“Shut up!” she screams at the top of her lungs and lunges toward me. Xavier shoves her down to the floor and looks at the man behind him. “Jay, if she tries to get up, shoot her. Legs first, then work your way up.”
He approaches me, and my mouth dries as he squats down in front of the chair. “Now, what’s this about Joshua?”
“She wants him dead. She’s been sending texts and letters to Lee anonymously. Lee thought she was dead. She said shewould tell him where Isla was if he’d kill Joshua. But Lee wouldn’t do it. So, she took me to convince him.”
He studies me for a moment without emotion, then stands back up. “Huh.” He looks back to where Isla sits curled up on the dirt floor. “Now why would you want my tattoo artist dead, hm?”
“I didn’t! I don’t! She’s lying!”
This time he crouches in front of her. “You were fucking him.”
“What? No! I’d never?—”
He backhands her, busting her lip, silencing her before he looks at me. “Who are you?”
“Lee’s…girlfriend.” It’s not exactly true but it gets my point across. “She set my house on fire with me inside because I slept with him.”
She opens her mouth to object again, but his expression silences her. He paces back and forth in front of us. “Now Lisa, if you wanted your old life with Lee back, why didn’t you just say so?”
“I didn’t! I don’t! I love you.”
“Loved me so much you were fucking Joshua. So, which one do you want, Joshua or Lee?”
“Neither! I want you. Joshua wanted to be with me and I was afraid, afraid.” She stutters, bursting into sobs.
Xavier leans down in front of her and brushes hair out of her face, his voice turning soft. “Afraid that he’d tell me what you did if you broke things off with him?” His hand fists her hair, and he yanks her head back. “Yes,” she screams. “I just wanted him dead so I wouldn’t lose you. I love you.”
“Why not kill him yourself then?” He asks the same question I did, and the answer suddenly occurs to me.
“She couldn’t do it. Because she loves him.”
“Shut the fuck up, you stupid slut!” she screams at me, fighting to get loose from Xavier’s grip.
I’ve hit the nail on the head and Xavier sees it. If I’m not surviving this night, I’m taking this bitch down with me.
He lets her go and stands up. At the same time, I hear the faint sound of a footstep and look up to see Lee pointing a gun at Xavier. Relief at the sight of him pours through me, but he isn’t looking at me. I’ll never forget the total devastation on his face as he stares at the wife he’s been missing for over seven years.
“Let them go. Now,” he says, keeping his gun on Xavier.
Xavier looks completely unbothered as Jay steps out of the shadows and puts a gun to Lee’s head. “Let them go?” Xavier laughs, “I didn’t do this. No, it looks like our wife has been up to some shit. I followed her out here and look what I found. It seems she’s a little jealous of your new woman.”
Lee keeps his gun aimed at Xavier, ignoring the one against the back of his head. Xavier must realize Lee’s willing to sacrifice himself to save us because he suddenly snatches up Isla and presses his barrel to her temple. “Drop your fucking gun or your little reunion ends now.”
Lee keeps his expression impassive, but I can feel his indecision. “Don’t put it down,” I plead with him. “She’s the one who did this. She had Trinity set my house on fire.”
Lee blinks and looks at Isla. A smile flirts with Xavier’s lips. He’s enjoying this.
Lee’s voice is soft as he speaks to his wife. “Has he had you all this time?”
“He loves me!” Isla exclaims, and Lee winces as if the words are darts hitting him. “More than you ever did!” Wild way to show his love, holding a gun to her head.
“What has he done to you?” The despair in that question is the most heartbreaking thing.
Xavier lets out a loud laugh. “Aw, isn’t that adorable?” He grins at Jay. “He thinks I brainwashed her.” Jay chuckles along, still holding the gun to Lee’s head. “No stockholm syndrome here. I didn’t take her or buy her or hold her captive.” Xavier tips his chin toward me. “She was never tied up like your girl there.” His amused voice is infuriating. “She came to me. For over a month, she stored up her blood to dump in Joss’s car.”
Xavier shakes his head. “You did exactly what she said you would. Wiped him right out. I had nothing against the guy, but somebody had to take the blame. I even helped his little brother by taking him in and giving him a job.” Xavier’s head tilts. “That reminds me, I sent him out to see what Isla was doing when her chip showed her on your property. She came back but he didn’t. Did you kill him too?”
Lee doesn’t have a chance to answer before Isla tries to yank herself out of Xavier’s grasp despite the gun to her temple. “You chipped me?” she shouts. Her outrage is hilarious considering the circumstances. For a second I wonder if I’m dreaming. All of this seems so surreal.
