Page 125 of Kiss of Deceit

The crowd continued to have conversations as Adella disappeared. Kole kept my hand tightly in his while striding away from the bar. I glanced over my shoulder, taking one last look at the bloody words.

My attention snapped to my arm when someone grabbed it with a bruising grip. Before I could do anything, Kole’s fist shot past my face, hitting Monty square in the jaw. He released me, staggering back and rubbing his cheek.

“Anyone who lays a hand on her will regret it,” Kole threatened, his voice menacing.

Monty snorted. “So much for obeying the laws. Admit it, Kole, this place is falling apart. No more laws. No more civilized society. No one is intervening, which means we’re out for ourselves.”

I stared at him in surprise. Interns weren’t supposed to know about what this town was, but the more everything spiraled into chaos, the less people seemed to care. It would only get worse.

Kole grabbed Monty’s shirt, yanking him close. “I don’t give a shit what you think is happening in this town. If you go anywhere near Dani, I will kill you.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve done that,” Monty sneered.

A few gasps filled the room, the tension skyrocketing.

“Interns can’t know,” someone hissed. “Shut up before you fuck everything up.”

“You should go,” Kole told him, his calmness unnerving. “Before I decide that getting another charge is worth it.”

Monty’s jaw clenched as he shot me a scathing look before stomping out of the bar.

“Come on.” Kole put his arm over my shoulders, leading me through all the burning glares. I had a feeling Monty wasn’t the only one who wanted to give me up.

“Everyone get out,” he ordered sharply. “Right the hell now.”

After some hesitation, everyone filed out, some lingering looks aimed at me.

“Let’s go.” Kole flipped the sign on the window to closed once everyone was gone. “I’ll leave the door unlocked for Harry.”

“Where are we going?”

“Home.”

“What? No,” I protested, planting my feet. “I can’t go. I need to be here when?—”

“No, you don’t.” He sighed. “This is going to be everywhere in a few hours. You saw how Monty acted. Others will be worse. You need to stay out of sight until things calm down.”

“I’m not going to hide,” I snapped. “I have to track down the monster doing this.”

“Do you plan on doing that with all of us or by yourself?”

I raised my gaze to his, my heart hammering. I was in so fucking deep with him. And now I was going to dig it a little more.

“Want to know a truth? I asked softly.

“I want all your truths.”

“I know the killer is connected to my past.” My voice grew stronger. “AndwhenI find him—or them—I don’t want to see them get arrested. It won’t be enough.”

His eyes softened, his fingers grasping my chin. “You want blood? Then I’ll be at your back making sure you get it.”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

dani

“Come train with me.”Kole leaned against the doorframe of my bedroom. “Your eyes need a break, and you’ve only used the gym once.”

“I’m good.” I scrolled down the screen, looking at every inmate picture. The people who were sitting in the prison only miles from me. There were already a couple pictures that closely resembled my monster. But none that struck a close enough similarity to be sure it was him.