Page 120 of Kiss of Deceit

“Is it always this somber?” Adella whispered, nudging me in the shoulder. “Why would you want to work here instead of at the bar?”

“You have to ask?”

“I knew it,” she hummed out in amusement. “That intern got under your skin.” She lowered her voice. “What happens when she leaves?”

My stomach churned. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe you can be nice to Susan.”

I frowned, meeting her gaze. “What the hell does that mean?”

“You’ve been here five years, Kole. I’ve known you ever since I came here. You’re not a bad guy. Yet, Natalie never approved you to leave. And Susan is already acting like she hates you. It’s like you purposefully want to stay here. Maybe you like it.” Her eyes drifted to Dani. “But now you have a reason to leave.”

Guilt stabbed me in the chest. Adella was one of the good ones. I wonder how she’d react if she ever found the truth of who I really was. The phone rang, making everyone freeze. Dani was closest, and she snatched it up.

“Emergency line,” she answered.

She went utterly still, her face paling. I shoved off the wall, striding closer. Susan jumped up from her chair, getting to Dani before I could. She pressed a button on the phone base, nodding at Dani to put the handset down.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

The raspy, mechanical voice came through the speakerphone. Dani’s eyes were glued to the phone. There wasn’t a speck of fear or panic on her face—she had no emotion at all.

“Who is this?” Dani asked, her voice calm and steady.

“You’re not home. I was waiting for you, Dani.”

I clenched my fists, the robotic voice shooting rage through me. He was taunting us. Taunting Dani. Why?

“I’m right here,” Dani hissed. “Come get me.”

“So strong,” the voice mocked. “You might be safe in there. But three of the townspeople weren’t so lucky. Want this to end? Then come outside alone. Finish it.”

The loud dial tone filled the room when the call ended. Susan hit the button, and the silence had my ears ringing. Until everyone started talking at once.

“Finish it?” Susan repeated, her voice shaking slightly. “What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.”

Dani’s whispered answer was barely heard over Harry’s ramblings about trying to find out the number that called. Without thinking about it, I placed my hand on Dani’s lower back. She jumped, spinning around. I met her wild gaze, my heart sinking.

“What’s wrong?” I asked in a low voice.

“Nothing.” Her head snapped up when Susan grabbed her arm. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

Susan withdrew her arm like she got burned, her lips parting in shock at Dani’s words. She recovered quickly, turning her attention to Harry to discuss what to do. Dani darted away, and I raced after her, catching the door of the woman’s restroom before it slammed shut. She staggered to the sink, grasping the edge of the counter.

“Dani,” I said softly. “Look at me.”

“I need to go.”

I grabbed her shoulders when she tried darting past me. “Stop. What’s going on?”

“Leave me alone.” In an expert move, she shoved my arms off her and ducked under to get around me. “I have to find him?—”

I got in her way again, keeping myself between her and the door. “Talk to me,” I urged, keeping my voice low.

“He has to die,” she screamed, her palms slapping my chest. “I’m going to fucking kill him. He was there that night. He helped ruin me. Created what I am today.”