Page 151 of Loving the Liar

In my peripheral, I can see Rose and Jake shaking their heads, disappointed in me. I might be suicidal saying that. The more I push Ella into a corner, the harder it will be to pull her back, but I need to get her to that point of no return.

I hang up, already opening the message app.

“I don’t want to hear it.” I stop Jake before he can even start his sentence.

He says it anyway.

“I regret helping you.”

I barely glance his way. “I don’t care.”

I’m typing like a madman, knowing this is the last thing I can do. If I haven’t by now, the line will definitely be crossed by the end of the night.

Looking down at the text I sent, I take a deep, steadying breath.

Chris: I spoke with Duval. I’ll get you back into the Circle. Meet me at the edge of the forest behind the campus residences. Now.

She deserves it, I tell myself. After everything she did. My dad, the hits, the manipulation. She hurt Ella.

She deserves it.

Her response comes quickly.

Megan: Coming now.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Ella

Way Down We Go - KALEO

I’m shaking. I can’t stop it. It’s cold outside, a crisp fall wind that seeps down to my bones. It’s not raining, but the dark clouds in the night sky are promising a storm to remember.

“Megan?” I call out, walking deeper and deeper into the woods.

The branches are thickening, and the moonlight was already missing, so the darkness is becoming eerie, sending another chill slithering down my spine. I wrap my coat tighter around my body and walk farther.

“Megan, I swear to God…” I jolt when I hear a branch cracking next to me.

An animal runs past, making me gasp as I jump to the side. My heart races, and I have to put a hand on my chest to calm myself.

This looks a lot like a trap. Especially coming from Megan. Her message was strange, but then I asked myself, what is the worst she can do? She’s not going to kill me.

She can try. I’m so furious with her, I might be the one ending up killing her. The woman used Hermes’s account to ruin my life, my reputation, and my self-esteem. I think one of us has more reasons to kill the other.

I look at my phone, already in my hand because I’m using the flashlight to go through the woods.

Unknown: Meet me in the woods behind the residences. I have something you can use to get out of your situation with Chris. He played us both. Megan.

There’s some noise coming from a few feet in front of me, but the trees are so thick I can’t see anyone.

Hearing a struggle, I freeze. Then a whimpered no.

“Megan? I swear if this is a trap, I’m going to kill you.”

I barely say the word “kill” when her scream resonates through the woods. Probably all the way to the residences.

And out of nowhere, she’s running toward me. Her long legs, her shoulder-length hair. She slaloms between the trees, but with every step she takes, she slows down, struggles harder.

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