Page 43 of The Weekend Getaway

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s the same thing,” Alex said. “Phil wants to destroy my life. Everything I’ve worked for. He might as well put a bullet in my head.”

Dispirited and reeling from shock, the group had disbanded, everyone slinking away, unable to meet each other’s gazes, deciding to discuss things in the morning.

As Jason walked to his bedroom, he’d hoped morning would never come.

“I’m going upstairs to call Alex,” Mia announced as they skirted the pool, heading toward the covered terrace. “And when I get him on the phone, everyone can talk to him and that should be all the proof anyone needs that he isn’t dead.”

As Mia hurried across the terrace and slipped through the pocket doors, Jason glanced at Chris. “Maybe you should check on Grace. Where did she go?”

“Probably upstairs to our room,” Chris said, voice lowered as he looked around. “Listen, I need to tell you something.”

Jason frowned, feeling, for some reason, as though he needed to brace himself. “What is it?”

Chris stepped closer, his gaze intense. “I didn’t want to scare Mia, but …”

“But?”

“I saw something,” Chris whispered. “In the rainforest.”

Jason’s mouth went dry. “What?”

His gaze darkening, Chris said, “I’ll show you …”

CHAPTER 43

MIA

Mia had never been a good liar.

Detouring into the kitchen, she grabbed her abandoned Bloody Mary, then finished it in one gulp.

Mia wasn’t the best at deceiving people. She had too many obvious tells. She looked away. Her voice got shaky. Her tone too high. She sounded defensive instead of confident.

Alex knew it, as well, so why did he think she could lie to their friends?

Because she’d done it before. Fifteen years ago, she’d convinced Sarah to go along with Alex’s plan.You need to convince Sarah to stay quiet.And she had. Somehow. Despite being a terrible liar, she’d persuaded Sarah.

“No … you can’t go to the cops,” Mia said to Sarah, the following morning after Phil’s party, when they were sitting onthe couch in the small, crappy apartment they could barely afford, even with Grace’s help.

Her face pale, her expression haunted and drawn, Sarah stared at Mia. “But I have to go to the police. Because Phil …”

“I know,” Mia said, taking Sarah’s hand, thinking the gesture might be construed as supportive, and compassionate. Sincere. If she was going to convince Sarah to go along with Alex’s plan, then she needed to be sincere. Sarah had to think that Mia had her best interest at heart.

She couldn’t know the truth.

Sarah couldn’t suspect that Mia couldn’t stand her and wanted to break all the bones in her hand. That Mia wanted to slap her tear-streaked face. That Mia really didn’t give a damn what Phil had done to that bitch.

As far as Mia was concerned, Sarah deserved what happened. She’d slept with Alex. And not just once. Not just at Phil’s party, but multiple times. Mia couldn’t forgive her for that. She wouldn’t.

Exhaling, Mia glanced at the ceiling, frowning at the water stains, thinking about the upstairs neighbors, whose bathtub had overflowed.

“What Phil did to you was horrific,” Mia said, clutching Sarah’s hand, trying to pretend she cared. “And I know you want to go to the cops?—”

“You don’t think I should?” Sarah asked, looking confused.

Mia cleared her throat. “Phil’s family has a lot of money. They are billionaires. His dad is friends with the governor. If you go to the police?—”

“They won’t believe me,” Sarah said, shaking her head, looking away.

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