing too much attention and pull her beside me, my lips finding her ear. “You want answers? Not another word.” A moment later we’re through the door, rushing along a dimly lit corridor. She yanks her arm away, and we halt in place. Glancing both ways down the long hallway, I ensure we’re alone. “Why do you think I’m the Kodak Killer?”

She blinks, brows pulled tight. She blinks again. On the third blink, I’m veering towards annoyance. “I mean, aren’t you?”

“No?!” I’ve been accused of a lot of things in my life, but being an infamous serial killer isn’t one of them. In fact, I’ve worked extremely hard to ensure my name is clear of such claims. I do suppose the darkroom is a bit suspicious given the Kodak Killer’s M.O., but I digress.

“And why should I believe you?” She folds her arms over her chest. “You kill⁠—”

“Let’s back up.” I hold out a hand. “Is that why you started stalking me?” She bites her cheek. “Lily, why did you start stalking me?”

She narrows her eyes, slowly reaching out and pressing my hand downward. “I had a hunch.”

“That’s bull. You partake in plenty of suspicious activities yourself. Or is igniting bags of crap on someone’s doorstep a typical Tuesday night?”

“I knew someone was watching me!” She presses her hands against my chest, shoving me away, and I stumble.

“Like I said before you carved me up, you’re not the only one who does recon.”

“Well, that’s none of your business.”

“I just find it a bit hypocritical you’re judging me when you clearly have your fair share of illegal extracurriculars.”

She laughs, but it lacks humor. “The only thing I’m doing is what karma already should have.”

Karma… my fingers wander to my neck and trace the brand, and the realization strikes me like a bolt of lightning. Maybe I am the biggest idiot in the world because how did I not realize this earlier? Anxiety thrums through my veins. She’s Karma. The Karma. The anonymous website that gives citizens the chance to pay for revenge. “Did someone give you a tip about me?” She purses her lips, unwilling to reply. I rush forward, and she stumbles away until her back slams against the wall, a breath expelling from her lungs. “Lily. Tell me the truth.”

She scowls in defiance as I tower over her. “Why should I tell you anything?”

“Because.” I cage her in, placing a hand on each side of her. “If someone had you target me, we both have a serious fucking problem.”

Her brows draw together. “Why?”

I’ve made my fair share of enemies. But most of them are buried in my past or in the ground, and that’s exactly where they need to stay.

16

LILY

“Aster.” His body towers over me, a magnetic energy swarming between us, siphoning all my oxygen. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Someone wanted you to investigate me, didn’t they? That’s why you were watching me from the tree that first night?”

A snorted laugh of disbelief escapes me. “I can assure you, what I was doing in that tree had absolutely nothing to do with you.”

“So, you’re telling me we met by pure coincidence?” he scoffs, and my mind whirls.

“Is that so hard to believe?” Is someone else onto him too? Is that why he’s so paranoid?

“Even if that’s true, then why did you start stalking me?” he asks, and I open my mouth, but he cuts me off. “The truth.”

My eyes search his, forest green and so soft, like they have all the answers. We’re not going to get anywhere if we keep lying to each other. One way or another, I need to know tonight. “Because I’m trying to find the Kodak Killer.”

“Well, I could have saved you the trip. I’m not him.”

“Says you.”