Page 54

“I think it’s important for you to know that Aspen knows Leland is dead.” King’s words fill me with unease, and I try to slow, but his hand keeps propelling me along. “After we left your friend Mandi’s house, I dug into his life, at Aspen’s request, which is how I found his apartment. But I also found that he’d been compiling what he thought was evidence against me, and against The Alliance. I don’t know what he planned to do with his shitty information, he didn’t have any contacts anywhere that I can find, but that, combined with the cheating, meant he had to go.”
My mouth has gone completely dry.
We stop at the front door, and King leans forward to ring the doorbell. “I’m telling you this because, for the sake of the other guests, Aspen is going to pretend that Leland is out of town on business. And I want you to know that she’s aware of the truth.”
I can hardly hear him over the beating of my own heart. Adrenaline spiking in my veins.
“Whose house is this?” I whisper.
But before he can reply, the front door opens.
“Hello, sister.” King greets Aspen.
Her smile, which was brittle to start with, shatters when she sees me. “What,” she drops her volume and steps through the doorway. “What isshedoing here?”
I try to back up, not wanting to get sprayed by her venom, but King doesn’t let me go. Sliding his hand further around to my side.
“Sorry,” King doesn’t sound sorry at all. “I assumed the dinner invite included my wife.”
“Wife?!” Aspen screeches, then slams her lips shut, looking over her shoulder.
Oh, sweet baby Jesus, he didn’t tell her we got married.
“Did I forget to mention that?”
I want to hit him.
I want to hit him so hard.
But I also want to throw up. Throwing up might be my new thing.
“Everything okay out there, dear?” a woman’s voice calls from within.
With murder in her eyes, Aspen’s tone flips to pleasant as she calls back, “Of course! Just my brother and his new bride.” She changes back to a whisper, this time aiming her daggers at King. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”
I glance up to see him smirk. “How? I’m the one you call when you want that particular task done.”
Her lips thin before she snaps, “I’ll get Nero to do it.”
King laughs, “Good luck with that.”
The whole exchange has me chewing on my lip so hard, I’m surprised it’s still attached.
Aspen turns her glare back to me, her nostrils flaring. “The people here are major donors of mine, try not to be a total whore around them.”
I drop my eyes before she finishes speaking, but it doesn’t lessen the disgusting feeling in my gut. I never slept with her husband, but I did go out with him.
“Aspen.” King’s tone is pure warning. “Watch your mouth.”
Her chest heaves, twice, then she plasters a Stepford smile on her face and spins away, leaving the door open for us to follow.
King taps his fingers against my side. “Well, that went better than expected.”
“Better?” I hiss, even as he guides me inside. “I’m going to help her kill you.” I keep my voice down, aware that these grand entryways echo like crazy. “I can’t believe you didn’t––”
I don’t get to finish because a gray-haired woman appears around the corner ahead of us waving her hands in acome heremotion. “King! What a lovely surprise!”
“Mrs. Lucking, how nice to see you.” King sounds completely normal, and I wonder if he’s just as unhinged as his sister.