Page 79 of Ruthless Regret

I turn my head toward her, and stand and walk around the bed, mimicking my steps all those years ago.

“I remember moving Jason, laying him next to Louisa on the bed. She was already gone. Her eyes were open. The entire bed was soaked in her blood.”

“Where was I? When did I come in?”

“I lost track of time. Shock, I guess. Then I heard a noise.”

Our eyes lock, and the struggle in her gaze is clear.

“I looked up, and you were there.” My voice is soft. “Standing in the doorway. You looked terrified.”

Ashley closes her eyes. “The front door was open when I got here, too. I came in, and called Jason’s name. I thought I heard him answer, and ran up the stairs. When I got to the room, I stopped. Something scared me, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. I heard voices, told myself I was imagining things, and opened the door.”

“Are you sure? I closed the front door, but the bedroom door was open. I didn’t close it.”

She shakes her head. “No, the front door was definitely open. I wouldn’t have been able to get in otherwise. And the bedroom door was closed. I remember when I opened it, it felt like it happened in slow motion. The door opened, and the first thing I saw was you. You were covered in blood. But …” Her eyes snap open. “No … something about that isn’t right. There’s something else.”

“What?” I cross the room to stand in front of her. “What do you remember?”

“I don’t know. It’s like … Like there’s a shadow in my memory. Something that doesn’t fit.”

My heart rate picks up. This could be it. The missing piece. “Try to focus on that shadow, Ashley.” I move close to her and cup her face between my palms, tilting her head up. “Close your eyes. Think. What do you see?”

She closes her eyes again, and runs through arriving at the house and coming up to the bedroom again, her voice soft. Then her eyes fly open, and she reaches out to clutch my sleeve.

“Zain, therewassomeone else. Someone else was here.”

CHAPTER FORTY

ASHLEY

Someone else was here.

I don’t know why I’m so certain of that, but I am.

My heart is pounding, hitting my ribs like it’s trying to break free.

Someone else was here.

The words feel foreign,wrong, like they don’t belong in my mouth. But I know they’re true. I can’t explainwhyI know it’s true, but I do.

“Ashley?” Zain’s voice is gentle, his palms warm against my cheeks, and the strangeness of it all cuts through the panic building inside my head. “Are you okay?”

I pull free from his grip, shaking my head, still trying to grasp at the wisps of memory. “I don’t … It’s not clear. Just a shadow. A presence. But Iknowsomeone was here.”

“Take a minute. Focus on your breathing. Was it before you saw me or after?”

“I don’t know.” My hands are shaking. “It’s all jumbled. I see you, covered in blood. But there’s something else, something I can’t quite …”

A wave of nausea hits me, and I stumble back. Zain catches me, one hand on my arm.

“Steady. Why don’t we go and get some air?”

I nod. “Please. I can’t …I don’t want to be in here anymore.”

His hand slides around my waist, an oddly comforting presence as he guides me out of the room and down the stairs. I walk slowly, but Zain doesn't complain, matching his pace to mine.

When we reach the front door, he drops his arm and turns to face me. His eyes search mine, and there’s an expression on his face that I can’t quite read.

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