Page 93 of The Two Last Moments

“Why?”

“Because of what I did. He…he told me.”

Her stepbrother. I take Lark’s hands in mine. “What did that fucker say to you?”

She speaks in a monotone. “It was exactly what I was afraid of. I’d met Travis through my volunteer work, and I found out about Nina having money. I’m the one who sent the emails to Nina. Z and I worked together on planning it out. I decided to double-cross Z and come to West Oaks directly, but it was always about conning her. Getting her money.”

“Lark. The guy tried to kill you. Kidnap you. Who knows what else. You can’t believe him.”

Her eyes harden. “But it makes sense with what Cam told me. Today, Cam said he found my planner, and I’d mentioned Travis in it. I—”

“Wait, what journal? You spoke to Cam today? When?”

“It was right after we got home. I went outside. Cam called. Said he’d found some calendar of mine that had Travis’s name. Cam wanted to bring it to me. I was distracted. And the moment I hung up, that’s when my brother grabbed me.”

Another wave of rage roars through me, so intense my vision fades at the edges.

So it wasn’t just her stepbrother involved in this. Cam called her. Was his timing coincidental? Or did he actually have something to do with Z’s attack on Lark today?

Was it all bad luck? Or was Cam’s phone call part of some choreographed dance? I don’t know what the hell to believe anymore.

“Did you recognize anything about him? Anything that could form the basis of a description for the cops?”

“I didn’t see his face. His voice was…hoarse. Quiet.”

“Was it familiar?”

Her eyes are glazed, staring and unfocused. “I can’t tell anymore. What’s familiar, what’s not. What instincts are real. Z admitted he’s the one who tried to kill me. He said he’s been close. Watching me.Us. Z said I can buy my freedom for two hundred thousand dollars, but if I don’t pay, he’ll come after me. He had his hand around my throat, and the whole time I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything. I was too scared.”

“But you did get away. Matteo and I came running because we heard you screaming.”

She blinks her long lashes. “He said he would hurt you, and I couldn’t stand it. That’s when I finally fought back.”

I tuck her hair over her ears, looking into her beautiful, soulful, sorrowful eyes. Those eyes prove to me that she’s not what her brother says. “Exactly. When it counted, you did what you had to.”

“Did I, though?” Her voice is a whispered plea. “Every time we learn something new, it’s worse.”

There’s a soft knock at the door. “Danny?” Matteo says. “The officers are here. They’re ready to take your statements.”

“Are you up for talking to them?” I ask her.

“They can come in.” That glazed look is back. As if she doesn’t care either way.

“Do you want me to stay?”

She shrugs, her gaze cast downward. “You don’t have to. Go be with Nina.”

“But Lark—”

“Don’t youdaresay this doesn’t change anything, Danny. Please. I know when a man is humoring me.” She wraps her arms around herself and walks to the other side of the room. Away from me.

And that new distance rips me right down the middle.

“Are we okay?” I ask. “You and me?”

“How can we be?” she whispers.

There’s another knock. I go to the door and open it. Cliff is right outside with Matteo and another patrol officer, a woman. “Did you catch him?” I ask Cliff.

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