Page 158 of Shadows of You

Except John didn’t have friends. He had people he used.

“I sent him money for the commissary. Books. Magazines. Finally, he asked me to visit.”

I tugged on my restraints, praying they’d magically loosened. “And you fell in love?”

She sent me a quelling look. “Not right away. We understood each other. We’d both been hurt. We supported each other. Listened.”

“And he sent you here?” I pressed.

Iris’s jaw tightened, her teeth gnashing together. “I came on my own. He just wanted me to get the truth out of you so he could be free. Scare you a little bit. But I knew you needed worse.”

“Boiling baby bunnies and killing a bunch of people isn’t exactly getting the truth,” Steven mumbled.

“Don’t make me slit your throat before it’s time,” Iris growled.

I expected Steven to panic or pale, but he just stared at her. Maybe he’d realized what I had. She had no plans of letting us walk out of here. Or maybe his temper would always get the best of him.

“Thought you needed me for an interview,” he taunted.

Iris moved to the duffel and crouched. “I can always run the interview myself,” she said, pulling out a gun.

My mouth went dry. The knife was bad enough. A gun felt more final somehow—a quicker end.

Steven bit back whatever retort was on his lips and simply glared.

“That’s better,” Iris said with a smile.

She shoved the knife back into her waistband but kept hold of the gun. A reminder, maybe. She pushed the table where she’d placed the audio gear toward us.

“We really need to get moving. Time’s running out. I hear ole Cedar Ridge is crawling with cops.”

A flicker of hope lit somewhere deep. Roan was one of the smartest people I knew. He’d figure this out. He’d find me. I just needed time.

I’d spin a hell of a story if it got me that. If it bought me a chance.

Iris positioned the microphones in front of Steven and me, then connected them to her laptop. “I don’t have your intro music, but I can add that later. What’s important now is the interview.” Her eyes narrowed on Steven. “Help me clear John’s name.”

Steven snorted. “I’m not doing a damn thing for that asshole. He’s been treating me like a puppet for six months.”

At least this little adventure had opened someone’s eyes.

Iris pushed to her feet. “He has given youeverything.”

“He told me where his sister-in-law was hiding out. That’s it. I should’ve known when he said he’d turned someone in the court system that the dude was bad news.”

Iris’s breaths came faster and faster. “Iturned him. I had to sleep with that disgusting piece of trash to get information on Tara’s new identity.” She closed her eyes and slowly exhaled. “But I’ll do anything for John.”

My stomach roiled. How many people had John twisted?

Steven started laughing, but it was the maniacal kind. The type that told me he was losing it and quickly. “Lady, if he’s whoring you out to get what he wants, get a clue. He doesn’t love you.”

Iris moved in a flash, raising her hand. There was a deafening pop.

Steven screamed as blood bloomed on his shoulder. “You fucking shot me!”

“You’re lucky I didn’t put a bullet in your brain,” Iris seethed. She turned to me, gun still pointed. “Start talking or I’ll give you a hole to match his.”

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