Page 57 of Seeking Vengeance

“You see, sister, I’ve wanted nothing more than to claim retribution against those who murdered my niece’s father for years. But I held back because you begged. You fucking pleaded in the most pathetic display of weakness I’ve ever seen. So I gave you what you wanted. Whatyouneeded to move on, because I couldn’t risk you jumping further off the rails. But with this new outlook on our relationship, I guess I’m no longer burdened by your wants and needs. I can take what I’m owed. What we’reallowed.”

I stiffen, my lungs tightening.

He’s going to claim the retribution I’ve been trying so hard to achieve. He’s going to take the only chance I have to right my wrongs.

I panic, wanting to backtrack but not knowing how. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m sure you’d love to know.” He looks at me with self-righteous indignation. “Unfortunately, though, it’s now clear we don’t share that kind of information.”

16

Layla

“You’re not goingto tell me?” My limbs quake with fury.

“You tell me yours. I’ll tell you mine.” Cole smirks, the curve of his lips sickening in its arrogance.

“Fuck you, you manipulative piece of shit.” I shove at my place mat, the heavy material scooting forward to topple the salt and pepper shakers. “You’re just like our father.”

His eyes flare. I don’t stick around to take more of his toxicity. I storm for the sofa, snatching the old purse I’d found at home to tug the strap over my shoulder.

“Layla, wait.” Keira hustles toward me from the kitchen. “Don’t go.”

“I’m not staying.” I continue to the sliding glass doors leading outside and yank them apart, plastering on a fake smile as the gentle breeze brushes my face. “Stella, it’s time to leave, sweetheart.”

She raises her gaze from her cell screen and snaps a glance toward Tobias sitting on the lounger beside her. “I’ll see you at the airport?”

“Yeah.” He jerks his chin and gives me a quick finger wave. “See you next time.”

I should hug him goodbye. I should at least walk out there to speak to him properly, but I’m the shortest step away from my breaking point. One inch in the wrong direction and I’ll drop this temperamental bag of emotions and cause a scene.

Afarbigger one.

I keep my sham of a smile in place for Stella’s sake and wait patiently at the front door for her to say her farewells, my animosity bubbling below the surface.

Cole and I always disagree. We fight. It hurts. This isn’t a first.

What derails me, though, is how I’d become used to the idea of me being the Costas’ downfall. That I’d be the one to gain vengeance for my daughter being abducted and my husband’s murder.

I wanted that accountability.

The atonement.

I need it.

I battle the panic of approaching failure as I escort Stella to my car parked out front and drive us both home. I don’t allow her to see how my world is crumbling. How I’ve let her down again.

While she’s busy packing for her return to school, I do the same, grabbing clothing and toiletries. I also arrange store-bought debit cards and stockpile cash for a longer-than-usual escape. And when it comes time to drop Stella at the airport, she has no idea a suitcase of my own is stashed in the trunk.

I kiss her goodbye in one heartbeat and stride my ass to a check-in counter to book a flight to D.C. in the next.

I don’t spare more than a thought at not knowing Matthew’s surname, or where he lives, or even works for that matter.

I fly across the country on impulse, arriving after nine at night with absolutely no clue where to go once I climb into a cab.

Layla: Tell me about these clubs of yours. What are their names?

My text to Matthew spits in the face of the anonymity we’ve tried to maintain. Our contact since Denver has been mostly seductive or complimentary, and my stomach twists with the possibility of him ignoring me entirely.

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