And the pistol, likely the murder weapon, sat right beside her. Like Monty had shot her, dropped the gun, and stepped back.
Zane looked at Monty, his words almost quiet. “What have you done?”
His cousin’s mouth opened and closed. “I didn’t mean to. She was just being so fucking annoying! You know how she gets. She wouldn’t stop. I just wanted her to shut up!”
“You killed her.” It wasn’t a question.
“It’s okay. I know people who can take care of this.” Monty’s words were rushed now…desperate.
“The fuck are you talking about? We’re calling the police.”
Monty’s eyes widened. “No. They’ll send me away for life, Merrick.”
“You killed her, Monty. You fucking shot her!”
“And I told you why. But I can make this go away.” He pulled out his phone.
“We’re calling the police.”
Monty paused. “Zane…” His voice was different now. The panic was still there, but so was an edge of warning. “You don’t want to do that.”
Now Zane pulled out his phone.
“No,” Monty growled, his gaze shooting to the gun beside the body.
Then he lunged.
Zane was faster, grabbing the pistol and aiming it right at Monty’s chest.
A gasp sounded behind him as someone stepped into the doorway of the room.
Zane blinked, forcing himself back to the present. But he may as well still be back in that room. Because a year had passed, and the asshole was still fucking with him.
CHAPTER 21
Zane paced his living room, his skin feeling tight, like he couldn’t contain the rage inside him.
“He was messing with you,” Ethan said over the phone. “He’s trying to get in your head.”
“Or he was sending me a message. That he’s keeping tabs on me like I’m keeping tabs on him. He wants me to know that he still has reach from inside the prison.”
“Zane. You know he can’t touch you.”
“He sent a fucking hit man after me in Billings, Ethan,” Zane shouted. “He has money and that buys him access to people he shouldn’t have. It doesn’t matter that he’s locked up.”
Ethan sighed. “So, what do you want to do?”
“I want Bonnie protected. And I don’t know if that means she should be close to me or far fucking away.”
“If heishaving you watched, he already knows about her, so you should be sticking close.”
Ethan was right. Of course he was right.
He moved over to the window and pressed his palm to the glass, the dark night glaring back at him from outside.
“We’re watching him, Zane. But to be safe, let the town sheriff and her brother know. Make sure everyone is aware thatthey need to watch their backs.” There was a pause from Ethan. “Have you spoken to Bonnie?”
“No. I texted her an hour ago, but she hasn’t texted back.” He checked his watch. It was almost six. Usually, she was home from work by now. Where the hell was she?
