Page 114 of Such a Good Girl

“Did you kill those women, Joey? The actresses?”

He scoffed, shaking his head. “What does it matter to you now? You gave up, didn’t you? You were supposed to come here and solve the murders and what did you do? You just became one of them! Just another slut trying to get into West’s bed.”

“It’s not like that,” I said. “We love each other.”

“Yeah, I heard your sickly sweet words to each other. You barely know each other. That’s not love. I don’t know what it is. Lust? Either way, it’s stupid and shallow. It’s nothing like what West and I have. We’re connected, on a spiritual level. We’re fucking soulmates, Kaylee, have you ever had one of those? I know what he wants before he knows himself. I can anticipate his every need.”

“I think West needs to be set free right now.”

His hand sliced through the air. The gun hit me square on my cheekbone and the force of it sent me crashing to the floor.

“Don’t fucking tell me what West needs, you dumb bitch!” He towered over me, pointing the gun straight at my head now.

“Joey, please,” I whispered, putting a hand to my cheek. I could feel it swelling already, hot and throbbing.

“I don’t even know why he likes you, I did everything to make him see that you were wrong for him, but he wouldn’t listen. He’s an idiot. But he’ll see soon enough. I’m going to convince him that it’s me he loves. I can make him happy.”

“By killing everyone he cares about?” I tried to sit up.

“By doing what’s necessary. That’s what I do. I fucking get things done.”

I nodded, moving my hand to the top of my boot. I’d carried my personal weapon with me today, knowing anything could happen once Danika outed me on television. I’d never been more glad to be prepared in my life. Joey was frantic and unhinged. I only needed him to take his eyes offofme for a few seconds for me to pull it out.

Unfortunately, his focus was squarely on me.

“You know what’s necessary now, Kaylee?” he asked, the gun pointed straight at my face.

“What?”

“You need to die. Just like the others. Once you’re gone, the problem is solved. It’s quite striking how simple it is.”

“There’s nothing simple about what you’ve done, Joey. You’re going to jail.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “I don’t think so. Look how far I’ve gotten already. Nobody’s figured it out, why would they figure it out now?”

“Are you going to kill West, too? Because now he knows.”

“He’ll see things my way eventually. Get up and get on the bed.”

“Joey…”

“Now, bitch!” He put the gun right against my forehead. I got up and headed into the cage, my heart pounding violently in my chest.

“Sit down,” he commanded. I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers inching down to the top of my boot. He was about to follow me in when the sound of the heavy door slamming echoed through the temple. He looked over his shoulder and quickly closed the door to the cage, locking me in, and putting the key in his pocket.

“Joey! Let me out!”

He ignored me and headed towards the front hallway. I took the opportunity to pull out my gun and hide it behind my back.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the air, drowning out the sound of my pulse pounding in my veins.

When West, Theo, and Rian burst into the room, I let out a sigh of relief. But Joey tensed up, raising his hand and pointing the gun at them.

“Don’t fucking move!” he cried out.

“Joey, put the fucking gun down!” West said, as they all came to a halt in front of him. West’s eyes darted to mine just briefly. I wanted to tell him I had a gun. I wanted to tell him I was safe. I wanted to tell him I was sorry.

I should have figured out Joey was behind all this shit from the beginning.

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