Page 89 of Defy

None of this made sense. Her name was on items long before Keith died. Then why was she working the shoot with Regina?

My stomach dropped as realization hit me. This was supposed to be another of Regina’s shoots.

My hand shook as I stared at Henrietta’s schedule for the last two months. Right there in black ink for the night of Keith’s murder, it said.

Meeting at Keith’s for dinner-discuss next steps.

“That bitch set me up,” I muttered under my breath.

The hairs on my neck prickled, and my palms grew damp as I reached into my pocket. I had to call Dam—

I froze, seeing the silhouette of a woman in my peripheral vision.

My heartbeat accelerated, and genuine fear slid down my spine.

“I knew you’d arrive early,” Carla said from behind me. “Then again, Sophia Morelli is never late to her assignments.”

Before I could respond or move, she spoke again.

“Let me change that. Sophia Donatella. You don’t use Morelli in your work.”

Keeping my body still, I closed my fingers around the sewing scissors at my waist level.

At least one thing all designs had in common, we kept sharp as fuck objects lying around to cut random things during our creative process.

“You went through a lot of effort to get me here today. I bet it cost you a pretty penny.” I stated as I shifted, nearly dropping the too big shears on the table before getting them tucked away in my hoodie pocket.

It's good that Lucian wasn’t here to see me look like a total amateur with that move. Technically, I was an amateur, but as a Morelli, we were born criminals or something like that.

“I have my reasons.”

“Did you have reasons for framing me for murder, too?”

She scoffed. “That wasn’t me. I have no idea who did it. Besides, I’m just the help. Keith would never let me within five feet of him unless it were to force me to suck his cock.”

The venom in her words conveyed how much she hated him. Keith had been a predator who abused and manipulated women. Everything in me screamed that he’d hurt Carla at some point.

“What did he do to you? If you worked with him here. I know he did something.”

“It—it doesn’t matter. Even if I wished it hurt more, the bastard is dead.” She moved closer, and I noticed the gun she held pointed straight at me.

“What do you want from me, Carla?”

“You’re here to clean up loose ends.”

“Who wants them cleaned up? Henrietta?”

“Of course she wants it. He stole her work. But she got her payday for everything she lost, so I don’t understand why she keeps bitching.”

“She isn’t happy with her deal with Keith’s father?”

“She wants her work back.” Carla rolled her eyes. “I told her to cut her losses, but no. I have to do dirty work to get my money while she gets to sit in her high-rise and pretend to decorate.”

“How much is Daddy Randolph paying you to kill me?”

“Why do you care?”

“Call it morbid curiosity. I’m not leaving here alive. So your secret is safe with me.”

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