Page 26 of To All the Guys I Killed Before

“It’s invite only, hosted on a private server with strict rules about not sharing any content outside of the forum.”

“How lovely. The world’s most evil message board has standards,” he mutters. “And Navarro’s one of the organizers?”

“Organizer, cult leader. Same thing.” I shrug. “The files also mention a few cops, a lawyer, and a city councilman who are ‘useful to the cause.’”

“Of fucking course they’ve got men in power involved.”

“Of fucking course they do,” I agree. “No actual names, so I’ll get that information from Navarro before I kill him. Then I’ll take out his whole goddamn network.”

I’m breathing hard now, my fury about to take me to a Mom place.

“If we don’t change the subject right now,” I say through gritted teeth, “I’m going to rip Navarro apart tonight, and that’s how people like us get killed. Or worse.”

“Worse than killed?” he asks.

“Caught.”

“Ah. Right.” He leans back on his heels. “How can I help?”

I have a dozen ideas, at least. “Distract me, darling Gomez.”

“Darling, am I?” His posture relaxes, and while I’ve always been good at compartmentalizing the uglier parts of my life, I envy how easily he flows from rage to charm. “I like it. What kind of distraction do you need, darling Morticia?”

I say the first thing that pops into my head. “Tell me something about yourself. Something incriminating.”

“Knowing what I did to Howard Marshall last week isn’t enough?” He brushes his fingers over my ankle. “Should I frisk you for a wire first?”

“You can try.” I kick his hand away.

He doesn’t respond.

“What, you think I’m gonna turn you in?” I laugh at the ludicrous idea, but my smile falls away when he doesn’t join me. “Oh, come on. You’re not serious.”

“As a staged arson.” He folds his arms over his chest and waits, not moving back an inch. God, he’s tall. But right now, I’m even taller.

“Paranoid much?” I scoff. “If it makes you happy, I can frisk you, too.”

Thing is, he’s got a point. We’re both risking a stupid amount with a stranger. Then again, I trusted him almost from the jump, and I thought he felt the same way.

“I’m not collecting intel on you, and I’m not harvesting strands of your hair to turn over to the police.” When he still doesn’t relent, I sigh. “Why would I, Gomez? How would that benefit me?”

After another long moment of unsettling stillness, he exhales hard. “Okay.”

“Okay. Glad we have that cleared up.” Then I wiggle my fingers at him, eager for fun Gomez to come out and play. “Now gimme the goods. I told you about the tongue thing from college, remember?”

“I couldn’t forget a single moment from that closet even if I tried.” His voice is so serious it gives me pause.

“Wait. Did you try?”

Now he pushes away from the wardrobe door he’s been lounging against.

“Maybe. A little.”

“Why?” I tease. “Got a girl waiting for you at home?”

When he hesitates again, my rage switch gets flipped back to ON.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I pull myself into a squat on top of the wardrobe as jealousy burns through me. “I’ve never killed someone for cheating, but there’s a first time for everything.”