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Without me, Noah won’t be able to open the old case and build a whole new one where the Four Dark Horsemen get punished for what they do. That’s what this is about? “You want me to keep my mouth shut.” To defuse the situation, he needs me to act all cheery and dandy so he can’t lock me up in this dungeon. “Play along to your plan.”
“No, kitten. That ship sailed the minute you called him. You’ll be obliged by law to testify.” I try to see what he’s getting at. “Besides, the fire burning in your soul must wish to destroy me. The righteous part of you that didn’t even hesitate to betray me minutes after I claimed you as mine.” I wish for the floor to open up and swallow me as he shares such intimate details in front of his friends.
But more so…
I can’t help but react to the odd hurt evident in every word he speaks, as if I’m the bad guy for doing what’s right instead of him, who kills people for his own amusement.
Betrayed him? He gave me no choice. How could I not call Noah? What sane person wouldn’t?
Yet the discomfort washes over me. The delusional me that still feels emotions toward this man who can’t die just because I found out the truth cries out to him, wanting to soothe the pain I caused him. I rein the emotions in, refusing to focus on them or give them any power.
Murderers don’t deserve pity.
Except psychotic murderers are cold and cruel creatures who destroy everything they touch, ignorant to the suffering of others.
The Four Dark Horsemen, though…they don’t fit that description, and that nags on my mind, urging me to come to a different conclusion.
That’s the human psyche, though. When we hurt, we do our best to justify all the bad deeds happening in order to find peace within our soul. I have no such privileges because I operate on facts, not emotions.
Facts are simple and to the point.
“Isla.” He says my name, snapping me out of my thoughts, and by the way everyone stares at me, I realize I must have missed what he said.
“What do you want, then? You can’t kill me, but you can’t keep me hidden from Noah either. It will raise questions.” His only option is to let me go, and we both know that’s a huge risk. “Are you going to blackmail me to get what you want?” I roll my shoulders back. “You will use my sick grandmother or Giselle to make me play along in your little game until you can kill me?” I’ve never been close to my paternal grandmother, who disliked Mom on most days, but she took me in when everyone else died. We connected on mutual pain, and when she got admitted into a home after getting sick, I was devastated but always found money to pay her bills. We sometimes chat when she has her memories back, but the calls have been less frequent in the past year. Still, I’m paying the bills for her stay every single month. “I’m not a damsel in distress, Octavius.” His eyes darken at this, and I slap at his hand again, finally freeing myself and rubbing my scalp. “I know the drill and have no illusions.” A hollow chuckle escapes me. “You must get in line, though. One serial killer already needs to kill me to finish his job. Maybe you two can chat and hash out who gets to kill me first.”
“You have a very vivid imagination, kitten. I blame it on your childhood.” He catches my chin. “There’s an easier solution to fixing the chaos you caused.”
“I haven’t caused anything. It’s you who lives a double life!” I scream at him and sweep my gaze over all of them while the men continue to guzzle their drinks, unbothered by it all. “You’re all psychos!”
“There is no need to be rude, Isla.” Florian wiggles his fingers at me. “My family has been nice to you, and this is how you repay me?” He shakes his head. “Kindness brings humankind nowhere.”
“Shut up!” I tell him, and Santiago winks at me while Remi salutes me with his whiskey, but it’s Octavius's bitter laughter that brings my attention back to him while hatred along with desire mix inside me, growing into an ugly and all-consuming emotion that signals my madness. “You’re despicable, Octavius.” I move closer to one of the tables, ready to snag a gun to defend myself.
In my fairy tale, no prince will come and save me, so it’s my job to take care of myself. I won’t be able to forgive myself for believing he was the man for the job.
And he won’t hurt Giselle anyway, Callum won’t let him, and I don’t even bother thinking about how he’s probably a serial killer too, which would explain all the weird shit happening with them over the past couple of months. If my best friend continues to live with him knowing the truth, then there is no way he kills innocent people and…
My mind comes to a halt once freaking again.
What if…?
I don’t have time to dwell on my sudden crazy realization, though, because what Octavius says next crushes the world as I know it while a shocked gasp slips past my lips. “You’ll marry me.”
I blink several times, my mouth opening and closing as I whisper, “What?”
“Marriage will solve all our problems. After all, as my wife, you won’t have to testify against me.” He leans closer, our breaths mixing while the tips of his shoes connect with my bare feet. “Congratulations, kitten. You got what you wanted.” His voice drops a few octaves, promising me eternal misery. “I’m going to break an oath for you, kitten. Even the devil himself won’t be able to help you now.”
No.
No, no, no.
However, as I stare at his hard-as-granite face filled with determination, I know he means everything he says, and I can read between the lines.
He might be offering me marriage, but in truth, it will be a prison with no option of parole.
Because according to him, I betrayed him.
And what better way to pay me back for my sins than to subject me to being forever legally bound to him?
