Page 124 of A Secret and a Lie
I have no qualms using the secrets I’ve collected, but only whennecessary. They’re simply an insurance policy to keep people like Henry and Percy from doing exactly what they did.
“I spent a decade ensuring that those clients could trust me, that I wouldn’t be selling their confidences to the highest bidder,” I explain. “I never used those secrets toblackmailanyone, and since I have a littledecorum,it was as easy as breathing to persuade ninety percent of those clients to return to me.”
“Youbitch,” he spits as his cheeks redden, as if I haven’t been called worse, and by his friends, no less. “What about the remaining ten percent?”
As if they could save you. I scoff. “You have a handful of mutts loyal to you, Percy, but they’ve been notified that I’ll be releasing their secrets. They were fairly given the chance to come back to me, but they chose the losing side.” I glance pointedly at the clock, a wicked grin tugging at my lips as I face him once more and divulge, “In fact, three minutes ago, those secrets were sent to the various outlets and sources I hand selected.”
I’m surprised that anyone chose not to agree to my terms. Then again, I didn’t anticipate a one hundred percent return rate. It doesn’t make a difference to me, though, not now that I’ve got most of my clients back, nearly all of whom were willing to pay an additional fee of new secrets they turned over readily.
I didn’t know it was possible, but his face turns an even brighter shade of red, now the same hue as my dress. He reaches into this suit jacket and pulls out his phone. Taking advantage of that split second, I bend down and pull the gun from the holster at my ankle.
“Whatever it is you’re about to do, I’d advise against it.”
His gaze flicks up, immediately meeting the hollow end of the barrel of my little double-action revolver that’s been with me for fourteen years. His eyes widen, and I smile.
“Put the phone away, Percy.”
I’m not sure if he was planning to call for help, or if he was looking to see if I was bluffing. I wasn’t, but it doesn’t matter—not to him, anyway.
As if he’s attempting to see if I’m capable of pulling this trigger, he studies me. I’m all too happy to prove that I am, though. Whatever he sees on my face has his nose wrinkling as he shakes his head. “Genevieve, it doesn’t have to end like this.”
My face contorts. “Like what? Like a beast being put down?”
He doesn’t acknowledge that. Instead, his chest expands, his pupils dilating as he rubs his hands on his suit pants, swallowing audibly.I hope he shits himself.One of the men who hurt me did and it would be no less satisfying to see that happen again.
“We could team up… I’ve already cleared ten million this year alone. Imagine the profits.” He’s switching tactics, now begging with wide, desperate eyes.
“I can imagine the profits because I’ve enjoyed them for the last decade, only I actuallypaidthe people who worked for me. I don’t think we’d make good business partners, considering our fundamental differences in the way we treat people.” My patience has expired, and I level him with a flat glare. “Get on your knees, Percy.”
The pathetic sound of his shallow breaths fills the small apartment as his body shudders. I cock the hammer of the pistol, arching an eyebrow, daring him to challenge me. Shooting him point-blank wasn’t part of my plan, but I can pivot.
“Unless you have a guardian demon, you won’t be getting out of this situation, so I suggest you do as I say.” I was right to think that his cockiness would be his downfall. He brought words to a gunfight, never expecting me to be capable of violence.
Understanding seems to dawn on him, and he grudgingly slides off the chair and kneels on the rug that decorates the paltry space between us.
“Was it you?” he asks, a light quiver to his voice. “Are you the one who killed Leo? I always suspected it was you, but I couldn’t prove it. If I’d known a long time ago that you and Allison were the same person—”
“It was me,” I cut him off. “I’m also responsible for the death of Grady, as well as the rest of yourfriends.”
I have nothing to lose by confessing now. Not with his demise sitting in the palm of my hand. He curls his lip in disgust, as ifI’mthe monster here.
Only then do I reach into my purse and remove the slip of paper. “Here, I’m going to need you to sign this.”
“What is it?”
Passing him the sheet of paper and a pen, I grin. I have to credit Ford, but where he used something similar to save my life, I’m going to end Percy’s. “It’s your suicide note.”
He stares down at the typed words for several seconds before his head whips up. Terror swirls in his brown irises, mixed with confusion and defiance. He begins to shake his head furiously, his reddened face finally paling. “You can’t be serious?”
Standing, I step up to him, my gun trained on his face. “Deadly. Now,sign the paper.”
His throat moves with a gulp, but he does as I say, scribbling on the bottom of the page. “Now what?”
With the firearm still trained on him, I remove the small plastic bag from my pocket filled with capsules and toss it to him. “Take one. More, if you want.”
“What is it?”
“Cyanide.”
