Page 133 of Kiss of Deceit

“Protecting her?” Monty sneered. “She’s not one of us.”

“Careful,” Riggs warned, sliding his hands in his pockets. “It’s obvious to everyone that she’s his girl. We don’t need to be cleaning up more blood.”

Monty clenched his hands into fists, but he didn’t move a muscle. I waited to see the choice he’d make. If he thought he would be going anywhere near Dani, he was very fucking mistaken. As if knowing what I was thinking, he relaxed his stance, though anger was still gleaming in his eyes as he turned his attention back to Dani.

“He won’t always be there to protect you.” He scrambled back when I advanced closer, his glare remaining on Dani. “When I leave this fucking place, you better watch your back.”

“Leave?” Adella whispered as Monty fled from my bar. “We should talk to Susan and make sure she doesn’t put him on her green list.”

With everything going on in Winterlake, I highly doubted Susan had time to keep up with her usual work of determining who to let back into society. But Adella was right. Once this was all over, I’d make sure Monty didn’t leave this town. I wouldn’t risk him trying to find Dani when she went back to her normal life.

“You ready?” Riggs asked Adella, checking his watch. “It’s nearly dark.”

“Let’s go,” Adella sang out cheerfully, only to halt in her tracks when I snagged her arm.

“You trust him?” I asked in a low voice.

Riggs glowered at me. “Are you serious?”

I scoffed. “Can’t blame me. Nearly everyone in this town could be a suspect.”

“I asked him to walk me home,” Adella spoke up before Riggs could. “You’ve been so busy with everyone at the police station, I didn’t want to bother you.”

“You really think I’m the fucking murderer?” Riggs clipped out, annoyance in his voice.

I held his stare. “I don’t know that you’re not.”

“Okay, it’s time to go,” Adella mumbled, rolling her eyes. “You don’t like him because he showed an interest in Dani. We all know Riggs most likely isn’t the killer. And if he is, I guess we’ll know tomorrow morning if he kills me.” She flashed me a wide grin. “Call me if there are any new updates.”

She followed Riggs to the door, both of them saying goodbye to Dani, who was leaning against the bar. She smiled at them, but it was obvious her mind was occupied with something else. Once we were alone, I closed the space between us, stopping right in front of her. She slowly raised her gaze to meet mine.

“You really think Riggs is part of the killings?” she asked, doubt in her voice.

“Do you? You’re the town expert, Dani.”

“No.” She blew out a breath. “But I’m not sure I trust my instincts anymore.” She paused. “Monty though? He’s capable of murder. Did you see it in his eyes? He wants to hurt me for what I did to his friends.”

“What he thinks you did,” I corrected her. “He has no proof.”

“But I did,” she whispered. “I killed them.”

“To protect yourself. You did what you needed.”

“He went to prison for second-degree murder.”

I frowned, not understanding where she was going with this. “I know. It’s in the files I let you read.”

“He’s already killed.” Her monotone voice made the back of my neck prickle. “I don’t think he can be rehabilitated. He would do it again. This town will do nothing for him.”

She might have been looking at me, but her mind was clearly somewhere else entirely. I searched her face, wishing I could get just a peek at her true thoughts.

“I’m sure Susan will come to the same decision. He won’t go back into society.”

She nodded, though still didn’t look convinced. I stayed still when she ducked under my arm and went behind the bar.

“Is there any ice cream in the pantry?” she asked, making her way toward the back hall. “I don’t have time to grab food from home before I have to go back to the station.”

“Beforewego to the station,” I muttered, chasing after her. “There should be a box in the deep freezer.”