Page 70 of Obsession (Temptation 4)

A laugh echoed from upstairs, followed by footsteps. I floated my gaze to the stairs, watching as Ethan descended wearing a crisp suit that just screamed money.

Something I’d never seen him wear before.

What the hell was going on?

But when my eyes went to the pinky ring on his left hand, the same ring Dax wore, I had my answer.

“You?” I squeaked out.

He clapped slowly as he walked toward us, a conniving smile on his face. He barely resembled the Ethan I knew. The geeky, somewhat awkward man I’d grown to admire and respect.

Was it all an act?

“It’s a bit of a shock, isn’t it?”

Even his voice was different. Smoother. More refined. More…sinister.

Much like Nick’s.

“All those girls…,” I began. “Piper… Claire…”

“I had no choice about Claire.” He laughed under his breath. “She was much smarter than I gave her credit for. After she announced on her podcast that she thought there might be someone out there copying Nick’s crimes, I figured I’d offer to help in the hopes of throwing her off the scent, so to speak.” He gritted out something that looked like a pained smile. “But she was just too smart for her own good. So she had to die. Just like you.” His expression brightened. “But I’m going to let Nick do the honors, considering he’s been waiting for this day for quite some time now. Since I first started visiting him and sharing my…extra-curricular activities.”

“Ethan has quite the imagination,” Nick offered, beaming with pride. “But his technique was a little rough.”

“So you helped him?” I squeaked out.

“I prefer to consider myself a mentor, something he was in need of, especially after the unfortunate incident involving Ms. Kekoa. But over the years, he’s really come into his own. I’m quite impressed with how far he’s come since those early days.”

Ethan looked at Nick, a creepy sort of appreciation passing between them. “Thank you. That…” He trailed off, as if overcome with emotion. “That means a lot.”

“I mean it. It’s been a true honor.”

As the two men stared at each other, my stomach churned. This didn’t make sense. Why would Ethan go through the trouble of flying all the way out to Hawaii to tell Lachlan what he knew about Claire’s death and what she’d been looking into? If he hadn’t, who knew if we would have ever figured out the connection between the deaths and the gifts I’d received.

“Speaking of which,” Ethan began, looking back at me. “I must take my leave of this little…family reunion. Sadly, I do have some business to attend to. It is the thirteenth after all.” A smile twisted on his face.

“I understand completely,” Nick said.

“What are you going to do?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.

“What I must,” Ethan responded, expression almost crazed. Like he didn’t have a choice. Like it was an obsession. A compulsion.

Exactly as he had suggested it was for whomever was behind these deaths.

It sickened me to think he was talking about himself and none of us knew. We simply accepted his help because he had the answers we needed at the time. All along, he was probably doing it so we’d never be the wiser. So we’d look anywhere other than at the truth staring at us with cold, calculating eyes.

“The ritual must be completed.” He buttoned his suit jacket, heading toward the door leading to the garage. Then he paused, glancing over his shoulder. “That assistant of yours? Katherine, isn’t it?”

“Rina,” I corrected, unsure what he was getting at. “But yes. Her given name is Katherine.”

The corners of his lips curved up, eyes dancing with amusement. “She works at a hotel on the weekends, doesn’t she?”

“No,” I exhaled, throat closing up, stomach churning, knowing exactly why he asked.

“And that necklace she wears is quite lovely.”

With that, he disappeared into the garage as I fought against my restraints, Imogene’s cries becoming more desperate.

I wanted to assure her it would be okay. That I’d find a way to get us out of here.

But I feared I wouldn’t.

That Nick would finally fulfill the promise he made all those years ago.

And there was nothing I could do to stop him.

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