“I love you, you know that, right?” Kayden finally said.
“I do,” she replied.
“Sleep tight and call me in the morning, if I don’t call you first.”
“I will, and love you too,” she replied.
“Goodnight, Lana.”
As she hung the phone up, Lana knew it was more than just Maureen. Some of what Sam said had gotten to her, and she hated that he was right about anything in her relationship with Kayden. Kim was a problem—a big one. But she didn’t want to end the first conversation they’d had in days with talks about her.
For the time being, Kim was on a temporary leash, and Lana wracked her brain trying to figure out a way to make it permanent. She exhaled slowly, calming herself down, then closed her eyes, letting the weight of her long day melt away.
THE ESTATE WASamassive sight to behold, but under the glare of the moonlight, it looked kind of creepy. There weren’t any windows installed yet, so the darkness loomed from within the open crevices. They looked like soulless, empty eyes and made her feel uneasy. The house had to be over twelve thousand square feet. When it was finished, it would rival anything the Hamptons had to offer, and it was absolutely everything she ever wanted—and it should be hers.
Kim sauntered around the construction site of Kayden and Lana’s unfinished mansion and tiptoed her way to the backyard. The massive courtyard was the most recently finished, and it looked like something you’d find in the back of an English castle. She imagined her and Kayden’s kids running around in the backyard as they watched them from the lanai. It gave her a warm, tingly feeling that spread throughout her body.
There was no way in hell Lana deserved to have all of this while she rotted away in the disgusting apartment the next townover. Her trusty FOB key was in her pocket, and as far as the police knew, she was still there obeying the law. Her newfound freedom opened a world of possibilities, all while providing her with the perfect alibi. No one would suspect her of anything, because she was, in this case, one step ahead of them all.
Kim had plans in store that would finally set the stage to rid both her and Kayden of Lana for good, and she could finally take her place back at the head of the table. She started walking back to the front of the house, away from the beauty of the landscape, and wondered how she would ever decorate a home so large.That’s what interior designers are for,she thought as she giggled and bounced down the hill toward the waiting car service on the curb.
KIM TURNEDTHE knobof her apartment door and entered the darkened living room and kitchen combination. She was absolutely giddy and excited that she’d found a way around the itchy contraption around her ankle.Idiots,she thought, as she removed her jacket and threw it onto the rickety table by the door. When she looked up, she jumped, dropping her keys.
A dark figure sat at the kitchenette table, unmoving. Her heart pounded against her chest so loud, it thumped in her eardrums as she backed up to the door, her hand searching for the knob. Her eyes scanned the room, sure it was the cops getting ready to tackle her to the floor, and she froze, unable to move or make a sound. The floor lamp in the corner of the kitchen came on, and she let out a long hissing sigh as feeling returned to her feet.
“Are you out of your damned mind?” Kim spat.
Bryson Pierce stood from the table, smirking as he walked toward her. He was once Kayden’s best friend before Kim got in between them, and they still occasionally hooked up until a few months ago.
“I’m glad to see you too,” he replied, outstretching his arms to her.
Kim swatted him away and plopped herself on the ugly couch, throwing her feet up on the coffee table.
“How in the hell did you get in here anyway?” she spat.
Dropping his muscular two-hundred-plus frame next to hers, he leaned his head back and turned to her.
“Um, are you actually surprised? I used a butter knife that was conveniently lying in the grass. This place is a dump,” he replied, scoffing as he glanced around.
“Well, what are you doing here anyway? Come to gloat?”
He sat up and put his elbows on his knees.
“I actually came to see Kayden, but the word around Hamby is, he’s in Manhattan. Plus, I heard from Mike that you were holed up here and had to see it for myself.”
Bryson paused and took a breath before continuing, “What in the hell were you thinking, Kim? You could’ve killed them!”
“I wasn’t thinking,” she got up from the couch, walked into the kitchenette, and opened the fridge.
“That’s not a decent excuse. Why are you only on house arrest? The streets are talking back home, and everyone is convinced you’re certifiable. No offense, but you deserve to be sitting in a cell for a good amount of your life.”
“I don’t need your judgment, OK,” she yelled, before drinking orange juice straight from the carton.
“Classy. Well, look, I only wanted to check on you, and I’m sure it’s a violation for me even to be here. I’m gonna get going,” he stood from the couch.
“Wait,” Kim interrupted, running over and stepping into his path. “Why don’t you stay a while? I haven’t had any company since I got out.”
She made her best attempt at looking sweet and coy, but Bryson’s dark, narrowed eyes didn’t buy it. He reached over and picked up a couch cushion, grabbed the poorly hidden ankle bracelet, and put it on the coffee table.
