Page 13 of Malicious Wedding

He’s the only one with a sister like Ash.

I told myself a thousand times I wouldn’t do this. Not when I was so close with her brother. Not when she made her choice to walk away.

I have no other choice.

It’s either go against both of their wishes or watch her take a bullet.

I willnotlose her. I’d rather cut my own throat than see her get hurt. In my dreams, she’s always there, wearing white and smiling at me across the aisle, coming closer but never getting close enough, never touching, never crossing some invisible barrier—

“Sir. Carson.” I blink rapidly. The dream fades. Fitz stares at me over his shoulder. “You were falling asleep.”

“Good thing you’re driving.” I sit up straight, clearing my throat. No time to sleep now. “Take me to see Nelson. We have work to do.”

“Yes, sir.” Fitz starts the car and puts it in drive.

I gaze out the window, the dream lingering on the edge of my mind.

Chapter7

Ash

The cops don’t tell me a damn thing.

I spendthree hoursin that stupid precinct building cycling from one uniformed cop to another, all while Officer Hawthorne sat by my side taking notes and grilling me over and over again.

He wants to know where I was three weeks ago, who I was with six days ago, what I had for dinner last night. Over and over, he makes me tell my story, and refuses to give me any information.

“I know this is frustrating.” Finally, after a marathon grilling, Hawthorne walks me to the front lobby. “I can tell you this much: something bad happened in your family. I really am sorry.”

“My dad?”

“Gone. We’re doing our best to investigate every possible lead—”

“Including me?”

He shrugs. “Everything. There are too many bodies not to dig as deep as we can.” He pats my shoulder. It’s supposed to be reassuring, but it only makes me want to kick him in the face. “You’re gonna be okay though.”

“Should I get, like, a protective detail? I mean, my entire family winds up dead, and you’re just going to let me walk?”

“Protective detail?” He snorts, shaking his head. “We don’t have any protective details. Do you know how much that costs? I’m really sorry, Ms. Locke, but you’ll be just fine. Lock your door at night, don’t answer it for strangers, try not to walk around after sunset. You’ll be okay.”

“You have to be kidding me.”

“Nah, you’re not in any danger.” He practically pushes me to the door. “Good luck, thanks for answering all our questions.”

I stagger out of the precinct feeling like someone sucked my brain out of my skull with a straw. I blink at the sun, squinting into the sky.

That was a massive waste of time. I’m too overwhelmed to do much more than stand around wondering how the heck I’m going to get home. I half hoped that going with the police would mean they could protect me, but instead I’m being told that… everything’s somehow fine?

As if that makes any sense.

Nothingis fine. My entire family’s been murdered, and Officer Jackass back there thinks I should lock my door and everything will be just peachy.

I want to scream.

As I stand near the curb, a Lexus pulls up and the door opens. Carson’s sitting inside, staring out at me with a baleful frown as he jerks his head slightly. “Get in.”

I gape at him for several seconds before turning away. “No, thanks. I’d rather walk.” And potentially get shot in the face.

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