“That’s a lie,” Greg shouted.

“When you’re dead, they are planning to elope so they can spend the rest of their lives together living with all the riches you ever wanted. Isn’t that why you turned to alcohol?” I baited, remembering what Keiran had told me about him. “Laurie told me so when she told me she’s pregnant…with Greg’s baby.” I lowered my gaze with sympathy and said, “I’m sorry, Robert, but I’m afraid you’re already out of the picture.”

Just shoot him already.

“Not if he’s dead.” He pulled the trigger, sending a bullet into Greg’s prone body.

I worked for it, but I hadn’t prepared for it.

The shock of what I’d done paralyzed me, but then the girl’s scream echoed from the upper level so I made my move.

His back was turned, so I plunged the knife straight down the back of his neck and because I wasn’t taking chances, I stabbed him deep a second time. He was dead before he hit the floor. The knife fell from my hands as I took a step back and studied him for signs of life. What disturbed me the most was that I didn’t feel any different.

Movement from a few feet away snatched my attention from the guy I knew was dead to the guy I thought was dead.

“I need a hospital,” he groaned while clutching his stomach.

“Why would I do that?”

“You’re not a killer,” he seethed.

“Your dead brother a few feet away regrettably argues.”

“That was a clever move, bitch. Now take me to the hospital.”

“I didn’t have reason to kill him, but I have more than enough reasons to kill you.” I stepped over his dead brother and picked up the gun. Pointing it at him, I cocked my head. “So why wouldn’t I?”

“Because I can help your boyfriend.”

“How?”

“I’ll turn myself in and confess to his father’s murder.”

“Why would you do that? Do you fear death so much?”

“I won’t get life. I can be out in time to see my baby graduate from college.” He looked so hopeful. It was too bad really.

“What baby?” I asked coldly. I held his gaze until he visibly began to sweat or maybe it was the stress from his organs shutting down.

“But you said—”

“I said a lot of things. Only some of them were true.”

“You bitch!” He moved in a pitiful attempt to lunge for me, so I shot his leg and shoulder. He collapsed back against the floor, staining the carpet further with his new wound. He looked as if he was barely breathing so I ran upstairs to find the girls.

I searched every room until I found them huddled together in the bathtub. My heart ached for them knowing they would suffer later through bad memories and nightmares. Sadly, it wasn’t over for them.

Maddie wailed into her sister’s shoulder at the sight of the gun, and I cursed my stupidity for not hiding it.

“Lake, what’s happening? Where are my daddy and Uncle Greg?” Cassie sobbed.

“Sweetie, everything is going to be okay, but I need you girls to be very brave and come downstairs with me.”

“We can’t. My daddy will get mad.”

“I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.” I held out the hand that wasn’t holding the gun and waited for her to make a decision. I exhaled relief when she finally took my hand and helped her sister up. “Now I want you to close your eyes—both of you—and keep them shut. Hold tight to Maddie’s hand and don’t let go, okay?”

They both nodded and closed their eyes. I led them out and down the stairs. Greg lay there with his eyes closed, but as we passed, his eyes popped open. “Keep your eyes closed, girls. Almost there.” I pointed the gun at his head and silently dared him to move.

I opened the door and led them safely outside. The little boy from before stood on the porch clutching a bat.

“Ar–are you okay?” he asked, but it wasn’t directed at me. His gaze was on Cassie. She looked as surprised as I did when she nodded. I was studying his handsome features and mentally calculating all the hearts he would break one day when it suddenly dawned on me… this was Cassie’s Ryan. I was further stumped when he took her hand from mine and pulled her close to him. He then looked up at me and hardened his tone. “What happened?”

It took me a few tries to form words. “Ryan, I need you to do me a favor.” He quickly recovered from the surprise of me knowing his name. “I need you to look after them. Get them as far away from this house as possible. Is there a neighbor who can look after you?”