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There he was. The monster she knew he could be.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He smiled. Not his fake, icky smile that made her stomach gurgle with unease. No, the one that said he wanted to hurt her so badly she’d feel it for a week.
“Oh, you know, the one where you pretend like you enjoy being back, and the one where I pretend that I don’t want to kill you.”
She jerked at the venom in his tone but didn’t make another move. She had nowhere to go. He stood in front of her only escape. The bathroom had no other adjoining door to get out of. She was three stories high. Jumping from the balcony would break her legs at the very least. Kill her, at the very worst.
“So we’re at an impasse.”
The maniacal laughter that left his mouth made her jump.
“Oh, Evelyn. No, I’m done pretending, so that means you have to go. You didn’t think I’d let you live if you came home, did you?”
This time, she displayed her own smarmy smile. “Of course not, Darrian. You didn’t think I came back without a plan, did you?”
That had him pausing, eyeing her in a new light. “And what is this plan of yours?”
She crossed her arms, tsking at him like a child. “You tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.”
Which wasn’t possible because she had no plan. Her bracelet was nowhere in sight, she had no weapon to defend herself, and Ivan had no idea she needed help. She was a sitting duck.
But the last thing she intended to do was let any of that be known.
Darrian swiped his hand behind his back, producing a gun. “You’re going to kill yourself. So distraught leaving the man you loved, you couldn’t take it anymore. Your history of unstable behavior will back up the claim.”
Ha! Ivan had disputed all those claims with his investigation. Judge Rider had all the evidence. No one would believe it. At least no one in her corner would.
“How are you going to shoot me so far away? That’s not how suicides work.”
“Well, you’re not going to fight me, Evelyn. You never do. Not enough to win, anyway. Sit on the bed.”
He waved the gun in her direction.
She could ignore his demand and make him shoot her, but she’d still be dead, and he may or may not get off with an explanation of why he shot her. Or she could comply and…and die anyway. Either way, she was screwed.
Except her phone was on the bed and she could call Ivan. It might not be enough time to save her, but it would be enough to put Darrian away for life, which had been the plan all along.
She moved to the bed, sitting down in a way that put the phone out of his eyesight. “So I’m willingly letting you kill me then?”
“Yes, Evelyn. It’s easier if you don’t fight. Because I can make it painful for you.”
“Then I’d like to say a prayer first.” She bowed her head as if doing so, saying a mini one in her head as she fiddled with her phone that he hopefully couldn’t see.
Her head popped up when she felt the shadow hover above her. Darrian stood close enough she could feel the evil emanating from him.
“Why are doing this, Darrian? Why do you want to kill me?”
“Because you’re nothing to me. Because you’re in my way and nothing but an irritating gnat I need to get rid of.”
“I’m sorry you hate me so much.”
“Oh, Evelyn, I don’t hate you. That would require emotion on my part. I care nothing for you.”
“So what? You shove the gun in my mouth and make me pull the trigger?”
He laughed. “Oh, I’m not shooting you. Is that what you thought?” He swooped in so fast, she felt the needle before she saw it. He leaned in closer, his breath touching her skin. “You’re going take a bath, to relax. Something you enjoy doing. Then you’re going to slit your wrists. That’s how you die.”
