Page 42 of Dead Bled Ringer

I hoped she wasn’t too angry. But I couldn’t regret saying it.

It was all true.

“I’m going to kill you,” Henry said bitterly. “It’s because she’ll be loaded when that grandfather of hers dies, isn’t it?”

I put my hand on the back of my brother’s throat and slammed his head into the dashboard.

“He’s a goddamn liar,” I said. “I want you. I don’t care about anything else.”

“I know,” she said, but I couldn’t interpret her expression. “Where the fuck are we?”

“We’re at my place, baby girl,” I replied, opening the door and helping her out. “Welcome home. There’s no one around for miles.”

Chapter Ten

ANGELISE

Hunter dragged Henry into the garage next to his trailer, then dumped an entire bucket of water over his brother’s head.

“Wake up, fucker.”

Henry jerked awake, sputtering and cursing.

“What would you like to do with him?” he asked.

And I knew, with a sudden chill, why Henry hadn’t tied him up again.

Hewantedhis brother to run.

Hewantedhis brother to fight back.

Because Hunter wanted him dead.

I tasted violence, blood & death in the air.

Now here was a unique opportunity. A wronged wife backed up by a dangerous man who was willing to use violence whenever I wanted.

I shivered at the thought, at the way Hunter’s fists tightened, the veins in his arms standing out.

Shouldn’t I be the bigger person?

But in fact I hadlikedseeing Hunter smash Henry’s face into the dashboard. I had liked having someone be a little. . .unhinged about me.

OK, more than a little.

“Why are you doing this?” Henry yowled.

“At one point I might have caredwhyyou cheated on me,” I said. “Why you blew up your safe, comfortable life. But I don’t really give a fuck anymore.”

“I have an addiction to sex,” Henry said. “I could go to therapy—Get treatment?—”

“Save it for Dr. Willoughby-Horton,” I said. “That bullshit isn’t going to work on me. What I want to know is, did you hire a hitman to kill me?”

“No, of course not, I love?—”

Hunter punched him in the face, my husband’s nose pulverizing under his fist.

“Don’t lie to her.”