Page 122 of Kiss of Deceit

“Yes.”

I hurried away, Susan’s words replaying in my head. A couple seconds later, the door swung open, and Dani stepped out first.Adella remained near Harry’s desk, humming a tune under her breath.

Susan eyed me warily. “Is there a reason you chased Dani into the restroom?”

“Nope.” My one worded answer had her lips pressing into a line.

“I need to get my jacket. I’ll be out in a minute,” Dani muttered.

“I’ll meet you out there,” Adella said, following Susan.

When they both left the room, I swung my attention to Dani, who was slipping on her puffy jacket. She grabbed her gloves before turning around.

Her gaze was guarded. “It’s rude to listen to other people’s conversations.”

My heart flipped. “What did she mean. Someone like you?”

“She knows my past,” she said stiffly. “And she thinks I can’t do my job properly because of the trauma.”

I studied her, an odd feeling coming over me. “Really? I wasn’t aware Susan knew about interns.”

“I guess they don’t tell you everything.”

When she walked by me, I snagged her upper arm, stopping her. Her eyes went from my hold on her arm to my face.

“I already told you I wouldn’t pry into your past. I stand by that,” I said in a low voice, searching her face. “But I want you to know I can read you too—and you just lied to me.”

A flicker of surprise crossed her face before it was gone. She tugged away, giving me no response until she moved toward the exit.

“I can’t give you all my secrets,” she said with a note of sadness. “I don’t think I ever will. So be happy with what we have now…or don’t. But I won’t give you more.”

My heart beat unevenly as she disappeared through the door. She wasn’t defensive about whatever she was hiding. It seemedlike she was scared to tell me. She’d already admitted that she’d killed before Tristin and Leon attacked her. I guessed it had something to do with that. What other horrors had she gone through? I couldn’t imagine her taking a life unless necessary.

Susan’s voice cut through the air. “Let’s go. No one goes off alone. We all stay together.”

The mechanical voice echoed in my head as I went after Dani. Dissecting her and Susan’s conversation would have to wait until later. I really fucking hoped we didn’t find more bodies tonight. Winterlake would get shut down if the killer wasn’t caught soon.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

dani

The voices hummedin my ears as I stared at the three sheet-covered bodies. I wasn’t sure how many hours it had been since we found them last night; time meant nothing to me right now. The scene in front of me faded as I went back to that night.

His cruel dark eyes stare at me like I’m a toy to be played with. There’s a flash of yellow teeth when he pulls back with a smirk after stabbing me.The back of my neck burned.His face was etched in my nightmares.

The masked man who uttered the words that had been haunting me since I heard them the night at the bar.Finish it.

At least one of my monsters was here in Winterlake. I was positive now after the phone call at the station last night. I was in a twisted game again.

This time, I refused to be the prey.

“Where’d you go just now?”

Kole’s quiet voice jolted me back to reality, and I glanced up at him. He was inches away, staring at me intently. The others around us were still talking about the case, not paying us any attention. The basement of the clinic was a dreary, cold room. The cement walls and dim lights were unwelcoming. From themusty smell, I had a feeling this place wasn’t used much until the murders began.

“Let me help you,” he muttered under his breath.

“I don’t need help with anything.”