Page 103 of Such a Good Girl

KAYLEE

Forty-eight hours had passed. I was ignoring Hoskins’ messages completely at this point.

Eating breakfast at home, I sat on the couch flipping through a bridal magazine I’d bought on impulse while standing in line at the grocery store this morning. I shook my head, not sure what I was thinking. Yeah, I wanted a future with West, but how would that ever work?

I was convinced that when he found out who I really was, he’d be long gone.

Why would he accept such a betrayal? I wouldn’t. I couldn’t expect him to.

Nevertheless, I longed to tell him the truth. My heart held on to a flicker of hope that he wouldn’t reject me entirely. The thought of not seeing him again killed me.

I was being dramatic, of course.

I threw the magazine to the side and walked over to the board I’d made the other day. I looked at the faces of the victims. All of them had been at the Hush Hush club at some point. Three of them auditioned for West’s film. What was the connection?

I knew there was something there, but I didn’t want to think that something was West. Could he have done this? Was it possible?

In my gut, I just didn’t feel it.

My phone buzzed and I read a text from West, my eyes widening.

Kaylee, there’s a woman at the temple that needs a rigger right now.

How would you feel if I offered my services?

It wouldn’t go any farther than tying the knots.

I stared at the words, shocked and flattered that he’s ask first.

I don’t mind. Thank you for asking, though.

I put my phone down, smiling as I turned back to the board. I was impressed with his consideration for my feelings. If this were a real relationship, that would have given him many positive points.

But it wasn’t.

It was nothing but a lie. I was a fraud. A fake. And as soon as he figured it all out, he’d hate me.

My phone buzzed again.

Will you come watch? Please? I’d feel better if you were there.

Wow. Major points. I shook my head, my smile widening.

Of course. On my way.

I got in the car and rushed to the club. There I found a group of members in the temple gathered in a circle watching West tie up a blonde suspended from the ceiling. My eyes raked over the scene and I stopped in my tracks.

The knots he tied were intricate and complicated. But they were different than the ones I’d seen Xi Xiang do before. And they were different than the ones West had used to tie me up.

Instead, they were an exact replica of the knots that bound the murder victims.

My heart pounded in my chest. My breath rushed from my lungs. Fear gripped my heart as I watched West work with precision, easily tying the elaborate knots until the woman hanging in front of him was completely helpless.

West turned to the crowd with a triumphant smile. His eyes met mine with a look of dark joy shining brightly in them.

Was that the last look the women saw before they were strangled?

Was that the feeling West had when his fingers tightened around their throat, and the last traces of life faded from their frightened souls?

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