Page 123 of When We Break

“Can you state the victim’s full name? We will, of course, confirm identity,” Chase adds.

“Of course.” Skyla swallows hard. “His full name is Lewis Spangler. I don’t know his middle name.”

“There will be an investigation into which bullet was the kill shot and whose gun it discharged from,” Chase says. “Just letting you know.”

“Makes sense.” I nod but look at him. “You okay?”

“Needed to be done. He had a gun pressed to her head and then turned it on all of us.” He holds my gaze for a moment before turning to Skyla. “Let’s make this quick so you can go home, okay?”

“Aye, please.”

I stand nearby as Skyla tells Chase about waiting at the studio for me, going into the back room and hearing the door, thinking I was there to get her.

Jesus, if I’d just been there, none of this would have happened.

She cries when she tells us about Lewis hitting Riley, and it splits my heart in two.

“And then he put me in his car, and made me leave my boy, and brought me here. I tried to distract him, to slow him down, but I didn’t know if you knew where I was. You know the rest.”

“I’m sorry to ask this, but can you tell me why he abducted you? He’s a long way from home, and I’d like to get an idea of motive,” Chase says. Skyla swallows hard.Fuck, I hate this for her.

“A few years ago, we dated very, very briefly. I called it off and thought he’d been okay with that. Turns out he wasn’t, and then the stalking started.” She looks down, and I can see how hard this is for her. I’m about to tell Chase she’s done when her eyes flick, and I see pure strength in her face. “He was incredibly clever to taunt me but never do anything, or rather be seen to be doing anything illegal.”

“We’ll search his apartment in New York City. If there’s evidence of stalking, we’ll ensure it’s destroyed in due course, Skyla. No one will get access to evidence.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Do you have any records of the deceased reaching you by phone or email?”

“No, I’ve deleted everything. I never thought it would get to this…level of depravity.”That’s one word for it.

Chase nods, then looks over at me. “That’s all I need. Have a safe trip.”

He pats my shoulder and walks away as Conner and Miller approach us.

“We’ll wait a day to go to London,” Connor says, but Skyla’s already shaking her head as Connor wraps her in a blanket from the back of the SUV.

I need to get these clothes off her and get her in the shower to rinse his blood away.

“No. We won’t wait, and that’s final. He doesn’t get to feck up my life anymore, not for one more minute. I’m mostly packed and ready for tomorrow. Oh God, I have to tell Mik.”

“I called him,” Connor says, then blows out a breath. “Jesus Christ, I’ve never been so scared.”

He tugs his sister into his arms and hugs her close.

“It’s all over,” she says, patting Connor’s back. “It’s all over now. I need to go home and shower, Connor. I feel dirty.”

Because that son of a bitch had his hands on her, just like before. I’d like to bring him back to life so I can tear the flesh from his body.

“I’ll make sure your truck gets returned to you,” Connor tells me. “Miller will drop it off at the ranch. You take this SUV, and we’ll switch them out after we handle everything here.”

“I appreciate it. Billie’s with Riley,” I remind him.

“I’ll deal with that too,” Connor replies. “And I’ll call you or have Billie reach out when I’ve checked in on them.”

“Thank you.” After I shake his hand, I get Skyla situated in the vehicle, then we’re on the way to the ranch. My girl pulls my hand into hers, lacing our fingers, holding on almost desperately.

“I wish I could sit in your lap,” she murmurs. “Can I crawl over and cling to you?”

---