“It was easy to frame Malone. We were already looking for him, and he was pissed about his organization.”
“What about Winnie and Remi?” Even as she asked the question, she knew.
His hands tightened on her hips. “I was staying with them a few days later. They didn’t want me to be alone. It was my shoes…my fucking shoes. Winnie saw a small streak of blood. I made up some bullshit excuse. But that same night, Remi went into the spare room. She knocked over my bag and found my gun. It was the same caliber that had killed Hollie. He called me in and we struggled. I did what I had to do.”
She was going to be sick. “You killed your teammate. Your friend.”
“I didn’t have a choice! I couldn’t go away for killing Hollie. For a while, I didn’t think I could live with myself after…but knowing you were out there kept me going.”
Oh God, this would destroy Lock.
“But I’ll let him live,” Antwan said as he looked up. “If you end things and promise not to run.”
There was no way in hell she wouldn’t be attempting to run if she got the chance. But there was also nothing she wouldn’t agree to in order to protect Lock. “I promise.”
His eyes heated, and his gaze locked on her mouth.
He was going to kiss her.
Bile crawled up her throat as his head lowered. His mouth was an inch from hers when a beep on his phone sounded, making him straighten.
Thank God.
He pulled out his cell and frowned. “Someone’s in my room.”
“Your room?”
“At Lock’s house. I put a camera and a motion detector in there.”
He stepped away from her and moved into the living room, tapping on his phone. The second his back was turned, she eyed the knives drying on the counter, one larger and a couple smaller.
She couldn’t attack him. He was too well trained. And when she failed, he might go back on his word and attack Lock.
Desolation swirled in her mind.
“Fuck.”
She jumped at Antwan’s curse and looked up to see him still staring at his phone. He was angry.
“They’re going through my shit,” he yelled. “Theyknow! They’d only be in there if they knew. How the fuck do they know?” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “If Lock knows I took you, he won’t believe you want to leave him. He’ll search for you. Ihaveto eliminate him. Then we can disappear. We’ll just become another unsolved crime.”
He nodded like it was already decided. Like he’d just planned out their entire future in a matter of seconds.
No. She wouldn’t let him kill Lock.
She turned so she was facing Antwan, her back to the knives. Her movement was slow as she reached behind her, trying not to give away what she was doing.
His gaze suddenly shot toward her, and her heart stopped. “I need you to wait here while I go out for a bit.”
“Now?” He was going to kill Locknow? He was insane. Completely and utterly insane.
“I have to do this now. If anyone can figure out where we are, it’s him. He’s smart. And he’ll go to any lengths to get you back.” He crossed the space between them and cupped her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t want me to hurt him, but—”
“He thinks of you as family.”
“I know. But I can’t lose you! I’ll makeanysacrifice, go to any lengths, to make sure that you’re mine.”
He was sick.
