Amber.
Amber was pale but sober when Nox met her in a small café in the city. To her credit, she didn’t attempt to speak before Nox sat down and said simply, “He was only supposed to scare her.”
Amber lifted her head from where she had been staring at her coffee and nodded. “It was supposed to be a prank. I knew she would go outside for a smoke before you picked her up. He was supposed to take her for a ride around the block and then bring her back immediately. I knew something was wrong after a while when he didn’t call me like he was supposed to.”
“Who is he, Amber?”
She shook her head. “Please, let me finish the story. He had agreed to do it because … he was mad at you. Something to do with your family, I don’t know exactly. When he didn’t bring her back, I knew. I’d always suspected he was a little off, but nothing like this. When I saw what he did to my sister …” She covered her mouth and choked back a sob. “He told me if I ever told anyone, he would let them all know that I planned it, that I wanted her dead. I never wanted her dead, Nox, you have to believe me.”
Nox, a vortex of emotions swirling inside him, stared at her coldly. “The sad thing is, I loved you. You and your shiny cap of red hair and your thousand-watt smile. And you loved me too—as long as I stayed in the box you made for me. Lonely, bereaved—less. While I still grieved for Ariel, you knew you controlled me. I scared you, I know. Once I crept out from the box and began to stretch and crack my limbs out to their full extent, once I stopped letting myself tamp down this fire—this life. This love. This love for Livia. I didn’t want to think you were one of those women who only see other women as a threat. One of those friends who kept me around just to make them look better—I’ve had a lifetime of those. Leeches. I never thought you would turn out to be one of them. But you were the worst of them, because I loved you like a sister, Amber.”
He fell silent then, swirling his glass, watching the ice melt in the green liquor. Melon. The door blew open, and a cackle of noise rushed in with the rain. Rain on wooden floorboards. Two elderly women, huddled in woolen coats, trying to warm up from the cold.
Tears dropped silently down Amber’s face. Nox shook his head. “You killed her. Your own sister. Why?”
Amber looked at him, her eyes not angry, just sad. “I loved you. I love you.”
Nox tried not to lose his temper but his voice shook as he asked her the questions he need to. “Did you have anything to do with the attacks on Livia? On me? Did you murder Pia? Moriko?”
“No, no, I swear,” Amber seemed almost desperate. “It wasn’t me. Look, I really like Livia, and I can see she is perfect for you. God … no. I swear. But … I did do one thing, and I can’t believe I did it.”
Nox wasn’t convinced. “What?”
“Roan would … He would leave his used condoms tied up in my trash can.”
Nox made a disgusted noise. “What the hell does that have to do with anything?” He leaned forward to make her look at him. “Who did you hire to kill Ariel, Amber?”
She closed her eyes. “I didn’t hire …”
There was a sharp crack and, for a second, everybody in the café froze. Amber’s eyes widened, then a thin stream of blood began to stream from her temple.
In utter shock, Nox saw the bullet hole in the window in the seconds before it smashed. And then Amber slumped forward, her eyes open and staring but very, very dead.
Bedlam. People screaming. Nox was up and running, out into the street to see where the gunman was—who the gunman was. But, of course, the killer was in the wind. Nox slumped to the ground, deeply shocked, and waited for the police to arrive.
Livia ran straight into his arms. “God, Nox, thank God you’re all right.” She held him tightly as he buried his face in her hair.
“Enough,” he said, his voice muffled, “enough people have died. We need to find him, right now.”
“Who, darling?” Livia stared up at him with scared eyes. “Who?”
Nox looked shattered beyond belief as he said the words. “Roan. We need to find Roan.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
January slunk onwards as the surviving friends worked with the police to find Roan. More convinced than ever that Roan was the killer, Nox asked the police to compare any old DNA that didn’t belong to his family to Roan’s.
Detective Jones agreed. “We’ve issued a countrywide search for Saintmarc, but if he is the one who shot Ms. Duplas, he’s obviously around New Orleans, waiting to finish the job. Do you have adequate protection?”
