Simon felt as though he was going to be sick.
“It must have been something you trapped him into doing,” he defended. His father had always had a problem with alcohol. She must have taken advantage of him in that state.
“You think I am a villain in this story,” she smirked. “But I am only telling you the truth that was denied to you. If anything, you should be thanking me.”
Simon felt the muscles in his fist twitch. He would not hit a woman, even though she deserved it.
“Your father was never faithful to your poor, clueless mother. I am sure that there were many others like me. You were just a boy then. You saw the man he wanted you to see, but I knew him differently.”
“Enough,” Simon raised his hand. It was all too much for him to hear.
“The only thing your father was scared of was getting caught. It’s why he tried to make me disappear,” she continued. “He must have thought that he took his secrets to the grave with him.”
The room grew more suffocating. Every instinct told Simon this was a game, but a small voice inside him whispered that it wasn’t.
Grace took another slow step forward.
“You came here looking for answers, and now, you have them.”
His pulse roared in his ears.
Simon’s patience snapped. Anger burned inside of him as he lifted his pistol, aiming it directly at her heart.
“You’ve toyed with lives for far too long,” he warned, his hand perfectly steady. “This ends now.”
Grace did not even flinch, although Rowan rushed to his side to stop him. He shrugged him off with a jolt and went back to pointing the pistol directly at her.
Why was she so calm?
“Go on, then,” she taunted. “End it. Finish what your father never dared to do.”
Simon’s fingers hovered near the trigger.
“Or…” she murmured, “you can put that gun down and try to save your wife.”
Everything inside Simon froze.
“What did you just say?” he asked without moving the pistol.
“I do not think I need to repeat myself.” Grace’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “While you’ve been wasting time chasing me through abandoned estates, I’ve made sure dear Rachel gets the ending she deserves.”
Panic began to flare up inside him.
Rachel.
Rachel was home alone.
“You’re bluffing,” Rowan interjected. “Simon, I would not take a mad woman’s word.”
“You think I wouldn’t prepare for this?” Grace continued. “Then you are even more of a foolish man than I had thought.”
“Where is she?” Simon’s pulse was deafening in his ears.
“Right where you left her. And unless you’d rather waste precious minutes shooting me, well…” She clicked her tongue. “You won’t make it in time.”
Simon’s vision blurred with rage. His entire life, he had been waiting for this moment. To end her and avenge his parents, but now, he was faced with a choice.
Rachel could be in great trouble.
