Page 202 of Corrupted By You

Zeno did not destroy the folder, but he must have kept it someplace secure.

Some place secure where only someone closest to him would know.

Someone like hisbrother.

Nausea washed over me and my skin heated.

Oh, God.

It made sense.

All of it.

History taught me that it was always the people closest to you that hurt you. You never saw them coming and you never suspect them either. Their betrayal hit you the hardest because you trusted them witheverything.

If Benjamin De la Croix truly orchestrated this entire ordeal, then my husband was in deep trouble.

I snatched my phone, grabbed a gun, and slipped on my shoes while dialing Éva, who was on her way home with Céline and Yves.

They needed to be here and witness this with their own eyes.

My sister-in-law didn’t pick up, so I left her a text message.

As soon as you get home, RUN for the stables and get backup. —Darla

Then I dashed out of my room like the hounds of hell nipped at my feet.

I had to save my husband.

Zeno

Idropped the white king chess piece. It clattered to the floor and I reached inside the safe to see if there was anything else remaining.

Another joker card tumbled out with a message.

I bet you never saw me coming, Zed.

No.

I fucking had not.

With a snarl, I tossed the entire chessboard off my desk with a swipe of my arm. Hot fury ballooned within my system and exploded like a grenade.

My vision danced with tiny red dots.

I sped through the last few months, recounting every joker card and every taunting message. This whole time, I had my eyes set on Antoine Toussaint because that’s what Benjamin planned.

It was all a decoy.

Never in my life had I felt this deceived.

My very own brother tried to lock me up for Armel Lancaster’s murder. Killed Miles Moretti and Gustave Melrose. Ignited St. Victoria on fire and put my wife’s life along with those of innocent children in peril.

“It’s always those closest to you that hurtyou, Ben.”

Betrayal burned like acid in my gut.

I grabbed my gun right as my phone buzzed like a harbinger of doom.