Page 41 of Final Vendetta

Myers studied me for several excruciatingly long moments, as if trying to read my thoughts. There was something familiar about him. Not his appearance, but the way he spoke.

It rattled me more than it should have.

Finally, he stepped back and turned. “Well, you’re a better man than me.”

I watched as he retreated down the driveway and slid into his sedan. It wasn’t until he’d driven away that I remembered to breathe.

When I’d decided to seek revenge against the men who betrayed me, I went into it knowing someone may eventually uncover the truth.

That was before Imogene. Before I realized there was something worth living for again.

That there was someoneworth living for again.

I foolishly thought I could leave my past behind me and only look toward the future.

But with every passing day, I was starting to realize just how impossible that may be.

Chapter Seventeen

Imogene

The waves crashing against the shore outside the bungalow used to bring me peace. But today, as I sat curled up on the couch in the living room, I could barely hear them over the thoughts racing through my mind. It probably didn’t help that Gideon told me to stay inside, all things considered.

I understood his concern, but it was suffocating at the same time.

Like I was stuck in a prison.

A beautiful prison, but a prison all the same.

The only saving grace was that Melanie had driven down from LA after I told her about the photos. As comforting as her presence was, I couldn’t shake the unsettled feeling consuming me. And not simply because of the break-in.

Ever since Agent Myers stopped by yesterday, Gideon had seemed even more agitated, locking himself in the gym for hours as he went to town on the punching bag. He could have just been frustrated with the fact that Liam was still out there somewhere.

I sensed it was more than that, though.

“And you’re absolutely certain it was Liam?” Melanie asked in a hushed voice from beside me on the couch, curling her legs beneath her.

“The frames were left exactly where I had them before I took them down.”

“Whydidyou take them down?”

I took a sip of my coffee. “Because of the memories.”

“The memories?” she echoed.

I nodded. “The night I learned about Samuel’s fingerprints, I felt like I was losing it.”

“I remember. I walked in on you surrounded by all those newspaper and magazine clippings.”

“I realized I’d never move on when I was clinging to a ghost, so I boxed up everything that reminded me of Samuel Tate…including the framed photos. I never replaced them, Mel. So whoever did this knew exactly where they were. Besides you and Gideon, Liam’s the only other person who’s been in my place.”

“He could have paid someone to do it.”

“I’m not sure that’s any better,” I replied honestly. “At least if it’s Liam, I know who to look out for. If he’s paying someone to do this?” I pulled my hoodie closer to my body, goosebumps prickling my skin at the mere thought. “I just want him found so we can move on with our lives.”

“And Sam…Gideon…whoever he is…” She waved her hand around, her uncertainty about what to call him obvious. “He has no desire to…you know?” She gave me a pointed look.

“He says he wants to leave Gideon Saint in the past. Technically, he still needs to use that name, but that’s the only thing remaining of who he’s been this past year.”

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