Page 113 of Love on the Line

Chapter 45

Anne grabbed the door frame,but slid to the floor, her head pulsing with pain and shock. What kind of psycho was Devon? First he’d proposed, and in the next minute he’d slapped her. None of what he’d told her made any sense.

She screamed as loud as she could, and he laughed. “You think that old bat across the hall is going to hear you over the storm?”

Her head hurt to the point of making her nauseous. She needed to escape.

He yanked her up by her hair. Pain seared her skull. He brought his face close, and his dark eyes bored into hers. “I wasted so much time on your worthless ass. But you know what was actually fun?” He shook her until her teeth rattled. “Hiring Victoria to make you think your precious has-been football player was cheating on you. I overheard her performance, and the crazy bitch nailed it. She enjoyed herself so much I think she’d have done it for free.”

A zap of electricity jump started Anne’s heart. What performance? This shit got crazier and crazier. Now she had a million questions. “Wh-what are you saying?”

“I picked your lock and bugged this low-rent, piece-of-shit apartment.” He shook her again, his fingers digging painfully into her arms.

She tried to break free from his grip, but he held tight.

“Someone isn’t paying attention. I told you this took a lot of planning. I paid Victoria and her friend to follow Emily until they found a chance for her to overhear them talking. You had a key in your drawer tagged with Pearson’s name. That’s so stupid.” Devon clicked his tongue. “I made a copy and bugged his place months ago. Then I gave the key to Victoria and called her when you told Emily you were headed to Pearson’s.”

Holy shit. The diabolical maniac had set up the whole sordid thing. Tears welled in her eyes. Wyatt did love her. He hadn’t cheated on her. Their life together still existed, if she could get out of this alive.

“I’ve stayed one step ahead because I’ve been listening to you both the whole time.” Devon brought his mouth to her ear and whispered, “We’ve even had sex together, just not in the same room.”

Her stomach roiled. Oh, God. Sick bastard. “Why? Why did you do this?”

“Boredom. My friend and I make bets for fun. Been doing it for a long time. I always win. Except for once.” Devon twisted his lips into a sadistic frown. “Lynn was a stupid bitch like you. She chose Paulie over me. Paulie…that wimpy little troll.”

Anne winced at Devon’s raised voice, anticipating another blow from him. But he seemed to be in the midst of some sort of tirade, wanting to gloat. Maybe she could use it to her advantage. If only she could find a way out.

“You know what happened to Lynn?” He sneered, narrowing his eyes. “I torched her. Same way I did my family.”

Anne’s mouth went dry, and her knees buckled. If he was sick enough to kill his own family, she didn’t have a prayer. And he’d confessed to committing murder. Goosebumps trailed up her arms. No way he’d let her live now.

“That’s what I do to people who cross me.” He let go of her and paced, but not far enough away for her to make a move. “My old man was an abusive alcoholic, and my mother spent all of her time fawning over my brother, the big sports hero. What a joke. Not a brain in his head. But it’s okay. I gave them what they all deserved. You see, I’m a fair person, Anne. Wouldn’t you agree that I’m fair?”

A splitting headache and fear for her life made it hard to keep up with his rantings. The only thing she’d agree to was that he was completely insane.

He grabbed her, jerking her body close. “I asked you a question. Don’t you think I’m fair?”

She trembled. “Please let me go.”

“You sound like Louie. Remember him? The scum who slapped you in the alley and messed up your face? He didn’t follow my orders and got what he deserved too.”

Her lungs flattened, and she strained to breathe. Oh, God no. Not another confession. How many people had Devon murdered? She’d be just another unsolved case.

“I took my time with Louie. He begged me to stop. I made him pay.” Devon shook his head slowly. “You all had chances. I gave you a shot at making the right choice, but you didn’t. So now the talking is done, and I’m going to give you what you deserve too.”

He was going to kill her. It was now or never. She jerked her knee up as hard as she could, aiming for his groin, but Devon was quicker. He jumped back, releasing her just in time.

With a vicious backhand, he knocked her to the ground.

She bit her lip, and her mouth filled with the copper taste of blood.

He yanked her back up. The whites of his eyes shone, and spittle gathered in the corners of his mouth like a rabid animal. “That was pitiful. I’m toying with you right now. You’re not too bright, so I’ll make this clear. You’re about to die.”

Every muscle in her body quaked, and she fought to keep control.

Devon brought his face to within an inch of hers. “When I’m done with you, Pearson’s next.”

No, not Wyatt. He didn’t know Devon had a key to his place. The bastard could enter in the middle of the night and kill Wyatt in his sleep. Adrenaline surged through Anne’s body. She might not make it, but damn if she’d let this psychopath get away unscathed.

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