Page 161 of Watch Me Burn
“They found some pretty disturbing stuff, Luna. Place was a mess. Looks like your ex was deeper into drugs than anyone realized. Cocaine, mainly. They also found evidence linking him to the bodies dumped here and in the park.”
Luna’s breath catches, the sound sharp in the small room. It’s not an act. The color drains from her cheeks, and her fingers grip my waist. Discomfort radiates from every line of her body.
Guilt.
Despite everything she said this morning about accepting what we did, words are easier than living with the weight of it. The reality of framing a dead man, of manufacturing evidence, of becoming complicit in a crime—that’s going to take time to settle into her bones. If it ever does.
“Looks like he was trying to set you up.” Karen’s gaze moves between us, measuring our reactions. “Best they can figure, he was killing them to frame you for the murders.” She pauses. “And it gets worse. Found journals, plans… looks like he was planning something real nasty as his grand finale. We think your showing up when you did, Damien, saved Luna’s life.”
“Jesus.” Luna’s hands tremble as her eyes snap to mine.
Cade planted only some of what they found. But the rest? That was already there. Real evidence detailing his plans for Luna. Pages of revenge fantasies. The specific, methodical ways he intended to make her suffer before he killed her.
I told her about it as we lay tangled together in bed last night, her body warm against mine. Not the graphic details. I gave her the choice, and she declined,but I'm a man who heeds the lessons he's learned, who understands the cost of deception. I will not keep secrets from her ever again.
My hands curl into fists, and rage tastes like blood in my mouth. Killing Hunter once wasn’t enough. It was a mercy he didn’t deserve. I should have taken him back to my basement and drawn it out. Should have made him beg. Should have shown him exactly what happens to men who threaten what’s mine.
“So he’s…” Luna’s voice wavers.
“In the wind. Boulder PD has a BOLO out for him. He’s considered armed and dangerous.” Karen’s gaze shifts between us. “Keep your eyes open. If he shows his face around here again, you call me immediately. Don’t try to handle it yourselves.”
Her gaze lingers on me for just a moment, but there’s less suspicion there now. The evidence against Caleb is solid enough to shift her focus.
Chaos erupts from the back room, splashing sounds, followed by Maren’s colorful cursing.
“Ricky, you little shit! Get back here!”
The doors burst open, and Ricky comes tearing through, dripping wet, making a break for freedom, with Maren hot on his heels. Ricky chitters as he scampers between Karen’s legs, leaving wet paw prints on her uniform pants.
“Sorry! Slippery little bastard jumped out of the tub!” Maren lunges for him, but he dodges her.
The muscles in my jaw twitch. Leave it to that pervy raccoon to provide the perfect distraction. Maybe I’ll let him feel up Luna once in a while.
Karen steps aside, chuckling. “Well, I can see you’ve got your hands full here. I’ll let you get back to it.”
The door closes behind her, and I finally allow myself to breathe. Maren manages to corner Ricky near the reception desk, scooping him up with a triumphant “Got you, you little escape artist!”
The raccoon chitters at her but settles into her arms, head on her breasts, looking quite pleased with himself.
“Well, that was fun.” Maren wrings water from her hair as she looks at Luna. “You are so buying me Wicked tickets. They’re coming to Denver in February. And you—” She turns to me, one finger extended like a weapon. “You’re going to stop fucking her for five minutes so she can come with me to the show. Actually, you’re the one who should pay for it, Mr. Billionaire. And dinner. And a limo. And I’m sure I’ll think of something else, so get out that fat wallet of yours.”
I raise both hands, palms out. My mind’s already calculating. Orchestra seats, backstage passes, maybe dinner with the leads.
Luna laughs and holds out her hands for Ricky. “Want me to finish with him?”
Maren waves her away and heads toward the swinging doors again. “Nah. I’m already wet. And not in the way I like to be.”
“Come over to the house for lunch when you’re done,” Luna calls after her.
“So GI Joe can poison me? No thanks.”
Luna exhales a small laugh, but a concerned look crosses her face. “The attraction between them worries me.”
I draw her to me, savoring the way she curves into my embrace without hesitation. Fuck, it feels good to be able to do this. She leans against me with a soft sigh and wraps her arms around my waist.
“Yeah. That’s probably not a good idea.”
“Why? Is he a serial killer?”
