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Prologue

COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO

PRESENT DAY

LONDON

Should I look him in the eye when I killed him or just shoot him in the back?

Tough call

I crouched in the kitchen, digging through un was, of course, but pulling it straight out just seemed so … obscene The smell of dinner on the stove filled rain corn bread in the oven for a side because it’s healthier

It’d been baking for ten minutes already, which meant I had about twelve more minutes to end his life before the bread burned

Reese sat out in the dining roo his favorite beer while he waited for food I’d been sure to buy a half rack earlier, and I’d o He was on his second noasn’t under any illusions—two beers wouldn’t be enough to slow him down if he came after me, or ease his pain if my aim was off

Still, a ht?

My fingers brushed the cold un I pulled outher pretty, sraduation day So full of hope and proht ar a gli tips on her new acrylics She’d wanted theet, but I couldn’t tell her no

You have to understand—none of us ever expected Jessica to graduate

Hell, she shouldn’t even be alive My bitch of a cousin had done drugs all through both pregnancies, yet soh Not unscathed She had the usual developift that keeps on giving for a child’s whole life But at least she had a life Her little sister died in the NICU two days after her birth Never got a chance

Fuck you, A that to your kids

I glanced up at the oven ti about Jess I supposed I could kill hi it off would just s harder

Or maybe I should feed him first?

No He’d had his beer, but if I had to sit across from Reese over a meal I’d never h I’d never been a good liar This pastbad joke

Right Time for the punch line

I pulled out the small pistol and stuck it into the pocket of the loose sweater I’d picked so carefully for just thisthem into my jeans Just in case I didn’t really expect to survive the night, but it never hurts to hope The van was even gassed up and ready to go, on the off chance that I et away

Of course, I had no idea where I’d drive Burn that bridge when you get to it …

Things started going wrong as soon as I walked into the dining roo at the head of the table, where I’d left hi if he’d just stayed put Now he sat facing azine lay open before hi smile of his God, I loved that smile, despite the fact that it could be cruel as all fuck

“So his head

“No,” I hts Gee, Reese, I’m so sorry I’m about to kill you, but if itit—not a hundred percent sure I won’t shoot myself next

I wouldn’t, though Not yet Not until I saw Jessica for myself, made sure they’d kept their promises and she was safe and sound After that?

Well We’d just have to see

He sighed, eyes flicking to un

Paranoia hit yet again

He knew He knew all about it, I could see it in his face Fuck I’d failed her … Don’t be ridiculous How could he possibly know?

“Babe, you look like you could use a day off,” he said finally “Have you considered hitting the spa? Maybe get a e?”

“That costs too h Because ht?

“I wasn’t suggesting that you pay for it,” he said, frowning at me

“I don’t want your money—”

“Yeah, I know, you’re totally independent and you like it that way Blah, blah Just letfor you, for once Fuck’s sake”

Shit Why did he have to be so nice?

I feltain and focus I needed to kill hi er problem than it sounds Pistols aren’t exactly known for accuracy, and it’s not like I had much in the way of experience

I needed to get closer

If I came up behind hih God, I was a shitty hu

“The food won’t be ready for another ten minutes,” I said “You look sort of tense Want a neck rub?”

He raised a brow as I circled the table

“I think you should stay back,” he said slowly I paused

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’d hate to make it too easy for you, sweetheart”

My chest tightened I offered a weak smile, because like I said—I’m a shit liar

“I don’t understand”

“I’ to shoot me in the back of the head,” he said quietly, and that’s when I realized he wasn’t relaxed at all Heback casually, but every one of those solid ht, poised to attack “That’s a bad idea You shoot that close, you’ll be all covered in blood spatter Means you’ll have to risk trackingtis”

Well At least it was all finally out in the open Al hted on hiht back Instead he just sat, waiting