Page 164 of Unholy Bonds

“I will. Bye, Trish.”

I spent the rest of the day researching Ryden Sinclair. I finally knew his secret. He accepted Yara as she was because he, too, was a killer, much like her. That explained Yara’s attraction to him. Maybe his darkness resonated with hers, just as hers called out to me.

It was a curveball I hadn’t expected, but… everything would be alright. My plans were still good enough. I was ahead of this game, and they both didn’t know.

Later that night, I cleaned Yara’s car, getting it ready. Each swipe of the cloth was a ritual until Yara’s car gleamed. Good as new.

Once I was done, I poured over the photographs Logan took. Each picture was a piece of the puzzle that would lead me closer to her vulnerabilities, her secrets, and ultimately, her.

“You don’t have many friends, but still more than you should have,” I whispered, staring at Yara. She looked so beautiful in those pictures, frozen in time.

For someone with so many secrets, Yara did have people in her life. I didn’t want her to have them.

I should be enough for her. She was always enough for me.

“I’ll take them all away, Yara. Until you and I are the only one left in your life.”

61

SURPRISE, SURPRISE

YARA

Ryden and I spent the next two days at home. I had no desire to move my body from the comfort of my mattress or see the outside world. I just wanted to stay right here with Ryden, naked in bed.

Ryden nuzzled my neck with a groan. “I’m hungry. Do you want anything to eat?”

“Coffee,” I said, staring at the ceiling with a yawn, and Ryden chuckled.

“Are you still thinking about Logan?”

“I can’t stop thinking,” I said.

“I can make you forget,” he said, kissing me on my shoulder. I laughed. He really could.

“I’m already sore,” I said, and he smirked. “Go bring that coffee first.”

He walked out, naked, without a fucking care in the world.

I was finishing my coffee when I got a message.

TS: You’ll find a surprise waiting for you on your doorstep. Scratch that. Surprises. You’ll enjoy it. Also, darling, I will kill Ryden Sinclair sooner or later. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.

Fuck this.

Ryden and I walked downstairs in silence. When I opened the door… I gasped. My car was in the driveway, and it looked pristine, like someone had painstakingly cleaned it. The door was slightly ajar.

“Should I open it?” Ryden asked, and I nodded.

I stiffened when I saw a brown package sitting sullenly on the passenger seat. The package had a confidential sticker and my name scribbled on top of it. I ripped it open with a curse.

“What the hell’s that?” Ryden asked, grabbing a printed document from the pile.

“Detective Patel’s investigation report. His case notes.” I studied the papers like they were vile snakes and would come alive to bite me if I blinked. “He was… typing up a warrant to have my phone investigated.”

“Shit.”

“If that had happened…”

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