Page 149 of End Game

“It’s possible, but they’d have to find a hole in our story.”

“Will they?” Liv asked.

Someone, maybe Mason, had done a remarkable job of cleaning up the physical evidence, including burying the bodies. Had he been the one who killed the guard Ash left behind and slit the throats of two others? A question that would go unanswered, with him in the wind again.

Rohan had worked his magic on the digital trail and Ash had assessed everything with a law enforcement eye. The holes had been plugged to the best of the team’s ability. Now, all they could do was wait.

To the ladies, she said, “Our story is as fireproof as possible.”

Almost as one, the women relaxed into their seats, having complete confidence in their men.

“Did you find out who vandalized your car?” Cilla asked.

Kayla inwardly winced, still recalling the murder of crows she’d had to swallow during her apology to Natalie. “Using the parking garage video, Neuman worked with my intern Gemma to identify the vandal. Turns out, one of Tommy O’Connor’s teammates, Jennie McIntyre, thought the scare tactic would incentivize me.”

“Unbelievable,” Lena said. “Did you notify the police?”

Kayla shook her head. “A lot was riding on the bill’s passage. She had a valid fear. Several families would have lost their homes if the bill failed.” Her team had secured the votes to pass Tommy’s bill. A win. But Krowne and Associates wouldn’t be partnering with his group again. “I strongly recommended that she work with a professional to find more productive means of expression.”

“You’re a damn saint,” Lena said.

Kayla grinned. “Not even close.”

“Did you figure out Mason’s motivations? ” Maddy asked.

“Not yet.”

“How was the governor’s funeral?”

“Amazing, heartbreaking. The State honored Vicky’s memory beyond my wildest dreams. I think even Linda was impressed, though she would never say.”

Not being able to tell Linda about Sybil and Elsie’s scheme had been one of the toughest pills for Kayla to swallow. But doing so would have put them all in danger. She hoped Vicky would forgive her.

“How did, um, Ash and Zeke get along?” Liv asked, her attention on something behind Kayla.

“Outside of a few verbal jabs, exceedingly well. Best I’ve seen yet. Why?”

Male voices rose above the Penguins singing Earth Angel.

Kayla peered over her shoulder, and all the blood cooled in her veins.

Ash and Zeke stood before the bank of windows that overlooked the backyard. They each held a crystal tumbler half full of amber liquid. Tension radiated out from them, like a slow-moving poisonous fog, bent on killing the festive mood.

Lynette and Grams’s conversation suspended mid-sentence. Phin glanced up from the board game he was playing with Sadie and Brodie. Rohan and Cruz peeled away from the liquor sideboard and headed toward the oncoming disaster. Henri, Clara, Alejandro, and Neuman slipped from the room.

The moment had come, the one the family had been encouraging for years.

Ash and Zeke would finally hash out their shit.

Dread filled Kayla’s chest.

“Everything is always about you,” Ash snarled, ignoring the startled stares of the birthday party guests. “What about me?”

Zeke snorted. “You got exactly what you wanted. Your dream job.”

“And lost everything else. My name, my family, my home.”

“Using your middle name was your damn decision.”

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