Page 22
“Sunday.”
“Whatever.”
“Aren’t besties supposed to know each other’s names?”
She ignores me and I get up, wincing as I tiptoe across the hot floor to the pool. Steps lead down into the cool water, and I take them slowly, keeping my eyes on the property for any sign of Cole, but the only person who appears is the housekeeper who removed the head this morning. The sun bounces off his silver hair as he strides out of the shade and to Darcy. He’s around fifty, face wrinkled and expressionless, and his lack of disgust at having to move a human appendage this morning makes me wonder what other horrors he’s seen.
He speaks to Darcy, and she calls over to me. “Monday, do you want a cocktail?”
I resist rolling my eyes. “No, thank you.”
I’m fairly sure I hear her ordering two Piña Coladas, but I focus on letting the water wash over my shoulders as I swim.
Coming here was always going to be a mistake, but I didn’t think I’d wind up this deep. Last time I worked for Felton, it was at one of his casinos, flirting and dining with clients. I was escorted home every night by security, and never did anything I wasn’t comfortable with.
The look in Felton’s eyes when he said I was coming here … it was different. He told me it was unlike the other jobs I’d worked, and if I spoke a word of what I saw or heard, I’d never be found. I agreed because I figured I could coast my way through the weekend and go home, but nothing has gone to plan since I locked eyes with Cole.
“Monday, I’m bored.” Of course, she is. I lift myself out of the pool and walk over to Darcy, sitting on the lounger beside her. “I ordered you a cocktail.”
“I heard.”
“Say thank you.”
“Thank you, Darcy.”
She smiles. “You’re welcome, Sunday.”
“So you do know my name?”
Darcy shrugs and leans back, not even acknowledging the housekeeper when he brings out our drinks. I thank him, but he ignores me and leaves us alone again.
“Aren’t you going to ask why I did it?” Darcy asks as I examine my glass. There’s no way I should consume anything that isn’t sealed, but Cole didn’t seem concerned about me eating the fruit this morning. I suppose they don’t need to drug me.
“Did what?” I ask, sniffing the drink as if I’d even know what a drug would smell like.
“Killed Harper. Christian’s bodyguard.”
I stare at her. “I think your reasons wouldn’t make sense to me unless it was self-defense. And usually, you don’t cut people’s heads off because you feared for your life.”
She smirks, her eyes still closed. “It wasn’t self-defense. I knocked on his door and when he answered, I killed him. Got a little carried away, obviously. Christian won’t say how he knows it’s me, because then Felton would kill him.”
My brows furrow gently. “How does Christian know it was you?”
She grins. “Because he knows I had a reason to keep Harper quiet.” Letting her head drop to the side, she lowers her voice. “Harper walked in on Christian and me in a compromising position.”
My eyes widen and I forget the drink in my hand. “You’re sleeping with Christian? But …” I shift closer. “You’re with Felton. You’re marrying Felton.”
“And Felton gets what he needs from me, but I don’t get what I need from him.” She shrugs. “Christian gives me that.”
My god, this woman is either brave or reckless. It’s clear that Felton is beyond obsessed with her, and she’s fucking someone else?
“Do you love Christian?”
She snorts. “I barely like the man. But he has wonderful fingers.” She stretches her arm out and tickles my chin, and I can’t help a laugh escaping as I bat her away.
“Then why risk your relationship? Why risk your life?”
She stretches her arms above her head and exhales. “Has someone ever loved you so much that you think you might burst from their attention? That when they look at you, you know they’d die for you?” My heart races, and images of who Cole used to be flash through my mind. “That’s nothing compared to having a man who would kill for you.”