Nox nodded. Sandor looked at Livia and Nox now. “Look, being at the hotel doesn’t work. Come stay with me. It’s no mansion, but there’s a hell of a lot less dark places for a stalker to hide. Odelle, you too. We need to stick together until Roan is found.”
Sandor’s home was large but comfortable, and Livia felt safer there than she had anywhere else for a while. She worried about her friends though, knowing one of their own was responsible for so much of the mayhem and murder. She had hatred in her heart for Roan Saintmarc, and although she wouldn’t say it aloud, she almost wanted him to come for her so she could avenge her friends. Avenge Moriko, avenge herself. Even if it killed her.
She could feel Odelle keeping an eye on her, though, and knew that if she needed to break down, Odelle would be the one to help her. She didn’t want to add to Nox’s pain. Of all of them, he was the most affected, she thought, having seen Amber killed in front of him. He looked shell-shocked still, even after a few weeks, and it was hard to tell if it was from Amber’s murder or Amber’s admissions.
“What I don’t understand,” she said to him, “is how Roan knew to shoot her at the moment she was about to tell you about him. He couldn’t have been bugging her, for crissakes; he didn’t have the resources.”
“It may be that he doesn’t know she didn’t reveal him,” Nox said, “in which case, he knows we know and will hopefully trip himself up out of desperation.”
“Or do something reckless that takes someone else’s life.” Livia sighed. “God, what a fucking mess … but what the hell is his motive? I don’t get it.”
“I can’t help you there. I honestly have no idea.”
Livia chewed her lip. “And what did Amber mean about Roan’s discarded condoms? That makes no sense … Unless …”
Nox was studying her closely. “Unless what?”
Livia was sickened. “Unless she was telling us someone was using Roan’s semen to frame him. And Amber knew.”
Detective Jones came to see them one afternoon at Nox’s office. Having given up her job at Le Chat Noir, Livia now worked on her college projects at Nox’s office during the day. She found, to her surprise, that they didn’t get tired of seeing each other all day and all night.
“This bodes well,” Nox grinned as she said as much one night, and she laughed. It was a relief to laugh and be happy, and they made love often, clinging to each other.
They also talked more about their charitable foundation ideas, asking Charvi to be involved. Charvi—who, much to her disgust, also had a protective detail—was enthusiastic. “For a rich dude, Nox Renaud, you’re quite the guy.” But she looked at him with proud eyes and Livia knew her approval meant the world to him. Charvi got tearful when Nox told her they were naming the foundation after her former lover, and she hugged Gabriella’s son.
“I always thought you might resent me,” she told him, wiping her tears, “for being with your mother before she met your father. But she loved me truly, and she loved Tynan truly. There was not a bad bone in that woman’s body.”
Nox got choked up then, and nodded. Livia smiled at them both. “Family isn’t just blood. I know that. I’m looking at mine right here.”
When Detective Jones came to see them, family was on their minds again. “Something strange, Mr. Renaud. When we went to compare your father’s DNA to your friends, we found a match. A familial match. The thing is, the lab messed up the labeling. So, we need to take your DNA again to t
est against the sample, in case, for some reason, we’ve made a mistake.”
The detective was being cagey, and Nox and Livia shared a look. “What aren’t you telling us?”
Detective Jones drew in a deep breath. “Look, if the lab is right then one of your two closest friends is also your half-brother.”
Nox’s eyes widened. “You’re fucking kidding me?”
“No, sir.”
When the detective had left, Nox and Livia stared at each other. “My brother …”
“This is just bizarre. I’m sure they must have gotten Teague and someone else’s DNA mixed up.”
“It must be. My parents did not cheat on each other.” Nox was fierce in his denial, but Livia could see the doubt in his eyes.
“Look, it can only be Roan or Sandor, if it’s anyone. I can’t see any physical similarity between any of you.”
