Page 147 of Kiss of Deceit

Leo slowly swung his gaze toward him. “Even after hearing that, you still care what happens to her?”

Kole only looked at me. “Yes.”

I barely had a chance to hear his answer before I was yanked to my feet. His hold on my hair turned painful as he dragged me away. I barely stayed on my feet, hearing Kole yelling. I struggled against the zip tie, attempting to free myself.

“It’s time to go,” Leo said, the humor gone from his voice.

“Wait,” I screamed, panic smothering me. “You said you wouldn’t hurt him?—”

“You’re the only one I’ve ever kept alive. That isn’t changing now.” He halted, whipping me around until I was facing him. “Fight me and I’ll make sure he suffers before he dies.”

“You can’t kill him,” I shrieked. “I’ll ruin you. You think I don’t know who your partner is?”

My lie had Leo freezing before he ripped my head back, tightening his grip on my hair. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I figured it out,” I panted, my chest heaving. “And I have a scheduled email—not just to Susan, but to the people who run this town. If I’m not at my computer tomorrow morning, that email gets sent.”

“You’re lying,” he bit out, his eyes searching mine. “If you knew, you would have gone after him already.”

I shot him a feral grin, my heart beating out of my chest. “He’s nothing. A fucking coward who hides behind a mask. I wantyou. I knew you were here, and that’s all I cared about. Your partner? I’m letting the authorities handle him. If you kill Kole, that email gets sent.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

dani

I heldmy breath as Leo stared at me, searching for any tells. I had no idea how good he was at reading people, but I did know how well I lied. He wouldn’t see the truth unless I allowed it. My mind raced as I went through all the murders, all the people who could potentially be connected. His partner would have to be close to the crimes—close to me. Especially when they knew I’d killed Monty and Lucas. Whoever it was, they’d been stalking me.

If I got this wrong, Kole was dead.

And I’d be wishing for death if they took me.

My heart was racing painfully, my breath locked in my chest as I silently went through every little thing that could point to who it was.

I gritted my teeth when he pulled my hair, forcing me to walk across the living room until we were a few feet away from his masked partners. The light in here was still too dim to reveal their features, and I glared at them.

“Go ahead,” Leo murmured, his voice a mix of curiosity and anger. “Name them. But if you get it wrong, I’ll kill the man you foolishly fell in love with—while you watch.”

My heart stuttered, ice chilling my veins. He released my hair, my mind clearing a fraction now that he wasn’t touching me. My wrists were cut up and aching, but I shoved that all away as I focused.

“I got to this town, thinking it was my fresh start,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “At first, I believed I was imagining things. Getting chased in the woods…seeing masked people outside my window. I tried to explain it all away.”

“Get on with it,” Leo growled. “We need to leave.”

I ignored him, closing my eyes. The tiny pieces I’d missed were finally falling into place. When I spoke again, my voice was clear. Confident.

“All three of you have been fucking with my head for months. The messages. Hearing you in the bar saying the same words from the night you attacked me. Natalie’s wounds matching mine. It prevented me from viewing the evidence with fresh eyes—because I only saw my own past.” I snapped my eyes open, staring at the two people hiding behind the masks. “It’s the reason I didn’t figure it out months ago.”

“You’re stalling,” Leo snarled, grabbing my arm. “Time’s up.”

I planted my feet, holding firm when he tried yanking me away. “Take off the mask and face me…Miles.”

Leo went still, the room filling with a tense silence. My heart echoed in my ears as I kept my glare on his mask.

Leo snickered. “That’s a good guess.”

“Please,” I spat out. “You and I both know I’m right. He played his part perfectly, and my mind was so fucked over everything, I couldn’t see it.”

“There’s no email,” Leo stated, his voice wavering slightly. “You’re lying.”