Page 72 of Killer Notes

“Your so-called friends. That fucking bodyguard. They are not dependable or good enough for you. Nobody is but me,” she says matter-of-factly.

“And you’re sitting there with a knife pointed at my face?” I counter.

“It’s for your protection, Danny. Now stop it arguing. We have to get on the road before your twat-waffle of an ex tells those boneheads what I’m up to.”

I don’t know if Tobias will come after me. He and the security team don’t even know I’m gone. Will they find out soon? Or maybe it won’t be until I’m a no show for tomorrow’s meet up. Will they be able to track me down? Can they find Laney before she truly goes off the fucking rails?

Before I get a chance to open my mouth to tell her that this won’t work between us, she slaps me across the face again. This time much harder. “Pay attention to me, Danny. I need your full attention and I’m not getting it. Now I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if I have to.”

Since I don’t hit women, psychotic or not, I grapple with the handle to open the car door, at the same time I hit the unlock button. I have to get away from this cracked bitch.

However, I’m not quick enough. The point of the knife pricks my neck and I feel a sting above my collarbone. “I wouldn’t move if I was you, Danny.”

I freeze immediately. “What do you want from me, Laney?” I slowly move my head and neck away from the sharp edge, my back to the freedom I’m desperate for.

“Don’t you know?” she asks with a slight tilt of her head, as though we’re having a casual conversation. “Wasn’t my explanation enough?”

“No,” I say with trepidation.

“All those notes I sent you. Did you read any of them?” She leans forward and the knife pricks my skin again. This time, the sting comes with a sensation of liquid sliding down my neck.Blood.

Don’t panic.

“Yes.”

“Then what don’t you understand?”

“All of it. Explain it all to me, Laney. Because I didn’t feel the love while reading them.” I know I’m taking the risk of inciting her anger, but I’ll do anything to prolong the time for either a chance to escape or for Tobias and the rest of Harper Security to find me. If they even know I’m gone.

She raises the knife an inch, but not enough for my jugular to be clear of the honed blade.

“I’m devoting my life to you. You see, Danny, you don’t need anyone else—can’t have anyone else but me. Not your fuckwit friend, Connor. Or any of the band. They weigh you down.”

“Why?” I ask, through unshed tears.

She blows out an exasperated breath and rolls her eyes at me like I’m some errant child. Laney drops the knife to her lap, moves closer and whispers like she’s sharing some great secret with me. “Siles told me that you’re greedy for rough sex and like to be slapped around. Is that true?”

I swallow hard before answering. “No.”

She slaps the steering wheel in anger. “I knew it. I should have killed that fucker when I had a chance.”

There’s a long beat of silence and I hope she’s done talking but she turns back to me and asks, “I wonder…” She taps her finger to her lips. “Are you a gentle lover?”

I nod quickly, not sure what to say. I’m not about air out my sexual preference to her. And what she heard from Siles wasn’t about my sexual desires at all. What my ex put me through was nothing but abuse, and even at times I was violated without my consent.

Then my eyes drop to the knife in her lap and I contemplate whether I have time to grab for it. But Laney must have sensed my intent because she picks up the knife and shakes her head.

“I told you I don’t want to hurt you, but I will,” she says, raising the knife back up.

My eyes meet hers and I ask, “If you sent the notes, then who beat you up?”

That question throws her for a second before a wide smile slides onto her pixie-like face. “Siles. I wanted you to feel sorry for me. And you did. I also wanted to throw off the cops, so I even planted the note they found with me.” This entire time, she’s been manipulating all of us, and it’s worked her way.

I don’t want to ask this next question but I need to know. “Were you the one who attacked me at The Independence?”

She chuckles. “No, silly. That was all Siles. It was his idea to knock you out and take you then, but the band came in too fast.”

“Then how did you find us on the road—like you knew the bus was coming.”