Page 35 of The Villain

“But she didn’t die.”

His lips curled. “Which is why I thought you might be working with him, wanting it back.”

Oh, fuck no.“Where’s the money now?”

His silence was the answer I needed.

“You gambled it away.” I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re a fucking idiot.”

“Fuck you?—”

“Stand up, Mr. Martins.” Harm didn’t give him a choice. “You’re under arrest for the attempted murder of Athena Holman. The police who brought you here will be escorting you back to Sacramento, where you’ll be booked.”

“I want protection—extra protection. This loan shark, you don’t understand—” He stopped speaking abruptly when I stepped in front of him.

“They’ll give you protection in prison,” I assured him. “It’s called bars.”

Harm passed him off to Hazard, and even once the door closed behind them, I could hear his cries all the way down the hall.Fucking coward.I didn’t know what was worse—knowing the truth…or knowing I’d have to tell Athena.

“Fuck,” I muttered, dragging both my hands along my skull.

“You’re in too deep.”

I whipped around and glared at him. After what we’d just heard,thatwas the first thing he said to me?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said tightly, my body light as a tightrope of anger stretched too thin. “We needed answers, and I got them. I’ll call Ty—” My brother grabbed my phone from my hand, and I snapped.

A sound erupted that I didn’t even realize I’d made until I’d pinned my own brother to the wall, my forearm over his throat.

My chest heaved, and our stares collided. His was hard and shocked and hurt. And shame washed over me like ice water.I was fucking losing it.

I stumbled backward, driving both hands along my scalp. “Fuck.” I turned back, scrambling for some kind of apology.

“We’ll talk later,” he said before I could say anything. “Call Ty.”

Gritting my teeth, I swallowed hard and pulled out myphone again. My heart pounded so hard, Ty’s name tremored on the screen when I tapped on it.

“What did we learn?” he answered.

That I’m fucked.

“The ex was paid to plant the bomb on Athena’s car,” I rasped.

“Paid?”

“Promised double what the insurance payout would be. Ten percent cash deposit, fifty percent deposited into an offshore account when the bomb went off.”

“I’m guessing the last forty was supposed to come when her death was confirmed.”

“Yeah.”

“So, he was getting paid twice to kill her?”

I flexed my fist, my jaw so tense I couldn’t get out an answer.

“He was approached in his car. Didn’t get a good look at the guy or a name. Denied recognizing a photo of Ivans.” Harm rattled through the details. “He seems to be under the impression the man is someone he borrowed from coming to collect?—”

“He’s a fucking idiot,” I interrupted. “It makes no sense. First, why pay him more money when he already owes them? Second, even if the job he was doing for them was worth the investment, why Athena?”

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