Page 215 of The Forbidden Note

“What’s the catch?” I challenge.

“Believe in me.” Jarod Cross smiles. “I’m already on your side, Grace. I just want you to be on mine.”

The sound of the garage door lifting interrupts us.

A few moments later, mom enters the room.

“Gracie! You’re here.”

“Let me help you with those bags,” Jarod Cross says, moving over to mom.

As they shuffle around me, I hurry to the bathroom and lock the door. In the stark light, I lift my hands and see that they’re trembling. A stain of blood rushes over my skin, covering brown with dark, metallic red.

I know it’s not real.

I know.

But it doesn’t stop the panic.

Is it true? Is Sloane’s real killer still out there?

A shudder runs down my spine when I think about that night we almost got run off the road. What if they weren’t targeting The Kings? What if they were targeting me?

That means I have more to worry about than just losing my job.

I could lose my life.

For a second, I let the panic take over, dragging me underneath until it feels like I’m drowning. And then I grip the sink, splash cold water on my face and reach for the unshakeable drive that pushed me to apply to Redwood in the first place.

I died with Sloane.

My body’s in that coffin with her and it has been since the moment I decided to bring her to justice.

I’ll do whatever it takes to expose the truth.

Even if it means turning my back on Zane, betraying The Kings and making a deal with the devil.

CHAPTERFIFTY-FOUR

ZANE

Getting ready for school with one arm is freaking torture and I give up on the second button. I hate those corny plaid uniforms anyway. Reaching for a wifebeater and my cut jeans, I shove them on and stalk downstairs.

Cadence is there, making breakfast along with Martina. She’s already wearing her school uniform, a light blue blouse with a bow around the neck and a plaid skirt.

I feel a twinge of guilt when I think about her having trouble getting pregnant. We’re all counting on them to make a baby before the will expires, so we can keep dad from putting his hands on our inheritance. Cadey is well aware of that.

The pressure to get pregnant could also be the culprit to her stress.

Vi is slurping down orange juice. Her eyes light up when she looks at me. “The bruises are going down. You don’t look like a rotten apple anymore.”

“Wow. Thanks.” I fall into a chair, drag her OJ over to me and drain the rest of it.

“Hey!”

I burp. “Thanks, kid.”

Finn emerges from the stairs, his eyes slightly swollen. I notice the puffiness and chuck my chin in his direction. “What happened to you?”

---