Brad squeezed her hands and looked into her eyes. “You’re all safe. I would never let anything happen to you.”
“But if—”
“But nothing. You four are untouchable. Rose won’t drag me into this. The fate she’d meet would be worse than death, worse than prison. Same for me if I was ever foolish enough to loosen my lips. She isn’t going to talk.”
“I have another question.”
Brad nodded for her to continue.
“Our trip to the Caribbean. I woke up that one night to an empty bed and couldn’t reach you or find you anywhere. I’d never been so scared in my life. You had a crappy excuse about helping that scuba diver repair a hole in his boat. But when I looked the next day, his boat seemed fine. It hadn’t been touched. You insisted you two had done such a good job it was like new. Is this what that was about?”
His expression tightened. “Yes. Kurt was supposed to leave me alone. It was a family vacation, but the jerk called and demanded I take care of a guy they found hiding a few towns over from where we were. I didn’t have any of my weapons — can you imagine me trying to get those past customs? — but I was expected to execute the job anyway.
A lump formed in her throat. “I thought you were hooking up with Jessica again.”
“There is no again. I never touched the woman! We talked and got a little too close emotionally. But I cut all ties after I realized my mistake.” He drew a deep breath and pulled Faye into his arms. She could hear his heart pounding. “If you ever suspect me of seeing someone else, know that it’s a cover for something else. Just like earlier, when I told the cops I was with her — it was for you. I love you. It’s only ever been you.”
“Jessica wasn’t in the Caribbean?”
“I never saw her if she was. I only lied to cover an assassination. And now I turn off my phone while on vacation. Kurt hasn’t been able to reach me during our family time since.”
Faye looked deeply into his eyes and rested her head against his. “How do you do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Kill people. Live with it.”
“I focus on the greater good. The lives being saved by taking these people out of the picture. The justice system is flawed, so the world needs people like us.”
She shook her head. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to understand.”
Brad laced his fingers through hers. “I don’t expect you to … just promise you’ll believe in my motives. That everything I do is for you and the children. To give you all the safest world possible.”
Faye nodded. “That much I do believe.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Brad finished his beer and turned to Larry. “Is it just me, or is this show ridiculous?”
His older neighbor chuckled. “I don’t get it either, but Sue loves the Academy Awards.”
Brad looked around his full living room. Half the guests were gathered around the screen. “I don’t understand the draw.”
Larry shrugged. “It’s a good excuse for everyone to get together. And under happier circumstances. Duke’s murderer is in jail, and our neighborhood is safe again.” He leaned closer and whispered, “Do you know why your coworker did it?”
“I’m guessing it was a lover’s quarrel. I didn’t realize they had been seeing each other, but evidence has come to light that he was trying to break things off. Seems she didn’t like that idea.”
Larry shook his head in disbelief. “Young people these days. Whatever happened to nursing a heartache and moving on? Did you hear about that man in Seattle who killed his wife and kids because he wanted out of the marriage? It’s like people don’t know what divorce is anymore.”
“I don’t get it, either.” Brad opened another beer and took a long sip.
Half the people cheered at the TV.
“Did the right team score?” Larry snickered.
“You’d think.”
Faye came over. “Sorry to interrupt, but have either of you seen Allison?”
Brad shook his head. “No, thankfully.”
She scowled at him before turning to Larry. “Have you?”
“No. Maybe she went home to rest. I noticed she kept rubbing her belly and eyes earlier. I remember when Sue was pregnant, it seemed like she needed three times the sleep.”
Faye frowned. “She went home to grab some sugar and eggs for cookies, but she said she felt fine.”
Brad patted his wife on her shoulder. “I’ll bet she decided to make the cookies at home. Last I looked, our oven was stuffed.”
“I tried calling her. I’m starting to worry.”
Brad glanced over at Wes, who was roaring with laughter at something one of the millennials had said. “Maybe she told her husband what’s going on.”
Faye shook her head. “I already asked him. He hasn’t heard anything.”
“He’s obviously not worried. Maybe you shouldn’t be, either.”
“I’m going to check on her.”
“You stay here. I’ll send him to check on his wife.”
“Are you sure?”
Brad stood, and without a word, marched over to Wes.
“What do you want?” Wes asked.
“My wife is worried about Allison. Did you know she’s been gone a while?”
Wes shrugged. “Went to get stuff for cookies or something.”
“In the dark, pregnant.”
“This is a safe neighborhood.”
Lane leaped up and pulled on Cassidy’s arm. “We’ll go check on her. There’s something at our place I want to grab anyway.”
“Thank you.” Brad glared at Wes, who was already back to laughing with the other guests.
He returned to his seat with Larry.
“Such a class act.” Larry gestured toward Wes.
“You heard that?”
“He’s loud when drunk.”
“And a jerk.” Brad thought back to Wes calling Allison from the bar to tattle on Brad. “Definitely a jerk when alcohol’s involved.”
The subject changed to sports until a little while later when a commotion sounded from the front entry.
Brad hurried over to find out what was happening.
Cassidy leaned against the door frame, her skin ashen.
Faye covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes shining with tears.
Brad hurried over and pulled her close. “What’s the matter?”
She clung to him. “Allison’s dead.”
He gave her a double-take. “What?”
“It’s true.” Cassidy’s voice wobbled. “Lane and I saw her lying in a pool of blood! She’s dead.”
Faye pressed her face against Brad’s chest. “Who could murder a pregnant woman?”
“She wasn’t pregnant,” Cassidy said.
Everyone spoke at once.
Cassidy held up a hand and waited for silence. “The fake belly was lying beside her, ripped to shreds.”
“Someone needs to call the cops.” Brad pulled out his phone.
“Lane did. She’s there, waiting. I came to tell you guys.”
Wes appeared. “What’s going on?”
Cassidy collapsed into sobs.
“What is it?” Wes demanded.
Nobody spoke. Brad didn’t want to be the one to break the news, and it didn’t look like anyone else did, either.
The color drained from Wes’s face. He burst into a run, tearing outside.
Donna Brown turned to Brad. “So. Another person you can’t stand is dead.”
Everyone turned to look at him.
His stomach dissolved into acid. “I was here the whole time! You all saw me.”
“I didn’t,” Donna said.
Brad had spent most of the evening talking with Larry. But looking around to find his friend, a terrible realization settled into his bones.
Someone was going after him.
One murder might be a coincidence, but two couldn’t be.
Especially with Rose behind bars.
T
his was personal.
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About the Authors
Stacy Claflin is a USA Today bestselling thriller author who has published more than 75 novels, including Girl in Trouble and The Perfect Death. She has always been curious about the human mind, and in her quest to learn more, she earned a degree in Psychology. Her favorite course was Abnormal Behavior, which has been useful in writing fiction.
Her love for thrillers goes back to her early childhood when she fell in love with Unsolved Mysteries and America's Most Wanted. When Stacy was five, she got mad at a babysitter who wouldn't let her watch the evening news. These days, she spends her free time listening to true crime podcasts or watching documentaries on the subject.
She has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, and as child would often get into trouble for trying to convince friends her wild tales were true. Now she puts her creativity to better use by writing page-turning stories that leave readers begging for more.
Nolon King writes fast-paced psychological thrillers set in the glitzy world of entertainment’s power players with a bold, insightful voice. He’s not afraid to explore the darker side of human nature through stories featuring families torn apart by secrets and lies.
Nolon loves to write about big questions and moral quandaries. How far would you go to cover up an honest mistake? Would you destroy your career to protect your family? How much of your soul would you sell to get the life of your dreams? Would you cheat on your husband to keep your children safe? Would you give in to a stalker's demands to save your marriage?
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