Page 73 of Brutal Ice

“The detective…I told you that he said Royal is dangerous. A criminal. A killer. The cop thinks…this is going to terrify you, but he thinks Royal might be the man who abducted you!”

She stared into Royal’s eyes. He didn’t so much as blink.

“Royal has ties to some other women who were abducted and murdered. He knew a victim in Atlanta. One of his gang banger friends dated her, and Royal had some crazy jealousy thing going on because he wanted her for himself.”

Royal slowly shook his head.

“You’re his type, Violet!” Simone rushed to say. “He wants you because you look like her, and he is obsessed with the woman. The detective thinks…he thinks Royal killed her in some jealous rage. The Atlanta PD and the local cops are working together. They are going to bring him down.”

Violet didn’t look away from Royal. For just a moment, she could have almost sworn that she heard someone whispering in the background of the call. Talking behind Simone?

“He doesn’t want you,” Simone told her fiercely. “He wants the lover he killed, but he can’t get her back, so he is going through this insane routine over and over again. He is insane. Get away from him, Violet! Steal his damn car if you have to do it, but get away from him! Come to me. We’ll be safe together. I’ll be safe when you get here!”

It was hard to pull in a deep breath. Royal showed no sign of getting out of her way.

He raised a hand to his lips.

Shh.

Her breath heaved out.

“I-I am near an old gas station. I’m going to ping you my location from my phone before it d-dies. There’s just freaking miles of farmland out here. Micah just left me here. He was driving and saying wild things, and I had to get away from him.”

Miles of farmland. “You should call the cops. Now.”

“I can’t! Micah will fire me if I do, and I need this job! Violet, I am begging you—begging!” And the tears were in her voice. “Come get me. We’ll be safe together. You get away from Royal and I get away from this…this mess.”

She lifted her chin and stared straight into Royal’s swirling eyes. “I’m coming.”

“Thank you.” A long exhale. “And…hurry? Please.”

The call ended.

A moment later, the phone pinged with Simone’s location.

“I’m going to need you to move, Royal.” She thought the words came out surprisingly normal. Very level.

He didn’t move.

Her chin lifted. “Royal…”

“Your friend is a liar, Violet. And I think she wants you dead.”

“Done.” Euphoria filled Simone, making her a little dizzy. Or maybe that was the insane amount of fear and adrenaline flooding through her body that made her dizzy. Either way… “Done,” she repeated. “I said everything you wanted. I gave her the location just like you asked. Violet will come here. You’ll get her, so…let me go?” Please, let me go.

He removed the knife from her throat. She sucked in some deep, gulping breaths. While the blade had been pressed against her jugular, she’d been afraid to breathe too deeply. Every word she’d spoken had made her acutely aware of the knife. When she’d begged Violet, Simone had felt the blade dig into her skin.

And she’d felt the blood trickle down her neck.

“You’ll trade her life for yours.” His voice was still a soft rasp. That was all it had been the whole time. He’d been talking in that low rasp while she’d been on the phone. He’d told her what to say. And she’d followed his orders because she wanted to live.

Simone still didn’t look at him. I won’t. If I don’t see his face, then I’m safe. Simone nodded.

“I want to hear the words. Tell me that you’ll trade your life for hers.”

But she didn’t want to say them. Saying them…saying them made her feel like she was killing Violet. Except I’m not. I’m not the one with the knife. He is.

“Say the words.”

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