Page 61 of Banshee
“How did he find out?”
“It was our anniversary. I’d planned it meticulously down to every detail. I had something in the food that would put him to sleep and give me time to run. Time to pack up my car and get the hell out. I would have had at least a twelve-hour head start on him.”
I knew he wouldn’t tell anyone. He wouldn’t risk Skinner finding out what he’d done. How much money he’d made off him.
“But...”
“But I hadn’t taken into account that Pepper actually had any humanity in him. He never looked at the main account. Whenever he needed money, he had me transfer it. But for some stupid reason, he’d decided to get me a gift.”
I huffed out a laugh.
“He wanted to buy me a necklace. A diamond necklace that cost more than he’d ever spent on me in the three years we’dbeen together. And when the card declined, he went to the bank. The account had only a hundred and fifty dollars in it.
“He came home early and tore the house apart looking for it. That was when he found the bags I had stuffed under the bed. He knew I was leaving and taking the money with me. But he couldn’t kill me because then he’d never get the money back. He hadn’t counted on Valhalla and the Nyght Nymphs coming to my aid and getting me out.”
“What happened to the money?”
“It’s still in the account. I haven’t touched it.”
“How much is in there?” Banshee asked.
I lifted my head and looked at him. “Over nine hundred thousand.”
“Holy fuck, baby girl.” He covered his eyes with his arm and inhaled deeply. When he looked back at me, I couldn’t read his expression, but when he spoke, I deflated. “We have to tell King.”
“I was afraid you would say that.”
We each took a shower and got dressed. I did everything I could to slow the process. King had enough to deal with. He didn’t need my adding to his stress.
I tried to explain to Banshee that Pepper wouldn’t tell anyone. He wouldn’t want to risk Skinner finding out what he’d done. But he said it didn’t matter. We needed to be prepared in case he did.
As we stepped into the main room, Mimic stormed out of church and out the front door. Indie chased after him.
“Johnny, follow him,” King called out before slipping back into church and slamming the doors behind him. I saw Torment,Kytten’s therapist, at the bar with another man I didn’t recognize.
It must have had something to do with Valhalla. Kytten had gone to meet her, not knowing King was putting her on lockdown with Mimic. Mimic and Indie followed her, and Val ended up dead. I didn’t know all the details. I didn’t want to know. I was mourning her death. Despite what she might have done, she’d saved me.
We had just sat down when Jack stepped out of church and looked around the room. He motioned to Banshee, who walked over. The two of them had their heads together when Banshee looked back at me. Something was wrong.
“Baby girl, you’re needed in church.”
“Why?” I asked, my eyes locked on the door Mimic had stormed out of.
“Kytten asked for you.”
I nodded. Whatever it was, I would handle it. Just like I’d handled everything.Never let them see you sweat, right?I stepped through the doors and heard a woman gasp.
“Irene? What are you doing here?”
“Diana?” My eyes filled with tears as I stared at my sister. Diana. She was alive. After all these years, she was alive. I pulled my lips between my teeth and looked at Banshee. Could he see the fear and panic?
Diana stood and moved around the table, walking slowly toward me like a ghost or an apparition until she was standing in front of me.
Diana reached out. I stepped back, bumping into Banshee, who caught me, wrapping his arms around me.
Kytten rushed over and placed a hand on my arm. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re safe.” She looked at Diana over her shoulder before turning back to me with a smile. “You’re my aunt,” she said.
“What?” I looked at Kytten, then Diana. My head was a jumble of confused thoughts and emotions.
