Page 137 of The Villain

“She tried to cut her to pieces,” Brody says with a cringe. They’re taking it awfully well that she’s dead. It’s a little suspicious.

Then what he said hits me like a freight train.

“I got it done and went home…” The completely emotionless explanation for the men she killed flashes across my mind’s eye. Like she did a mundane chore that meant nothing.

Butchering someone isn’t her MO.

I get up and look at what she did to Melissa and then the other two bodies. I recognize them. Cousins of the pedophile Melissa was convinced was innocent.

The first two kills are clean and precise. Melissa is a bloody ragged mess.

Why?

The gun was pointed right at my face. Not the first and probably not the last time. And then Evie appeared and sliced her throat. I saw her hesitate as she stared at me and then started cutting again with a thoroughness that hits it home for me.

She didn’t like that I was threatened. At all.

Fuck, she loves me. I fucking know it! I need to get home. Now.

Matthias clears his throat to get everyone’s attention again as I walk back into the room.

“Now that this part is cleared up I have something new for your team to look into.”

I glance back to see him looking at Ira.

“Where?”

It’s back to business as usual and it makes me frown. Matthias is shaky but still in control. Andi is trying to hold it together but I can tell she’s seconds away from a panic attack. Gabriel is looking at his father as if he’s disgusted by what he sees.

“Andi, let’s go,” I wave her forward.

She doesn’t hesitate to stand and approach me, taking my hand. Her boyfriends are quick to follow, scowling at me.

“Neither one of you are going anywhere.”

I ignore Matthias to look at Gabriel. “You don’t have to put up with his shit. Come with us.”

He raises a brow in surprise and leans back in his seat.

“Gabe?” Andi says with a shaky voice. “Please?”

His jaw ticks once. Then he shakes his head with a sigh and stands.

“What the fuck?” Blaze snaps and stands. “You’re bailing? Now that we know you aren’t a leak you can come back.”

I give him a look of disbelief and start laughing.

“You’re going to trust that at your back?” Ira asks darkly and gestures towards Melissa’s body.

“I can’t,” Andi says and I nod at her pale face and wide eyes. She’s doing everything she can to not look at the body.

“Get out of here. I’ve got this.”

“Excuse me?” Brian asks with a scowl. “What makes you think you can talk to her like that?”

“I’m her brother you fucking moron, take her home,” I snap at the end of my patience.

“Love you, Evan,” she squeezes my bicep and hurries away.

---