Page 75 of The Revenge

“Until now,” Syn says, quietly.

Time feels like it’s stopped.

All this time, I’ve played out so many scenarios in my head, trying to figure out what happened.

Not once did I imagine anything like this.

But this would be manslaughter, not murder?

“You see?” Preston asks. “I have to make sure Reynolds keeps quiet. JP may be dead, but I won’t let his name be ruined.”

“Thank you.” Syn draws in a long, deep breath before exhaling just as slowly.

Preston laughs, but it sounds more like he’s relieved than amused. “I knew you’d understand.”

Slowly, Syn drags his gaze to me, staring me in the eyes. “Then let’s get this message sent.”

Everything feels like it’s spinning. I’m not sure if that’s because Preston’s hand is still clamped over my mouth and it’s hard to breathe, or because my world feels like it’s imploding on itself.

Nothing makes sense anymore.

Even Preston’s story doesn’t seem right…

Because… it can’t be…

JP was gay.

My eyes go wide, but as I try to pull Preston’s hand off my mouth and tell Syn, he catches my eye and shakes his head.

“You don’t trust me,” he says before he looks at Preston. He raises his hands, showing his palms, then slowly, he pulls his tuxedo jacket open to reveal the gun.

“What are you doing?” Preston asks him. The gun moves from my head, and then he’s pointing it at Syn.

“Don’t do anything stupid. I’m just getting rid of this.” With his finger and thumb, Syn eases the gun out of his waistband and then, still holding it like it’s a dirty rag, he tosses it into the water.

“What are you doing?” Preston yells.

“I told you: I came here because I wanted to make sure the job’s done properly. You’ve already done so much to protect my brother’s name. You can keep your gun if you don’t trust me, but I want to be the one to push her in.”

“Try anything, and I will shoot you first.” Preston lets go of me and steps to the side, the gun still pointed at me.

“Syn, plea—”

“Shut up. If you want to beg for your life, you can get on your knees.”

The last thing I’m going to do is beg. If he wants me dead, he’s damn well going to have to push me in himself. I’ll fight him every step of the way, and then I’m going to make sure I bring him into the water with me.

When I don’t move, he tilts his head and looks at me. “What’s the matter, Tori? I thought you enjoyed getting on your knees for anyone with a dick?”

My lips part.

Tori?

This is not the first time he’s said something like that to me, but for some reason, his words don’t feel like they’re laced with the same venom. Given how Preston doesn’t seem to react, he doesn’t think anything of it.

Maybe I’m reading too much into it…

I sink down towards the ground, but before my knees touch anything, there’s a loud bang.

---