Page 74 of Cruel Riches

I struggled to my feet, eyes narrowing. “Nate?”

He took off the mask, confirming my suspicion. “Finally figured it out, huh?” he said with a thin smile.

“Well, it’s obvious now. You’re the only one on this island who knows who I really am,” I said. “But you need to get this through your head right now—my dad didn’t kill anyone, and neither did I!”

He cocked his head. “Do you really think I’d bring you here without good reason?”

“You stalked and terrorized me for the last few months for no good reason, so yeah, I do think you’d do that. You’re fucked up.” I gripped the old bars and rattled them. “Who else knows I’m here? I want to talk to them. Unlike you, they might be able to see reason.”

“No one knows you’re here except me.”

“Bullshit.” I spat at him through the bars, just missing his left cheek. “I remember everything now. There were at least seven other guys with you when you stopped me in that alley and drugged me.”

Nate nodded patiently. “My Skulls brothers helped me do that, but they thought it was just a prank. I told them I’d take you home afterwards.”

“A prank?”

“Yes. I told them you’re a little wannabe journalist who won’t stop sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.” His lips curved into a malicious smirk. “I told them we were just going to mess with you and scare you. Make you think you’d crossed the wrong people in one of your little journalistic endeavors.”

I shrank back. “What about Jon Richter?”

“He was part of it.” The smirk grew wider. “I know all about your pathetic little newspaper ad, so we found Jon and offered him ten grand to play along with our scheme. We told him that all he had to do was fill your head with bullshit about Peter Covington being innocent so he could lure you right to us. He never knew Peter, by the way. They worked at Blackthorne at the same time, but that’s all.”

My heart skipped a beat. “So everything he said about my dad was a lie?” I said in a small voice.

“Yes. I don’t even know everything he said, but whatever it was, it fucking worked. Brought you right to us.” Nate rubbed his jaw. “I should really give him a bonus.”

My legs felt weak all of a sudden. I slumped down to the thin mattress on the floor. “You can’t do this,” I said, voice barely above a murmur. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“That’s not true.” Nate crouched to my level again. “You know, I used to think you just wanted revenge for what happened to your father. But that’s not the whole story, is it? You actually enjoy killing people, don’t you?”

“No!”

“Yes.” He sneered. “Daddy’s little monster. He’d be so proud.”

“I told you, I didn’t do anything!” I said. “You can’t keep me here!”

“I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

“People will notice I’m missing, Nate. My family and friends. My professors, too. They’ll notice when I stop showing up for classes and exams.”

Nate pulled a phone out of his pocket. My phone. He waved it in the air. “I took care of that. I emailed the Dean of Students on your behalf, letting him know how traumatized you were by the deepfake sex scandal, and now the campus murders. I told him you’ll need a while to recover mentally, so your professors shouldn’t expect you in class.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What about my friends?”

“I told them the same thing—that you need some time alone to deal with all your shit. I also hinted at therapy.” He unlocked my phone and looked down at it. “Laurel said: I’m glad you’re getting help. You’ve had such an awful time lately. Let me know if you ever need anything. I’ll be right there.” Nate chuckled darkly. “How nice of her. And here’s Ruby’s response: I understand, babe. I totally forgive you for what happened in the library yesterday, so don’t feel bad about it at all. I hope you feel better soon. Love you! Xoxo.”

“What about Sascha? She’ll notice something’s wrong.”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t forget your sister. I told her you’re absolutely slammed with assignments and exam prep, so she shouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t hear from you for a while. I also figured I’ll text her in a couple of weeks and tell her you went back to the apartment to see her, but she was out. Then she’ll feel like it’s her fault she missed you.”

“It won’t last. She’ll figure it out eventually.”

Nate smiled thinly. “I know. But with everything I’ve set up, your friends and family won’t start to get suspicious for at least three or four weeks. Maybe even five.” He took hold of the bars with one hand and leaned closer, danger glimmering in his eyes. “That’s just enough time for me to do what I want with you.”

“And then what?” I put my hands on my hips. “You think after five weeks I’m going to magically forget what you look like?”

“Why would you need to—” Understanding suddenly dawned on his face, and he started laughing again. “Oh. Poor, stupid Alexis. You actually think I’m going to let you go after I’m done playing with you.” He shook his head again, amusement playing on his lips. “Do you really think I’d show you my face if I was going to do that?”

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