Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“He chose me! Live with it!”
Huge arms lifted me up as I kicked my feet and wrenched off another layer of weave out of her head. Screeching, Wendy beat at my arms to let go. “Stop her! Make her stop!”
“Let go, baby. Please, let go.” Chase’s voice entered my head. It was the only thing that could get through the fog, the last thing on this earth that could get through to me just enough to show me the craziness of my actions. “Tesoro? Let go. This isn’t you.”
And so I did, but not after socking that hoe in her left eye.
Laughter came from the end of the hall. I didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know it was Vivian, especially after she yelled, “It must’ve been all those Chuck Norris jokes. He’ll do that to you sometimes.”
Chapter 24
TROY
It must’ve taken Chase ten minutes to get my screaming sister into his bedroom. Another five passed with her cursing and him remaining quiet. Ten minutes later, their ’headboard banged against the wall and Jazz was speaking in tongues.
Sex thickened the air, whether all the people in the hallway desired it or not. Although beaten and bruised, Wendy winked at me. Her robe stayed open enough to reveal the lovely body within. She was wack, but sensations flowed to my dick just the same.
I was a man after all.
Regardless, Viv didn’t appreciate Wendy giving me a view so I straightened up real quickly, told little man to chill out, and helped Wendy get off the floor. Once Wendy strolled into her bedroom and shut the door, only Lucy, Viv, and I remained. What an awkward group we were. Neither probably wanted to be there but no one had a reason to move out of the hallway.
Lucy intrigued me. It could’ve been her fucked-up story. If she’d been my sister, everyone involved in hurting her would’ve been dead. Every bastard who touched or watched would’ve been on that beach. And fuck a gun. It was too cowardly and clean. A female’s way out. Too much finesse. I loved a mess. When people took a life, it had to be dirty and soaking with blood. Too clean of a murder helped people forget the part they played. It let them forget and put the whole death out of their minds.
I don’t like to forget. Guilt keeps the darkness inside my chest and not out in the open.
“So your Jasmine’s twin, right?” Lucy put her hand out as if hoping to shake mine. In the background, Jazz groaned. Bile rose in my throat as the headboard’s banging picked up and smacking ensued.
I should’ve cut a line in that motherfucker’s nuts.
“Yeah, I’m Jazz’s brother.”
“Ooh, I love that name.” Lucy clapped like we were at a theater showing instead of in the hallway of a man that was accusing her and her friends of murder.
“Can I call her Jazz?” She beamed.
“Hell, no!” Viv shouted, even though no one asked her.
“You would have to ask Jazz,” I said.
Viv tossed me an evil eye. I ignored it. Lucy wasn’t the enemy. Too much conflict stormed within her eyes—gray clouds and darkness, fear and sacrifice, but no death. She’d seen it, but not wielded it herself.
Lucy isn’t a killer. If I’m wrong then I’ll stab myself.
I chuckled which attracted both of their attention. “Sorry.”
“So, I don’t trust you, Lucy.” Viv tucked a few blonde strands behind her ear. “How can we change that?”
“Umm. . .What did I do to lose your trust?”
“Three girls died around you.”
“But. . .” She looked at me. I shook my head and couldn’t save her. Viv needed answers from her and she’d have to give them or continue to deal with Viv’s ignorant behind the rest of the day. I can’t help you, Lucy. If it were Jazz, maybe. Viv had me on an invisible leash. If she tugged, I moved in that direction.
“Did you kill those three women?” Viv asked.
“No. Never! I wouldn’t even. . .ever. . .just no. I couldn’t do that.”
“But there’s the elephant in the room,” Viv said. “You know. You’re a little weird.”
“Okay. Fine. I’m a bit odd in comparison to other women.” I loved how Lucy owned it. “I’m weird, but I’m no murderer. I’m the door mat, not the foot that rubs the mud on. . .you know what I’m trying to say, right?”
Viv twisted her lips and tossed back a skeptical expression. “But—”
“Leave it, Viv. Lucy is innocent.”
Seething at me, Viv turned my way. “And why is that?”
“Because there’s no murder in her eyes.”
Lucy blushed. Viv snorted, and I just laughed.
Hey, you don’t have to believe me. I’m just saying the facts.
“Well, who do you think did it?” Viv asked me and possibly Lucy.
Before telling Viv my suspicions, I needed to see if Lucy was a true player or pawn in this situation. I think two people killed those girls. Had to be. Lucy may not have helped but she could’ve known certain actions would play out a certain way. I heard on the stairwell that she told everyone where Jazz and Chase were going to be the night Jazz got shot. If she knew Dawn or Wendy was the killer, then she was just as guilty to me as the actual murderer. Maybe she was the one who had the gun and gave it back to Wendy. I could see Wendy shooting someone. It was too hard to get a good look into her eyes. Even in the hallway she avoided me distracted me by doing things like winking and poking out her chest.