Page 58 of The Hand that Frays

It takes a few moments before we stop moving together in the aftermath of sex. Neo removes the Glock and holsters it as he stuffs himself back in his pants, gripping himself to clean his length off.

I grin as I cock one leg up on the edge of the bed. “Clean me up a bit, will you?”

He grins, kneeling at my feet as his tongue laps at the collective mess we made of my center.

“Get it all,” I breathe.

He doesn’t stop until I’m coming for him again. My hands gripped onto his hair like it’s my lifeline.

“God, that’s good,” I breathe as he lazily licks around my clit as I’m shuddering through the aftershocks of orgasm.

A scream comes from downstairs, breaking the moment we’ve just had to bits as our eyes lock.

“Seems our job isn’t done yet, stupid girl.”

“Seems you’re right, Butcher.”

Even with the pressing matter of being found out, a wicked gleam lights his eyes as he tosses my clothes and pulls his blade out.

I follow him downstairs to find Anne Hatt pulling her iPhone from her bag with shaking hands.

She’s come home early.

Unlucky for her.

Neo grabs her wrist from behind. “Now, let’s not do anything you’ll regret, yeah?”

I grin, the lunacy my vile husband bred in me rising to the surface of my psyche.

“Who are you?” Anne asks, and I pull my knife from its sheath.

“We are your saving graces. We gave you your life back,” I tell her.

Her eyes roam over the body of her dead child strapped to a chair, and Neo turns her head back toward where I lean against the front of the desk.

“Look at my stupid girl when she’s speaking to you,” he snarls.

“Thank you, love. Now, where were we? Oh yeah,we’ve proved your innocence. We’re the reason your trial will be thrown out of court when the inspectors come to gather evidence. “

“You killed them,” Anne breathes.

“Semantics.” I shrug.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

LYLA

Anne Hatt is Neo’s exact type. Her blonde hair and light eyes likely remind him of his mother. Her entire body shakes with fear, and tears roll down her cheeks. However, the way she’s only looking at Carl gives the distinct impression that Ada isn’t someone she’s going to miss.

“What have you done?” she breathes, approaching Carl and falling to her knees.

Neo’s head cocks, and yet, his eyes soften toward the woman.

Seeing this woman, who reminds him of his mother but is the picture of innocence, seems to confound him.

“We freed you,” Neo says, approaching the other side of the desk, where he waves his hand over the evidence splayed out for Anne’s viewing.

Her eyes are filled with pure fear as she stands and swallows.

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