Page 65 of Be Very Quiet

Liliana shot Nina a look that telegraphed to not poke the bear, especially since said bear was holding a shiny black pistol. She turned back to the maniac in front of her. “Why are you doing this, Douglas?”

“Because you ruined my life!”

Liliana managed to deflect most of the blow from his brutal kick. Still, air rushed from her lungs, and her ribs ached. It took a minute before she could talk. “So, you chose to kill those women to get back at me? Is that what you’re saying?”

He looked at her like she’d grown two heads. “What are you talking about? I didn’t kill anyone.”

“What happened to you?”

“I told you, you ruined—”

“No, I mean your face.”

“That bastard Villanueva. He ambushed me. He’s next on my revenge tour. I’m starting at the top and working my way down.”

Funny, Rutger said Douglas had blindsided him. She believed Rutger, not the monster in front of her. And good luck to him trying to get the best of Rutger. The man was a martial arts legend. The only way Douglas could come out on top would be to shoot him.

Liliana gulped, hoping to stop him before he tried to harm Rutger. Nina was growling, so Liliana decided it was time to save her friend and get her away from Douglas. “Why did you take Nina if you wanted me?”

He tossed up his hands. “Because you were never alone. I had to get you away from that behemoth boyfriend of yours. Does he ever leave you alone? I would’ve grabbed Shonda, but that woman looks like she could do some serious harm to me.”

“I can too,” Nina spat. “Try me, you low-life, bottom-dwelling loser.”

Not helping. “Well, I’m here now. You said in the text you would trade me for Nina, so if you’re a man of honor, you’ll keep your promise and let her go.”

“I’m not leaving you, Liliana.”

“Yes, you are, Nina. Douglas, let her go.”

Douglas scratched his chin with the gun, and Liliana wouldn’t hate it if he accidentally pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, he didn’t.

“I changed my mind. I like having both of you under my spell.”

“We aren’t under anything of yours, you filthy piece of scum.”

Damn it, Nina.Liliana needed to keep Douglas talking so that maybe she could reach some part of him that was still human. Also, to keep Nina from prodding him into shooting them.

“This is a felony, Douglas. You realize that, don’t you? You are breaking the law.”

His grin was pure malevolence, made even more frightening by the mangled face. “I don’t have much to live for now that you ruined me.”

Great. She was dealing with a suicidal psycho. “Then confess your sins. You can tell me, Douglas. You took out your hatred for me on the prostitutes, didn’t you?”

“Are you accusing me of using hookers? I’ve never paid for sex in my life.”

“How did you hook up with Ted Rader?”

“Damn, woman, you are certifiably crazy. Truly. I didn’t know you had a screw loose. Maybe that’s why you overreacted to my prank.”

“Are you saying you don’t know The Mortician?”

“Huh? Like a person who buries dead bodies? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Liliana wasn’t getting anywhere, so she tried a different approach. “Why do you think I ruined your life, Douglas?” She hoped that by using his name, he might let down his guard.

“I can’t get a job anywhere because you tattled to that asshole Villanueva, and he blackballed me to everyone in the freaking state. I trained hard to get where I was and poof! It was gone in a heartbeat. All because of you.”

“No, Douglas, it was because of you. You attacked me, not the other way around.”

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