Page 85 of Killing Emma

I blink as he slides past me, leaving me standing there off the main entryway, halfway in the kitchen. I don’t feel closure. I don’t feel better. In fact, this entire confrontation feels…anticlimactic. And suddenly, I need the one person who would understand me. Luca would know what to do. But he's on his way here to get his own revenge—on me. I choke back a sob.

“I hope you get killed for escaping,” Jared mutters under his breath. “Stupid whore.”

His words quiet my mind, but awaken something else, something deep in my chest. The only thing I can hear is static, and it's similar to the same rush I got when I smashed the computers. But this time, the red in front of my eyes fades to black. And before either of us realize what’s happened, the filet knife from the block on the counter is lodged in Jared’s throat.

“What the…” his voice trails off into a gurgle as he stumbles back against me. Blood spurts across my blouse, my chest, and my face. I step back and let him crash to the white tile floor.

He stares up at me, weakly grabbing for the knife. His attempts are futile, and I stand there frozen, mesmerized as the light fades from his eyes.

I finally feel better.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Emma

I need help, and that becomes very apparent as I linger over the dead body of my ex-husband. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do with him. I swallow hard and swoop up Jared’s phone. There’s only one contact on his phone that I can think of to call.

And she’s going to freak the fuck out—if she even answers.

I click on Lydia’s name, wiping the blood from my hand onto my jeans. I put the phone up to ear, trying to conjure up how the fuck to explain myself.

“Hello?” Lydia sounds confused, and I can only imagine why.

“Hi,” I choke out. “I was wondering if maybe… It’s Emma.”

“I know,” her voice breaks into a cry. “I was really hoping you’d call.”

“I did something…” I glance down at Jared and step to the side to ensure I don’t get blood on my shoes. “And I, um, I really don’t know who else to call. I-I-I don’t have the phone number I need…”

“I’m on my way,” Lydia’s voice soft. “It’s okay.”

I freeze as the words register. “How do you know where I am?”

“Oh, Emma,” Lydia says. “It’s a long story, but um, could you tell me what you did?”

I purse my lips, glancing down once again at Jared. “I… don’t think I should say anything over the phone…”

“Was Jude able to get ahold of you?”

“He left a voice—” I stop once again. “Jude. Like Jude. Like the Jude that called me in the car? Or is this a different Jude?”

“Same Jude.”

“How do you know him?”

“He’s Henry’s best friend… And business partner.”

“My Jude is your Jude?” I’ve never been more relieved, confused, or surprised. I start to laugh as she confirms it. “Are you saying that Henry is… He’s a…”

“Yes, but are you alright?” Lydia asks, her voice tinged with concern.

“I’m not,” I laugh, shaking my head. “I am not okay. I stole the man I’m head over heels for’s car, money, and dog—and I think he’s going to kill me.”

“Jared’s?”

“No,” I draw out the vowel sound as I sink to the floor. “Luca. He’s going to kill me. I was going to tell him—I was. I wanted to tell him I was sorry for the shit I said, and then I was going to tell him what I wanted. I just wanted to make Jared answer to me, not Luca. And I thought Jared would be way more shell-shocked than he was. It didn’t make me feel any better. But I got my answers.”

“That’s good…” Lydia says, and I can’t tell if she’s shocked or if she just thinks I’m insane.

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