Page 123 of Killer Kiss

And more.

Even if we could get him back, I knew this was it.

They’d never speak to me again.

Never forgive me.

Colt and Lacey moved to the doorway, but Ophelia stepped in front of them.

“It’s not his fault.”

Colt glared at her. “Do yourself a favor and stay away from him. He’s a fucking disease. Every time we let him near us something like this happens.” He glanced back over his shoulder at me, his lip curled in a snarl. “Save yourself before he drags you down, too, the same way he did to your sister and now Banjo.”

I didn’t retaliate.

There was nothing to say.

He was right.

But anger burned behind Ophelia’s gaze, and she stood firmly in the doorway, not budging an inch when Colt tried to get past her. “It’s not his fault. It’s mine.”

No way was I going to let her take the brunt of Colt’s anger for something I’d done. “Ophelia, just let them go.”

But she shook her head, and then her gaze switched to me. “It’s not Bert Leddith who has your brother. At least I don’t think so. I meant it when I said this is my fault.” She bit down on her lip. “I’m so sorry. I was going to tell you.”

Lacey glanced between us, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and then anger. “All I know right now is Banjo is missing, and somebody better tell me something I can give to the cops so they can find him.”

Ophelia dragged her gaze away from mine and focused on Lacey. “The cops can’t help him now. But I can.” She came to stand in front of me and gave me the tiniest of smiles. With a trembling finger, she reached up and brushed my hair off my forehead.

Then told me everything.

How she’d been hired to kill me.

How she was promised to a man she didn’t love. One who killed for business as well as for pleasure.

How that man had seen her leave Banjo’s house the other night.

And how she believed that Riddick had either seen her leave Banjo’s and assumed it was him she was having an affair with.

Or that Banjo was the second target. One that her mother had given to Riddick to take out when Ophelia hadn’t killed me quickly enough.

“No, that doesn’t make sense,” I protested weakly. Thoughts swarmed my head. Questions pounded at my brain, trying to force it to make sense. “Who would put a hit out on Banjo?”

“Who would put a hit out on you?” she asked. “This job came in before you got messed up with the PI. There were two targets who came in at the same time. The one I was given was you. The one Riddick was given could very well have been Banjo. Who would want you both dead? It has to be connected.”

But I had no idea. I couldn’t think of anyone.

Ophelia brushed her lips over mine, but I flinched back, her words finally sinking in through the haze of confusion. I stared at her like she was brand-new. Like I’d never seen the way her brown eyes shone. Or the curve of her hips. Or breathed in the sweet scent of her skin.

I didn’t know this woman.

This woman who lied.

Who killed.

She was a complete and utter stranger.

She was Ophelia.

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