Page 33 of Final Vendetta

“He left fucking photos. Doctored ones where he switched out what I used to look like with my current appearance.”

“Why would he do that?”

“My guess is to fuck with me. To let me know that he knows exactly who I am. And that’s not all.”

“What else?”

“One of the photos is recent. Taken in Del Mar right outside of our house.” My eyes flicked toward the bookshelves, my stomach churning from the invasion of privacy. The bungalow was supposed to be our sanctuary, free from shadows and darkness.

But Liam found us anyway. How?

Rage simmered inside me, and for a moment, I fantasized about all the ways I could end him, erase him from our lives for good. Make him pay for this.

“Do you want me to come back to San Diego? We can track down Liam and finish this, once and for all.”

I hesitated, weighing his offer carefully. My agreement was on the tip of my tongue. The temptation to finally put an end to this was overwhelming, especially when I thought about how close he had been without either of us realizing it.

But then my gaze fell to Imogene. I promised her I’d leave my old life behind, start fresh with her. After everything she endured, she deserved that much.

“No,” I finally said, my voice tight.

“Are you sure?” Henry asked, obviously surprised by my response.

I was, too.

Mere weeks ago it wouldn’t have been a question of if I’d make Liam pay for this, but how.

Not anymore.

“He’ll slip up eventually,” I assured Henry, my words feeling hallow. “Someone will see him, and he’ll get what he deserves. But not by my hand. Never again,” I reiterated, unsure if it was more for his sake or mine.

Chapter Fifteen

Imogene

The darkness in the bedroom felt thick, like it might suffocate me if I let it. The shadows on the walls seemed darker than usual, the edges as sharp as a knife. I clung to Gideon’s warmth as we lay in bed, listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean outside, trying to pretend I felt as safe as I once did in this place.

But even his embrace couldn’t chase away the unease that had settled over me. This house now felt like just another hiding spot. A false sense of security we’d foolishly held onto, only to have our past catch up to us once again.

I shouldn’t have had any trouble falling asleep. My body was physically exhausted after spending hours at my old townhouse, answering questions from the local police Gideon had called to report the break-in.

I’d gone over every detail with them until I thought my head might explode from the monotony of their questions.

Well,almostevery detail.

I left out the fact that the man who had been in those photos was the same man he’d been replaced with.

Through it all, Gideon was a comforting presence beside me as investigators combed the house for prints and evidence, eventhough we both knew they wouldn’t find any. Not from someone as meticulous as Liam.

I lifted my gaze toward Gideon’s face, studying his features as he stared at the ceiling. The worry lines in his forehead indicated he was just as unsettled by tonight as I was. Regardless, he remained firm in his decision to let the authorities handle Liam.

It should have brought me comfort.

Instead, it made me miss the man who took out my attacker in the alley with the cold indifference of a trained killer. The man who fucked me senseless in the library of Liam’s house. The man who once made me think he would burn down the world for me.

Would I ever see that man again?

I trailed my hands over his torso, mapping out the intricate pathway of scars that snaked across his skin. Each one told a story, a testament to the strength he was forced to demonstrate in order to survive what I could only describe as hell on earth.

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