“It’s a mistake,” Sandor was at the door then, obviously having heard the conversation. “The police fucked up. Dude, as much as I think of you as my brother, it’s not possible. Dad had a vasectomy after they had me, and Mom died before even Teague was born.”
“It doesn’t explain how it can be a half-brother, if Teague’s DNA got mixed up. Teague was my brother; you can see the likeness between us.” Nox sighed. “Okay, so maybe my dad wasn’t a killer, but—”
“What?” Sandor looked surprised at that comment, and Nox and Livia exchanged a look.
Nox cleared his throat. “I’ve been passive for too long, Sandor. I do not believe my father killed my mom and Teague. I do not. Someone else killed them, and I want to know who.”
Sandor nodded slowly, and Livia studied him. Was there something behind that closed expression, or was it just shock? “Well, good. I think you need to look into it. It’s been haunting you too long. I got your back, dude.”
“Thanks, man.”
Sandor smiled at them before disappearing back out of the room. Livia chewed her lip. Unease settled over her—Sandor’s reaction to the news that they were looking into Nox’s family tragedy had got her thinking. However, she stayed silent—Nox didn’t need more complications.
“You look tired, baby.” Nox pressed his lips to her forehead and she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I am. Let’s go home.”
“I’ll see if Sandor needs a ride home.”
Livia hesitated. “I meant … our home. I want privacy.”
Nox sighed. “It isn’t safe, baby. There are too many ways to get into it, and believe me, Roan knows all of them.”
“And we can’t get them secured?”
Nox was the one to hesitate now. “Baby … it’s more that I’m scared. Bad things happened there—more than once—and I’m terrified I’ll lose concentration for a second and someone will get to you. Seriously, Sandor’s place is safer.”
Within a week of Nox making that statement, he would realize just how horribly wrong he was.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sandor didn’t come home with them. “I’ve got some paperwork to catch up on, then I think I’m going to meet a girl.”
Nox grinned. “Oh yeah?”
Sandor shrugged. “It’s nothing. But enjoy the privacy and I’ll see you later.”
In the car on the way home, Livia was pensive. “Huh.”
“What?”
“Sandor said enjoy the privacy. How does he know Odelle won’t be home?”
Nox shrugged. “Probably forgot. She does tend to keep to herself—except when you and she are plotting something.” His cell phone buzzed. “It’s the detective. Hey there.”
He listened and paled. “You’re sure? God. Okay, yeah, we’ll be right there.”
He ended the call and looked at Livia. “They’ve pulled a body out of the bayou near the mansion. They think it might be Roan. They want me to go down there and identify the body.”
Livia waited in the medical examiner’s office while Nox went with the doctor. Soon he was back. He shook his head, looking shaken. “Impossible to say. The body’s been in the swamp.”
He didn’t have to say anymore. Detective Jones followed Nox out of the morgue.
“Look, we’ll do the DNA work then see where we go from here.”
Livia cleared her throat. “Detective Jones? Has Sandor Carpentier submitted his DNA sample?”
“I’ll check, but I think so. Why?”
“Just curious. No reason.”
Detective Jones smiled at her. “Well then, I’ll leave you. Thanks for coming in—and sorry to put you through that, Mr. Renaud.”
“Anything to help.”
In the car, Nox let out a long breath and Livia looked at him sympathetically. “Was it bad?”
Nox nodded. “The body was mutilated and barely looked human. As much as I blame him, I hope to God it wasn’t Roan. That body’s been in the swamp a while.”
When they got home, Odelle was there, and Nox told her gently about the discovery. Odelle nodded calmly. “It’s him,” she said, “I know it in my bones. Nox … I think we need to start looking for somewhere else to stay.”
Nox’s eyebrows shot up. “Why?”
“I don’t feel safe here. Do you feel it, Liv?” Odelle looked at her and Livia nodded.
