∞∞∞
Once she’s gone, I head back to my car but not before checking my backpack to make sure the necklace is still there.
On the lonely drive, I focus on nothing but the road. If I don’t, I’m afraid I will swerve into a tree, on purpose.
When Ramsay’s swanky mansion comes into view, I park outside before knocking on the door.
I’m pulling my sleeves over my wrists when it swings open. My weakness is my own. I won’t share it with anyone. Ever.
I was hoping for Willow or even Ramsay but of course, it’s Diem who greets me rudely at the threshold. “What do you want?”
Rolling my eyes, I push past him and say, “Something happened last night.”
The air crackles with electricity but Diem merely says, “So? Making underhanded deals with the devil, sweet?”
“I don't think he was in the mood to chat,” I mumble.
“No? Too bad. Why are you here?”
“You hurt me,” I scream, slamming my fist into my chest.
His eyes widen and he clenches his jaw before barking, “Well, I guess you got your revenge.”
“Revenge?” I whisper, stepping back and covering my sob. Really? This is what he thinks of me. Asshole. “Fuck you.”
I move to step past him, but he grabs my arm, his flinty eyes boring into mine. “There’s one thing I live by. One.”
“You?” I hiss, wrenching away. “Were you living by that when you paraded Hailey in front of me? When you embarrassed me for the whole school to see? Where’syourloyalty, Diem?”
His brow twitches and he drops his arm, saying stiffly, “I’m loyal to the people I love.”
Staggering back, I laugh until I sob and then I fling out my hand. “Fuck you, Diem.”
“Enough,” Ramsay barks and Diem backs away. Eyeing Ramsay with a frown, I step inside when he waves his arm. Truthfully, everything hurts, right down to my bones, and I’m regretting coming, but you don’t say no to a Sinner.
“Now then, I did some research on the missing girl from the McCafferty home,” Ramsay says, and I sit down gingerly on the chair across from him.
Whatever, I’ve already set my course. I know the truth. The evidence is sitting in my backpack next to schoolbooks I’ll never open again.
Whether it was Frank or my dad who killed that poor girl thirty some years ago is irrelevant now.
“The girl is still missing. My sources have reported they believe it was Frank.” Ramsay glances at Diem but I refuse to look up.
It’s not my problem if he hurts because I hurt too, asshole.
“Without a body, there’s no proof,” he continues as Willow wanders and sits beside him.
When his icy expression fades to warmth, I stand, itchy to get the hell out of here. “Is that all?”
Ramsay eyes me carefully and I school my expression because I don’t want his interference.I will do this my way and fuck the rest of them.
“No,” he says, slowly, “the results of Dixie’s autopsy show she died from a drug overdose.”
Huh? Eyeing him blankly, I say, “What does that mean?”
“It means, whoever killed Dixie may not have been the Lucky Charm killer, but a copycat.”
Rubbing my aching head, I say softly, “A…copycat?’