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Little did Samantha know that Lila said she had one plan—ruin Aaron—when the plan really was to kill him. Ruin him, giving him no opportunity to launch a defense.
Aaron, being the piece of garbage he was, had made Samantha feel loved and special. He built up her confidence, convinced her she needed him, had sex with her, then found someone new.
Lila now understood that was his go-to play with the students. Separate them from their family and friends, lavish praise, offer them grades they didn’t earn, conquer, then run away. It was a sick spin on enjoying the chase and getting bored as soon as he got what he wanted.
Samantha had said she thought others didn’t turn Aaron in because they got what they needed—entrance into schools they didn’t quite qualify for. Glowing recommendations and raised grade point averages. But Samantha was different. She’d thought she and Aaron had something real, and she didn’t appreciate being dumped.
Lila capitalized on those hurt feelings. She knew, deep down, using Samantha for her own ends made her as shitty as Aaron. She had to hope that Samantha would come to see herself as a survivor... or that’s what Lila told herself during the countless hours she stared at the ceiling of her bedroom, unable to sleep.
“That’s what this meeting is about? You’re not gettingenough of the spotlight.” Lila had feared that would be an issue, since Samantha seemed to crave attention.
“I could ask you the same kind of questions. Is your decision to act like the hapless wife who had no choice but to off her husband real or is it payback for our affair?”
The word—“affair.” So out of place in this situation. “You didn’t have a relationship with Aaron. He used you. He groomed you. He had sex with you, scored the point, then moved on.”
Samantha smiled. “You’re jealous.”
She didn’t get it. How could she not get it? “Do you know what separates you from Karen Blue, the woman everyone is saying he killed?”
“Please share,” Samantha shot back in a sarcastic tone.
“Almost nothing.” Lila felt conflicted and frustrated, furious and disappointed. She aimed all of that at Aaron. He was the cause of this mess and pain. She didn’t understand how Samantha could see what had happened any other way. “You survived. That’s it. You were lucky to get away from him, and she wasn’t.”
“We both know that’s crap.” Samantha shifted in her chair. “Your boyfriend set Aaron up. He’s not a killer.”
“Come on, Samantha. You’re smarter than this.”
“You would say anything to—”
“Listen to the news. There was a press conference just a few hours ago.” Lila could hear the exasperation in her voice as her patience expired. “Aaron secretly owned the cabin he used as his killing ground. The police found his DNA on her.”
The amusement drained from Samantha’s face. For a few seconds, she sat there. Lila hoped that meant she’d cut through the spurned teen romantic and wannabe star to the truth.
But then Samantha whispered, “So you’re both killers.”
The waitress picked that minute to return. She filled both of the coffee mugs and put two glasses of water and menus on the table. This time she glanced at both Lila and Samantha. Her gaze lingered as if she’d realized she had pseudo-celebrities of sorts at her table.
“Thanks,” Lila mumbled then sighed in relief when the waitress scurried away.
“The plan was to incriminate him and then let me step into the spotlight and confirm it all.” Samantha wrapped her hands around the mug as she relaxed in her seat. “But you killed him instead.”
“I didn’t kill him.”
“I guess I’m just supposed to believe you.” Samantha shook her head. “How did he get to this cabin?”
“I have no idea.” Lila exhaled and decided to go for it. “A part of me hoped you’d done it, because at least that would explain it.”
“Don’t blame me for your mess.”
“The point is you were not his girlfriend.” Lila needed Samantha to hear that part. To get angry for being used and then get help, if she needed it. “You were one of his victims. I don’t hate you or want to take your spotlight. I want you torealize that you deserve to be treated better. That what he did was sick and wrong and you get to be upset about that.”
“Don’t tell me how to feel.” Samantha let go of her mug and leaned in closer. “I went into that relationship wanting it and wanting him.”
The words should have hurt. Should have sliced and cut through her, but Lila felt nothing but sadness for Samantha and her mistaken belief that Aaron cared about anyone but himself. “And it was his job not to touch you. Ever.”
“He said he was pretty unhappy at home.” Samantha shrugged. “I guess you were, too, since you had that hot professor guy.”
Lila refused to talk or think about Ryan. “I found you on your campus that day because I was worried about you.”
