Page 80 of All Your Bloody Lies

He does as I ask, and I slide what is left of my dress off, along with my panties. “I am going to say the word ‘cinnamon’ and you are going to count to three, and shoot me in my heart. Three times should do it, and then in the head. Do you understand, Jonathan?”

He nods.

“Then, you are going to stand here until the authorities come, and when you hear the words ‘Put your hands in the air’, you are going to put the barrel of the gun into your mouth and pull the trigger.”

His knees tremble, fighting to stay standing.

“Do you understand, Jonathan?”

He nods only once.

“I will make—”

“Please… I have a daughter…” He is shaking so hard, I fear momentarily he won’t be able to hold the gun steady.

I step to him, “I was someone’s something, once. Revenge has no moral boundaries, I’m afraid. The abuse the Bastilla’s put you through that finally made you snap will make the news. I’m sure their payout to your family will put your daughter through college, or whatever the fuck she wants to do.”

Swallowing and taking a deep breath, I close my eyes. The silence and calm about to descend on me will be a welcome relief.

“Cinnamon, Jonathan.”

Cinnamon and apples sound really nice right now…

“One…”I’ll be asleep for a few hours.

“Two…”I wonder if he will make me a sandwich, I’m sort of hungry.

“Three…”Bang.

27

Kairhyse

The call with Sydni ended about five hours ago, and I’ve been a wreck ever since. I went down to the gym, but even that couldn’t distract me.

She left her phone with me, which was smart because I would have already gone after her at this point. It’s been eight hours since she left for the party, and I can’t fathom why it’s taking so long. I have to trust her, fucking Beyond: Trust.

I’ve got the fire going and it’s been burning since I came to sit in the living room. I don’t think it’s ever been lit before Xeraphine came into my life, at least, not since buying this apartment. Vampires don’t get cold, and I’ve never been a fan of cleaning the damn thing. However, I’ll clean it for her.

What have I become?

My phone buzzes in my lap, and I see it’s a text from Sydni. The preview makes me quickly open it to see the entire message:

Sydni (Butterfly) [7:22]

Rhysie-poo, can you turn the news on?

I’m up and moving toward the kitchen, the tablet that is installed for ingredients also has internet, so I tap in and flip through to the Sidence local news stations website. I pull up a live feed, and respond to her so she knows I’m doing as she asked.

I’m watching.

I can see that she is responding, but my focus is on the news caster that is beginning the segment.

“We are continuing the story from earlier this morning, a triple homicide, and fourth death by self-inflicted wound.” My entire body goes numb. “Tragic news tonight as the Bastilla twins, Dominic and Dante, sons of the Mortars’ own Mordekaiser Bane Bastilla, were found murdered by their driver. His name we are withholding out of respect for the family. Additionally, a third victim, an unidentified woman, was also found at the scene.”

No… What?!

Buzz. Buzz.

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