“I do, but I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the confusion over the DNA, or that the body—if it’s Roan’s, it means he didn’t kill Amber … But until we have confirmation that Sandor’s DNA is in the all-clear …”
Nox stared at them both. “You honestly think Sandor might have something to do with this?”
“Let me be clear,” Odelle said, “it’s just a feeling I have. I have no proof of anything, just my gut instinct.”
Nox turned to Livia. “And you?”
“The same. There’s just been something off lately about Sandor—or, to be fair, it could be paranoia on my part, given what’s been happening. The only people I trust right now are in this room.”
Nox sighed and Livia could see him struggling with the idea that his friend might not be who he thought he was. She put her hand on his arm. “Look, we’re not saying Sandor has done anything wrong. Just be cautious.”
“That’s fair enough.” Nox thought it over for a while. “Okay, look, we’ll tell him we’re going to move out because … God, I don’t know, to give him his privacy back. I’ll look into renting something short term.”
In the end, it was Livia who told Sandor they were moving out. He came to find her one morning while Nox was at work. Livia was packing a bag when she heard a step behind her. She spun around, startled to see Sandor there. He smiled at her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Livia, her hand on her chest, tried to smile. “It’s okay. I just didn’t expect to see you. I thought you were at work with Nox.” Her heart was beating uncomfortably against her ribs. Sandor sat down on the edge of the bed without being invited and nodded at her bag.
“Going somewhere?”
Livia felt awkward. “Has Nox spoken to you?”
“About what?”
“About us moving out? We just feel that we’re giving into the killer by huddling together.” A thought occurred to her and she half-smiled. “Nox and I don’t want to put you and Odie in the line of fire anymore than you already are. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to either of you.” That’s it, lay it on thick.
Sandor touched her face. “You’re very sweet, Livvy.” He stood and, to Livia’s surprise and unease, took her face in his hands. “Every day,” he said softly, “I see more and more why Nox fell in love with you. You are beautiful, inside and out, Livia Chatelaine. Is it inappropriate to say that I wish I had met you before Nox did?”
Livia was about to brush off the compliment, but then Sandor gently, quickly, brushed his lips against hers. He immediately dropped his hands and stepped back, making a good show of looking horrified. “Gosh, I’m sorry, Liv. That was so inappropriate. I’m sorry.”
There was a curl of fear in Livvy’s stomach. What the hell was going o
n here? “It’s okay.”
“I’ll leave you alone. I will miss all of you, but I understand why you’re moving out.”
He left her alone, stunned, and feeling weirdly tearful. She sat down on the bed heavily and wondered why she felt so upset. The kiss had been wildly inappropriate, but it wasn’t even that which upset her. It was the expression in Sandor’s eyes the whole time he was speaking. Cold. Dead. Not the eyes of the man she had hoped—had assumed—he was.
Her gut instincts were kicking in again as she closed the bedroom door and called Nox. When he answered, she burst into tears and it took her a minute to calm herself before she said what she wanted to say. “Please, Nox. Come get me out of here.”
They moved into a hotel to begin with, although Odelle simply went home. “I’ve hired extra protection,” she assured them, “and I don’t want to play the third wheel, as much as I love you both.”
At the hotel, Nox and Livia ordered room service, took a long hot shower together, then made love. Livia hadn’t felt comfortable having sex at Sandor’s place, so now, reveling in their privacy, Livia clung to him as he fucked her slowly and tenderly. She smoothed his dark eyebrows as he moved above her. “I love you so much, Nox.”
He grinned as his pace quickened and she gave a little cry of pleasure. “As I love you, pretty girl.”
Livia tightened her legs around his hips, squeezing her vaginal muscles on his diamond-hard cock. Nox groaned. “God, yes, just like that, baby.” He slammed his hips against hers, and Livia took him in deeper each time, tilting her pelvis so his huge cock could drill ever harder into her. “God, I love fucking you, Livia Chatelaine … your body was made for fucking.”
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