Page 3 of Lady Killer

The rush of the kill had dulled my sense of pain, but his question forced me back into my body. I reflexively wrapped an arm around my ribs, which suddenly throbbed to life along with the lump on my head.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

“So, he didn’t suffer enough is what I’m hearing,” Everest said in a breezy tone.

“Do the ones who truly deserve it ever suffer enough?”

One of the twins snorted, while Everest simply sat there contemplatively for a moment before speaking. “That’s an interesting question, Starbright, one I look forward to discussing with you at length in the future.”

“Absolutely not,” said Alister, finally releasing his twin to stomp up to Everest’s side.

As fascinating as this all was, I was starting to get antsy. The Blackwells had caught me, literally red-handed. Thatthey were killers themselves had tempered their reaction, but I was effectively at their mercy right now.

Everest ignored the angry man at his side and instead reached out to swipe a bit of warm blood from the body with his finger.

“What are you— Oh.” I cut myself off when he popped his finger into his mouth and licked it clean.

“Tastes like blood.” He stood to his full height, cracking his neck and winking at me.

Where did they find him?

“Well, it’s been fun catching up, Alister, Nixon,” I started babbling. “And it’s been lovely to you meet you, Everest, I mean Ever, but I need to deal with this.” I gestured to the rapidly cooling corpse at my feet. “So, if there’s nothing else that I can help you, gentlemen, with . . .”

Nixon stalked forward to join the other two, scoffing. “You murdered someone at our school, and you think we’re just going to let you get away with it?”

“Ay, Dios mío.” I’d lost my patience. “You’ve been standing there nattering like little old ladies. Kill me or leave me alone and let me finish.”

I didn’t want to die. But I also refused to live simply to suffer the Blackwells.

Nixon reached behind him to go for his weapon, only to be stopped by the others.

“Maybe I wasn’t clear, Nixie,” Everest said coldly. “Touch her and you lose a finger. Harm a single hair on her head and you die.”

“Everest—‍”

“And not even big brother will be able to save you.”

Nixon threw his head back and roared at the sky, “Are you fucking kidding me?!”

I wondered if he’d explode, resulting in even more bodies to clean up. Although, if they all killed each other, I could probably just walk away and let the police assume one of them murdered Aaron.

Instead, he threw his hands up in defeat. “Fine, but she’s your fucking problem,” Nixon snarled, turning away and stomping toward the trail.

“Ignore him, darling, you’re not a problem,” said Everest placatingly as he reached over Aaron’s corpse to try and pet me.

I narrowly managed to sidestep his touch while shooting him an incredulous look.

“Although, he’s right. You will have to answer to Lucian for killing the boy on Blackwell land.”

I gritted my teeth, fighting to ignore the surge of fear in my chest while mentally calculating if I should make a run for it. My ankle was barely healed, and it would be hard to make it through the building snow. At the same time, itwould be just as difficult for them, especially for Everest in those loafers . . .

Before I could make a move, Everest was at my side, while Alister watched me with a laser-like focus.

“Don’t run from me, love. Not unless you’re ready,” Everest said lowly.

I swallowed. “What—‍”

“I don’t chase, Luz, I hunt. Always remember that.” His voice was absent of any lightness, and my knees nearly buckled under the weight of his promise.

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