Page 64 of Syndicate of Sin Bundle

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roxie

After weaseling my way back into the apartment, I put the roses in a vase and placed them on the dining room table, feeling nothing but nerves about what I had just done. Sneaking into Alessa’s apartment, taking all her bullets out of her guns, and even finding out about all those women she had killed before. She wouldn’t get a fucking chance to do it again because I’d be ready for when she came next time.

Once I locked and dead-bolted the door, I placed the pictures on the counter and paced around the apartment, my heart racing faster than it should have been. And suddenly, I regretted everything that I had just done. If Alessa found out about it, she’d fucking kill me, and it wouldn’t be a threat this time.

I would have a permanent home six feet under the ground.

Running my hands through my hair, I shook my head and thought about heading back to her apartment and taking everything back—the flowers and the note. It was stupid—so fucking stupid. And I was so terrified of what was going to happen next. I hadn’t thought this through much because, truthfully, I hadn’t thought I’d get this far.

Someone knocked on the door, and my mouth dried. I’d fucking known that Alessa would be over, but I hadn’t expected it to be so soon. I thought that at least Cristian would be here, but … he wasn’t, and I was deep into a fucking anxiety attack.

I shouldn’t have snuck into her apartment. I shouldn’t have left those flowers. And I really shouldn’t have written that note to her. I didn’t know what I had been thinking at the time, but I hadn’t been thinking straight. I have been blinded with revenge, desperate for answers.

Now that I had them, I wished that I hadn’t.

Because Alessa had killed those girls, all of them, any who had seemed to just show minor interest in Cristian. Hell, I was full-blown dating him and couldn’t get my mind around him not having done anything to stop Alessa yet. He should’ve killed her or thrown her out of the apartment building. He could have that arranged at the very least, couldn’t he?

Alessa knocked again. “Roxie, open up. I know you’re in there.”

Heart fucking pounding, I ran through the apartment to find my gun. After making sure that it had enough bullets to at least protect myself from her, I walked back to the door and took a deep breath. I wanted so desperately to end this now. I didn’t want to drag this on and live in fear anymore.

If Cristian wouldn’t take care of her, then I would have to.

But could I?

I’d had so many chances and opportunities. Could I do it now?

Honestly, I didn’t know if I could answer that question.

After cursing myself out, I stuffed my gun into my waistband—still holding it behind my back—and opened the door to see Alessa’s lovely face smirking at me. Without permission, she walked into the room and kicked the door closed behind her, stalking closer and closer and closer to me. My hands wrapped around the gun’s grip, yet I couldn’t pull it out and end her. I couldn’t.

My fingers trembled, my heart racing. How could I just end someone’s life? How could anyone just end someone’s life? I … I … I didn’t know how Cristian or Alessa walked around without a fucking care in the world about it. Maybe they were both too fucked up and should end up together.

“Roxie,” Alessa purred, heels clicking on the ground the closer she walked toward me, puckering her red-stained lips. “I hate to break this to you, but Cristian wants you out. He sent me flowers today and left me a cute little note that said he wanted me back.” She stopped right in front of me and leaned in closer. “So, go pack your things and leave. I’ll take back all the threats I’ve made to you and give you a chance to live your pathetic life again.”

I swallowed hard, breath hitched. Nothing was that easy with her.

A moment passed, and she smirked.

“On second thought …” she started.

Before I had time, she pulled her gun out of her waistband, pressed it against my abdomen, and pulled the fucking trigger, the gun clicking, but no bullet coming out of it.

Alessa paused, her eyes widening, and pulled the trigger again.

Nothing.

I had taken all the bullets out of her gun when I snuck into her house.

But I wasn’t going to let her go. I was going to kill her this time. I pulled my gun out of my waistband and pointed it at her head with a trembling hand.

“No more of your games,” I said to her. “No fucking more of this shit. I sent those flowers, and I found how many people you’d killed. You’re not going to end anyone else’s life, especially not mine.”

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cristian

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