Page 27 of When Sinners Dare

It’s ironic that she was such a formidable woman – a power-hungry bitch who raised us all to be just like her, or at least as close to her image as she could. Maybe that was her downfall, certainly with Abel. She spent so much of her energy complaining to me that I wasn’t enough like her that I think she missed the similarities. And isn’t that a warning in itself?

“Our best play here is by the book,” Dante says. The words sound wrong coming from him, and I keep looking as the doors to the van close. By the book is never his way.

“The one and only time,” I mutter. “Where’s Knox?”

“Out back.”

“Have you talked to him?” I ask, my voice gentle and timid.

“No.”

I look up at him. “And you’re happy with Abel’s plan?”

“Not a lot of choice right now, Bella. You fucked up. This is the only answer we've got.”

The sharp intake of breath catches in my throat, and I swallow the emotion down as I fight the realisation that’s happening around me. Looking at the scene in front of us again, I notice Abel’s missing. “Do I need to talk to the police?”

“If they ask. They’ve taken statements from me and Abel.”

He doesn’t ask me anything. No further explanation, no details, so I leave him and go looking for Knox. That will test my nerve.

He’s smoking out by the pool when I find him, staring at it like he’s searching for something.

“You okay?” He doesn’t say anything but keeps on staring.

“Knox?”

“I heard. And I’m fine,” he snaps. Knox is usually the more level-headed of us. Until he’s not, then all hell breaks loose. Grief can do funny things, I guess.

I turn to go. “I’ll go and grab a drink then.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you.”

“That’s a relief.” The words taste bitter on my tongue.

And the lie twists in my gut.

There’s no relief at all, and I realise that Abel’s plan won’t work. Lying to the family isn’t the answer. We’ll play along, deal with the authorities, but I’m not going to keep them in the dark. They deserve to know the full truth. They deserve to know it was me.

“Do you think it’s odd?” he asks as I’m about to leave him be.

“What?”

“Mother.”

“She was many things, Knox. Odd isn’t the first I’d choose to describe her. An evil witch, maybe.”

He turns to look at me finally, and I see the pain on his face. “I guess we all had differing opinions of her.”

My words die on my lips. What can I say to that? It’s the truth, and the pit of my stomach drops as grief and guilt swell.

Leaving Knox, I go in search of Abel to tell him what I’ve decided. We run into each other in the hall.

“Abel?”

“We won’t have full access to the house for a few more hours. The staff are taken care of. We’re going to Bellini’s,” he says, issuing instructions like it’s just another day.

“Don’t we have to stay? I’ve not spoken to anyone or made a statement.” I question.

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