Page 146 of Kiss of Deceit

Not when Kole was listening to every word.

I attempted to control my expression but knew I failed when his smirk returned. My heart beat furiously when he stepped to the side. Kole filled my view, his confused stare locking onto mine. His arms were restrained high above his head, but he wasn’t struggling as he processed what he just heard.

“I forgot he doesn’t know.” Sarcasm dripped from Leo’s voice. “Did you think you could live the fairytale of a normal life with him?” He chuckled cruelly. “You can’t be happy with normal, Danielle. You’re just like me.” His hot breath hit my ear. “Youcraveit. You’ll never be able to stop.”

“No,” I seethed, hatred saturating my voice. “I am nothing like you.”

“Your body count in this town is almost as high as mine and my partner’s.”

Kole’s eyes widened, and I couldn’t utter a word. Why lie? My monster made it clear he wanted Kole to know about my past. Would he hate me? My heart ached. I never wanted to cause him pain.

“I’m sorry,” I choked out, my words only for Kole. “I killed Tristin and Leon because they came after me.” I paused, wanting him to hear it from me. “And Lucas. They were going to kill me first. I had to do it.”

“What about Monty?” my monster asked, his puzzled voice an act. “Did you kill him and leave that message because he was coming after you too?”

“No,” I forced out, not looking away from Kole. “I murdered him to stay in Winterlake.”

“Hear that?” Leo turned his attention to Kole. “The woman you risk your life for is a killer.”

“If you’re trying to make me hate her, it won’t work,” Kole gritted out, his eyes boring into mine. “I don’t care what she did.”

I blinked away the tears threatening to fall. Warmth coiled in my stomach for a split second. For the first time, I wished I could take back my past. Because Kole might not hate me for what I did in Winterlake, but the rest of it would make me look like a monster.

“Really?” Surprise colored Leo’s voice. “So she told you where she’s been for the last few years?”

Nausea swirled in my stomach, my face paling. “Don’t.”

My plea escaped my lips before I could stop it. Leo’s eyes cut to mine, the smug smirk back on his lips. He grabbed my upper arm, taking full control with my wrists still bound behind my back. He dragged me closer to Kole before pushing me down until I sank to my knees. He fisted my hair, ripping my head back, and I swallowed my cry. Kole was glaring daggers at Leo, fighting against the zip ties. The two masked killers didn’t say a word. They stood and watched, keeping a gun in their hands.

“Tell him,” Leo demanded, cruelness lacing his words. “Tell him about therealwoman he fell in love with.”

I remained silent, sucking in heavy breaths. Dread wrapped around me and squeezed. His hold in my hair tightened painfully.

“Tell him,” he snapped again. “Or I’ll use this knife on him.”

When I didn’t say a word, he sighed and flicked open the knife with his free hand. My pulse thudded, and I shifted, wincing when he pulled my hair.

“I was in prison,” I nearly screamed, my heart pounding in my ears. “Serving a life sentence.”

Silence blanketed the room as Kole stared at me in disbelief. Dread coiled in my stomach. He was about to get all the answers to the questions he’d been asking me.

“Keep going,” Leo said in a low voice.

“For capital murder,” I said bitterly. “They offered me this internship to earn my freedom if I pledged to work with the FBI. This was a trial run. They saw promise in my skills.”

“Of course, they did,” Leo said brightly. “Finding and killing sixteen people without getting caught isn’t an easy feat.”

“They were monsters,” I sneered, forcing my head up to facemymonster. “Just like you.”

He cocked his head, bringing the blade to my throat before slipping it under my sweater and dragging it across my collarbone. The sting of pain was nothing as I glared at him.

“I love that you’re admitting to how I shaped you,” he praised. “I created what you are. What I did to you…it turned you into what I am.”

“I’ll never be like you,” I vowed, my voice hoarse. “I’ll fucking kill you?—”

He tsked. “Enough of that. We’re on a schedule. A tight one since you messed up my first plan by staying in town longer with your stunt. If you had left today, we would have already been long gone. But now, we have to find a different way off this godforsaken mountain.”

“You’re not taking her anywhere,” Kole spat out.