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Splashing water on my face, I pulled myself together and tried to organize my spinning head. First, I had to call Hendrix and then I needed to pack a bag. Most of my stuff would have to be left behind. I had no idea where I would go but after I helped Hendrix take down Ty, his family and his men would be after me.
It killed me to think of Daniel, Heavy, Pasquale, Artie, and the others suffering the shock of my betrayal — but hadn’t they betrayed me? This morning I’d woken up, certain that they all knew that Ty had killed my mother and that’s why they’d been confused by how he acted around me.
I bet that wasn’t in the plan.
Back in the bedroom, I avoided looking at the rumpled blankets and sheets on the bed and instead found my bag. Tucked at the bottom was the burner and I flipped it open, relieved to see that it still had half its battery. Plugging it in by the window, I sat down on the floor and listened to it ring.
Finally, Hendrix’s voice came down the line, and a shiver slivered down my spine.
“Lia,” he drawled. “How are you this morning?”
This guy could smile and act pleasant all he wanted, but I could see the emptiness and cruelty hungrily seeking release from under his skin. I didn't think for one second that he wouldn't want to get his claws into me as Ty had.
I had to get him to trust me, to make him think I wasn’t going to run from Boston.
“I’m fine, thank you,” I said and swallowed hard. “I did as you said. Ty doesn’t… He doesn’t suspect anything. I still have his full trust.”
“Good girl,” Hendrix said, and bile bubbled in my throat. “I’ve been putting things into motion. But if you want revenge, I’m not sure there’s a civil way to deal with this.”
“You mean prison?” I asked and my heartbeat quickened. I’d thought that all I had to do was track down the information and Hendrix would get it to the right people; that Ty would rot away forever. “Why won’t that work?”
Even as I asked, I wondered if I could go on knowing that my mother’s killer was out there alive and if anyone could break him out.
“Yeah, nothing legal, let’s say,” Hendrix said. “It’s one thing if a cop like Mickey Weiss – with years on the force – presents all this evidence. Another mobster or even a leak online may not be enough. And it would take time ? time that Michaelson will use to track you down and kill you.”
My mouth went dry. I hadn’t thought of Ty killing me since he’d brought me here but it came roaring back now. It had been one of the first things I’d asked him.
God, what was wrong with me?
“So, what do I do?”
Hendrix laughed down the line. “You kill him, of course.”
Blood swelled in my ears and I almost dropped the phone. At last, my eyes settled on the bed. Memories of Ty twisted through me and I shut my eyes, wishing there was another way out.
But Hendrix was right.
And he knew it, since he continued a moment later, “We’ll make his death look like a suicide; just like he did to your mom.” He paused. “I can do it for you if it’s too tough for you. I mean, I doubt you’ve ever killed someone before, Lia, never mind the man you’re sleeping with.”
I recoiled. So, Hendrix had known. I wondered why he’d decided to show his hand now. Was he trying to help me get over any second thoughts or to piss me off?
“I’ll do it myself,” I said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I said. “I said I’ll do it myself and I will. I just need to wait for the right moment.”
I thought I could hear the grin in Hendrix’s voice as he said, “I’ll get you a gun.”
“Are you ready?”
I jumped at Ty’s voice and turned, my breath catching at how handsome he looked. He was just like the beautiful man who’d prowled towards me in the club, wearing a suit to kill, with a golden sheen to his skin and that same, electric intensity in his eyes.
Now, he smiled as he looked me over and spoke before I could answer. “I don’t think so. Here, turn around.”
Turning back to the mirror, I almost didn’t recognize myself. I was wearing a soft, pale golden gown with a hint of silver sparkleand my hair was pinned up while my makeup was light but with a wicked cat-eye to spice it up.
Suddenly, Ty’s big hands were at my throat and I jolted in a brief panic that he knew, that he was going to kill me—
