Page 53 of The Amendment

“I don’t understand… He wasn’t supposed to be here.”

“Did you honestly think he would just be waiting at home for you to come by? Seriously, Peter? Use your head.”

“I—” How did she know I’d gone to his house? How did she know anything? “I don’t understand.”

She snapped her fingers, as if she’d just thought of something. “I’ll tell you what I don’t understand. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just tell me what was going on. Why didn’t you tell me what he wanted, Peter? It would’ve saved us all a lot of trouble.”

“How do you know what he wanted?” I demanded, still completely lost.

“Do you honestly think I haven’t learned to listen in on your calls by now?”

What the hell?“Listen in? What do you mean? Do you have my phone bugged? Or the house? Or—”

“It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that Ishouldn’t have to do it. You should be honest with me so it’s not necessary. But you’ve proven time and time again that itisnecessary. If you’d told me what was going on, we could’ve set him up. Had him come here and killed him together. Like a team. Like the team that you claim we are. Instead, you decided to try to take matters into your own hands with some stupid plan that was never going to work, and I had to handle this.” She gestured toward the body with a sigh.

“What did you do, Ainsley?” I couldn’t decide whether to be horrified or impressed.

She rambled off what she’d done as if it were a grocery list. “I texted him after you fell asleep and told him to come here. Told him the deal was on. Then, after you left, I set up the room and waited. When he got here, I pretended to try to run, led him in here, and stabbed him.”

“Wh-what?You should’ve told me what you were planning! I would’ve helped you. You have no idea how dangerous he is! He could’ve hurt you.”

“Yeah, no kidding, but it’syouwhoshould’ve toldme!And thank God Ididhave an idea how dangerous he was. Otherwise, I would’ve been left alone without a plan at all when he arrived.”

“You’re right,” I admitted, nodding my head. “You’re right. I should’ve told you. I just know how much you’re dealing with right now with Maisy and the coach and…everything else. I was trying to take something off your plate and handle it myself.”

“When will you realize I don’t need to be protected? I just need to be on your team.” She huffed a breath, setting her tea on the counter. “God, Peter, that’s all I want. Whywon’t you let me in? What else do I have to do to prove to you that we’re in this together?”

I stared down at the body between us, our biggest problem solved. She was right. She’d done enough—more than enough—to prove we were in this together. The gravity of the situation slammed into my chest. I could’ve lost her. She’d saved us. No thanks to me, she’d saved us.

“Nothing. I’m sorry. God, I’m sorry. You’re…you’re amazing, Ains. I’m so glad you’re okay.” I pulled her to me, kissing her. Suddenly, a passion of a new sort ignited in me. “You really did this?” I asked, pulling us apart and resting her forehead on mine.

“Mhm.” She grinned wickedly. She’d enjoyed it. I could see that in her expression.My little killer.

“I want to hear every detail.”

“Whatever you say.” She kissed me again. “But let’s take care of this first,” she said, nodding toward the body. “We’ll do it together.”

“Good thinking.” At least, one of uswasthinking. All I could think of was her. “I’ll get his head, you get his feet. Let’s take him out back. I’ll show you where to go.”

At least for this part, she still needed me. This was where I excelled.

Without hesitation, we jumped into action, gripping his body in the tarp and dragging him down the hall. She’d wrapped the corners in duct tape, and I could see the blood pooling underneath the foggy plastic.

There was so much blood. It must’ve been a head injury.

Or an artery.

But which?

I wanted to know everything, but she was focused.

One thing at a time.

I kicked the back door open and we dragged him across the yard, completely hidden by the solace of our trees. We pulled the body past the garden and the fruit trees we’d planted when the kids were young.

When we’d reached the tree line, we were both panting and out of breath.

I couldn’t believe this was happening.

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