Page 99 of Conquered

“My friend has been warning me about you.”

“Josie?”

She bit her lip before nodding. “Her father is a senator. He used to be the police chief. I have a feeling he wants you and your brothers put away.”

I laughed, although I was more than curious about what Josie knew. “Her father can take a number.”

There was another moment of awkward tension settling between us.

“I told her not to bother me.”

“That’s not a bad idea. At least for now. She’s your friend and I don’t want to interfere with that under any circumstances.”

She offered another nod, her eyes darting back and forth but this time not at me. She was concerned, uncertain.

Including whether to trust me. How could I blame her?

“You’re right about Zane. He was a horrible man.” Her voice was now small, her brow furrowed.

“Why are you saying that other than what he did to you?” I asked, swirling my drink.

She held her arms, tipping her head over her shoulder. “He assaulted his girlfriend and never paid the price. Maybe I’m glad he finally received punishment. Maybe I’m jealous, wishing I’d been there at least to see it. I’m curious. Are you having the nightmares any longer?”

I thought about her question. “Not since you came into my life.”

I could hear her ragged exhale, as if uncertain whether to believe me, but I realized it was very true. She was my salvation after all.

With that she walked from the room and for the first time in as long as I could remember, I wanted to be a better man.

And I never wanted her to end up like me.

My beautiful light.

My shining star.

The woman who would forever haunt my dreams.

CHAPTER 26

Sara

“Please come talk to me. Please. I just want you to be safe.”

I’d heard Josie’s plea once again and it had settled entirely differently in the back of my mind.

The Angel of Death.

I’d googled the term.

It would seem the term had been used for at least a dozen infamous serial killers over the years. It had taken me a couple of hours to randomly put together articles.

Some of those being called the Angel of Death had been doing society a favor. Like Robin Hood for the poor. The victims hadn’t been the best human beings if you could call them that at all.

Including the few supposedly tied to the current reincarnated monster.

Easton.

I knew the man had it in him. I’d seen the hate in his eyes. Even crazier than taking some comfort in the fact he might have already saved my life was that I could easily forgive him for his atrocious sins.

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