Page 124 of Kiss of Deceit

I shivered from the brutal wind as we walked down the street. The sun was bright without a cloud in the sky, but the temperature was well below freezing. Kole wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close.

“Are you two dating?” Miles asked. “Everyone in town thinks you are.”

“Then it must be true,” Kole mumbled, not giving a straight answer.

I swallowed thickly. Last night when Kole called me out on lying to him, I didn’t know what to think. He hadn’t asked about it again since then. Susan knew things about me because of my internship that I never wanted him to find out. Yet, the guilt wouldn’t leave. I feltbadfor not telling him the truth.

We got closer to the bar, and I scanned the empty street. This time in the morning was usually quiet, but there wasn’t another soul out here. People were scared. Even with the curfew in effect, people came out and crowded when the bodies were found last night. The three bodies created so much more panic.

“I just need to make sure Adella can do the shift today,” Kole told me as he reached to open the door. “If not, I’ll close for the day.”

I laughed lightly, glancing at my watch to see the bar opened only fifteen minutes ago. “People can’t get coffee because Hallie is sick. Cut off the alcohol too, and there will be riots.”

Kole opened the door, waiting for me to enter first. I took one step before freezing. Several people were inside, but everyone was crowding around the bar. Yelling and arguing filled the air, with Adella’s voice barely audible as she tried to get control. Kole cursed under his breath, storming past me.

“What the hell is going on?” he shouted loud enough to be heard by everyone.

The attention turned on us, my face flushing when all eyes went to me and not Kole. The silence grew tense, and Kole stepped in front of me.

“Anyone want to fill me in?” Kole murmured, danger lurking in his voice. “Why does it look like a brawl is about to start in my bar?”

Adella shoved through the crowd, the panic in her eyes making my heart skip. “Kole. I called the station, but no one picked up. I didn’t want to leave in case you showed up?—”

“That’s her,” a guy shouted, pointing at me. “That’s who he wants. Get her.”

“Someone better start fucking talking,” Kole growled. “And if anyone so much as tries to touch Dani, you’ll regret it.”

“The killer left a message.” Adella’s words had a ball of dread forming in my stomach. “On the bar.”

Kole grabbed my hand, pulling me with him. I didn’t say a word as he pulled me through the crowd as they parted for us. The guy who had pointed at me was glaring openly but didn’t say a word when I passed him.

“Fuck,” Kole breathed out when the bar counter came into view.

My eyes went to the bloody words that were scrawled across the glossed wood. Dread seeped into my bones as I read the message.

Dani. Dani. Dani. Dani. Dani. Dani. Dani. Dani.

My name was everywhere on the counter, written in blood. Kole’s grip tightened on my hand as I read the sentence in the middle.

Lock your doors. Keep her out in the cold. I take her and this all ends.

“The bar is closed,” Kole announced, spinning around. “Everyone get out. Now.”

“What about her?” someone who I couldn’t see asked.

“What about her?” Kole growled, staying close to my side.

“Give her up,” another person said, fear in the voice. “It’ll stop the murders.”

My pulse quickened as the crowd closed in on us.

“We follow the laws here,” Kole stated, anger raising in his voice.

“Laws?” Monty appeared at the front of the group. “Where were the laws when you threatened to kill me? I still think she murdered my friends. Tristin and Leon are gone because of her.”

I eyed him warily. He had revenge on his mind. If he came after me like Tristin did, we were going to have a problem.

“Adella, go with Miles. Find Harry and tell him what happened,” Kole said under his breath. “Susan will want this documented since this blood most likely came from the victims.”He stopped her when she went to leave. “Don’t go alone. Stay with Miles. Understand?”