Page 57 of Tainted Truth

My steps slow and goosebumps break out over my skin as I push myself to keep walking.

“I don’t think he’s actually sorry.” I pause at the new voice. Pierce Murphy. I didn’t know he was here; I didn’t see his car in the driveway. I’ll have to put out another place setting for him. If Pierce is here, at this time, he usually stays for dinner.

The man has made me uncomfortable from day one; the way he watches me, the way his eyes roam my body. But he’s Anthony’s best friend and they work together, so he can’t be all that bad.

I can’t help how my smiles turn fake and my stomach knots at the thought of having to spend another evening with him.

Biting my lip, I inch my way to the grand double doors with ornate gold handles. Hopefully a kiss and the promise of his favorite meal will be enough for Anthony’s stress to alleviate.

“N-no. I’m sorry. So sorry. This will never happen again. I promise, Mr. Cole. Never.”

Is the man crying now?

Depressing the thumb lever, I open the door with silence. Anthony likes the house to be kept in pristine condition, so the door doesn’t even squeak when I open it.

I stop halfway through the door and my hand grips the door handle harder than before.

What the hell is going on here?

There is a man on his knees on the cherry wood floors and he’s staring up at a handgun that is leveled at his head. Make that two handguns. One in Pierce’s hand, and one in Anthony’s. Pierce and Anthony’s backs are to me, and I think the man is one of Anthony’s employees, but it’s hard to tell because his face is beaten to hell. He has cuts actively dripping blood down his face and one eye is swollen shut. Who did that to him? Was it Anthony?

“Goddamn right it won’t happen again,” Anthony says nonchalantly. Ice runs through my veins at his calm voice. He seems so relaxed, but the tick in his jaw says he’s anything but.

Maybe the gun is just a threat.

But then Anthony nods to Pierce and they squeeze their triggers in unison. The doubleboombounces off the bookshelves lining the walls and rings through my ears.

I can’t stop the audible gasp that escapes my mouth. My free hand shakes as I watch the blood stream from the two holes in Henry.

One in the heart. One in the head.

The lifeless eyes burrow into my soul and eat away at the happy bubble I was living in.

Realizing my presence is no longer a secret, I look up and catch Anthony’s gaze. His pretty blue eyes are not the warm ocean breeze I know them to be—they’re sharp as ice. Specks of red dot his face and clothing; his mouth pulls up into a grin. Beside him, Pierce chuckles.

“You should have knocked, Flower.”

Before Anthony can say anymore, I turn and flee. My feet are no longer quiet on the hardwood floors, and I don’t care.

“Oh, Floooower!”

I run through the living room and entryway, straight for the front door and fumble with the keypad. All the exterior doors have keypads on the inside and outside. My hands don’t stop shaking as I type in the four-digit code.

1-7-2-1

But the light still blinks red.

1-7-2-1

I pull viciously on the door, but it doesn’t budge.

“That door won’t work, Spencer.” Anthony’s voice comes from the top of the stairs.

I flip around with my back pressed to the thick white door. My breath rapidly heaves in and out of my lungs, threatening to pull me into unconsciousness.

I can’t let that happen.

I try to focus, darting my eyes around for the next exit, I mentally decide on the exterior door off one of the guest bedrooms down the hall, towards the back of the house. I don’twant to go by the stairs where Anthony is probably descending—probably to kill me.

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