Page 94 of XO Karma

He huffs a laugh over the brim of his mug. “I need an explanation to paint?”

“I’ve just never seen so many in one room before… seems like there’s a story somewhere in there.”

“I’ll give you a hint,” he says, picking one up. “There’s one hundred and eight of them.”

I blink. I blink again. “One for each of your victims.” He angles a gnome holding a plate of hot dogs towards me and taps his fingers on a small roman numeral: XLV. Forty-five. “You number them?”

“It’s how I keep track.”

“Of all the people you’ve killed?” I repeat in disbelief.

“Yep.” He returns the cute figurine to the shelf as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.

My eyes bounce around at the adorable, morbid little trophies. “That is certifiably insane.”

“Luckily, I’ve never been tested,” he says, with a wink, grabbing the hem of my shirt and tugging me towards him, eyes wandering my body. “You know, I was going to recommend we go through evidence today, but seeing you wear my clothes has me a bit distracted.”

“I’d take them off, but I fear that would only amplify the problem.”

“Then maybe we should get that out of the way first.” He leans in, capturing me in an intoxicating kiss, and for the second time, I end up in Aster Blake’s bed, sans clothes.

I’m freshly showered. Freshly fucked. And ready to solve this goddamn mystery.

I assess Aster’s murder board, truly taking it in without rushing. There are at least twenty suspects, and my gaze snags on a familiar face, heart stopping. “Why the hell is there a photo of my brother on here?”

“These are just suspects, babe,” he says, and I try and fail to ignore how easily the pet name rolls off his tongue and how much I like it.

“Okay…” I walk closer to read a paper pinned near Liam’s picture with our license plate written on it. “And why is he suspected?”

“Well, firstly, I added him because I thought he was stalking me.”

“Yes, but you know now it was me investigating you. So can’t we take him off?”

“He’s also the detective most often on the cases for the Kodak Killer.”

“And you’re the journalist most often writing the articles for the Kodak Killer,” I point out with a cocked brow.

He narrows his eyes on me. “Which is why you suspected me, is it not?” I huff a sigh. “Exactly.” He turns back to the board. “Liam also doesn’t like me… or reporters generally, for that matter.”

I scoff. “So you suspect him because he doesn’t kiss your ass like everyone else does?”

“Hey.” His eyes narrow. “Why so hostile, baby?”

“Maybe because my brother is on your murder board?”

“We have to consider all possible suspects so we can weed out the innocents.” He takes a few new photos, pinning them to the wall. They include Jude and Isla Westerford and Frederick Vetrel.

“Vetrel is dead, or have you forgotten?”

“Which is why I’m adding him. He is—was—a super sketchy guy. If there’s not another victim soon, it’s possible it was him.” He points to the Westerfords. “I think this is self-explanatory. The last victim died at their house.”

“Yeah, but they were in the auction room when we left.”

“Just being thorough. In the Blake household, you’re guilty until proven innocent.”

“Do you at least make sure people are guilty before you kill them?” I ask, brow cocked.

He glances at me. “Of course. Either I vet them or my associate does.”