Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Dimitri heads off into another room, and I give a signal to Roman to follow him.
“From what we hear, you’re the one who murdered those girls,” Vlad says, staring right at me.
“Yeah,” I scrub a hand down my jaw. “That’s what it’s looking like to everyone else too.”
We leave after we get the proof that the Chekov brothers were in Russia when Strawberry was murdered.
“Did you believe them?” Ledger asks once we’re all in his black SUV.
I shrug. “I believe they were in Russia. But that doesn’t mean shit. They could have had somebody else kill them. However, I would like to question Merrick, find out what he knows. I just want to know why somebody would kill these girls.”
And that’s the million-dollar question.
Chapter 16
Chloe
* * *
I wake with my heart thrashing against my chest. I gasp for air and glance at my phone.
4:18 in the morning.
I slam my head back down on the pillow and shut my eyes, unsure of why I woke up in such a shock. I’m almost asleep when the sound of my cell phone ringing pulls me from that spot just between twilight and slumber.
Finn.
Why’s he calling?
“Hello,” I mumble into the phone.
“Another one’s dead.”
I swipe the grogginess from my eyes. “What?”
“Check the news. There’s been another murder.”
My chest constricts, and I jolt upright. “What? Who?”
“Taylor Haws, she went by the name Luna at the club. We don’t have many details yet.”
I jolt upright. I want to ask to go to the crime scene, but I know I can’t blow my cover. “Where was her body found? Tell me everything.”
“Same as the others. She’s found dead at home. Listen, it’s a real mess down here.”
My mind is reeling. Straight up reeling at this news. Finn keeps talking, but I can’t pay attention. I’m out of bed, turning the TV on and listening to the reporter say the same information Finn gives me.
Luna’s death is exactly like the last three women.
“Chloe, are you listening to me?”
“No, sorry. What?”
“Katherine’s saying she wants to pull you from the club.”
“What? No, I’m getting close.” Even though I’m really not.
“You’re getting close to being this asshole’s next victim.” He goes silent for a few moments before he huffs into the phone. “And the FBI is two seconds away from kicking us off this case and taking over. So, you need to get answers quickly.”
“I know, I know.” But I don’t know what to do differently. Statistically, swimming with sharks as their bait, I’m bound to hook one soon.
“Do you think it was Devereaux Huxley?” he asks.
I process his question and go with my gut. “I don’t think Devereaux is the culprit.”
He sighs. “I can possibly hold Katherine off, or the FBI, but you need to get somewhere on this case soon.”
“I can’t just very well go over to his house and knock on his door, ya know?”
“I know. I’m just saying.”
“Look, I know you’re all worried, but I’ll be fine.”
“Chloe, we have to figure this shit out.”
“I know.”
“I’ll call you if I find out anything.” Before he disconnects, he throws a doozy my way. “Oh, there is one thing. A neighbor said they saw a black truck driving by earlier.”
“Black truck?”
“Yeah with a bumper sticker that reads, ‘The closer you get, the slower I drive.”
“Oh, ok,” I say and he hangs up.
That’s Brandon’s truck. I don’t know why I didn’t mention it to Finn.
Sleep’s not happening tonight, so I pace the hardwood floors of my living room, ruminating on my conversations with Luna for any clues I might’ve missed. She never talked about anything but her boyfriend and their kinky sex life. Once, she mentioned not wanting to be a Greedy Girl because her boyfriend didn’t approve. Is he jealous?
Did he get mad at her for something?
No, it can’t be the boyfriend, because he has no real motive to kill the other girls.
I’m sure the police are questioning him, but my instinct says it’s not the boyfriend who’s behind this.
It’s someone else.
My mind conjures up Devereaux’s caramel-colored eyes. I stare at the TV screen, wondering if he’s capable of murder.
Club Greed closes for three days to mourn the loss of another girl.
On Wednesday afternoon, I’m standing at the graveyard, watching a cherry-wood casket being lowered into the ground. The girls from Club Greed flank me, overcome with grief. Sugar cries fat sloppy tears, even though she and Luna were never really that close. But I get it. Death has a way of making you wish you’d made more of an effort when they were alive.
I’ve been collecting names, looking for anyone suspicious at the funeral. So far, there’s no one out of place, just friends, family, and co-workers.
My gaze travels to Brandon, watching for his reaction to Luna’s burial. His stony face and statue-like posture give nothing away. A shiver crawls up my spine at the thought that every girl here, including me, wears a target on their back, and I’m clueless who wields the death bow.