Hate me

Taking a deep breath, I open the door to his office. 

He swiftly spins around in the desk chair he’s sitting in. “Aspen, what—” His gaze falls to the knife I’m pointing at him, and he pales. “What’s wrong?”

What’s wrong? Is he fucking serious? 

“Stand up. Now.” 

Holding his hands in front of him, he gets out of his chair. “Honey—”

“Don’t you dare fucking honey me, you son-of-a-bitch.” I bring the knife to his throat. “You killed my dad.” 

He shakes his head. “I don’t know where you heard that rubbish, but it’s not—”

Snarling, I bare my teeth. “Stop lying, asshole. He was your best friend, and you murdered him.” I hate the way my voice cracks as I continue, “And then you fucked his daughter and made her believe you actually cared about her.” 

“I do care about—” 

I dig the knife deeper and he winces. 

“No, you don’t. Because a man who cares about me would never—”

The sound of the door opening catches us both off guard.

Leo’s mouth drops open in shock and it takes everything in me not to turn around, but I know if I do, he’ll have the upper hand. 

Nerves coil my stomach because I have no idea who’s behind me. 

The click of a gun cocking makes me want to shit a brick. 

“Stray.” Knox’s voice wraps around me like a warm blanket during a snowstorm. “Put the goddamn knife down.” 

No way in hell. 

“No.” I peer up at Leo’s terrified face. “He has to pay for what he did.” 

And I don’t care what it costs me. 

Because he took away the only person who ever loved me.

“Aspen,” Leo breathes, like he’s pleading with me to hear him out. “Your father was stealing money from i

“He will pay,” Knox grinds out behind me. “I have a plan, but in order for everyone to get their karma, you’re go

I do trust him, but I still want to hear what he has up his sleeve before I agree. “What’s your plan?” 

Knox comes around so I can see him in my peripheral vision. The hood from the black hoodie he was wearing earlier is now pulled up, casting a shadow over his face as he aims the gun at Leo. 

“I need to tie Leo up and bring him back to the house.”

That makes no sense. “Why?” 

“So the police can find him in bed with your mother.” 

Instinctively, I look at him. “I’m sorry…what?” 

“Don’t you even think about it, cocksucker,” Knox snarls, and the lethal tone of his voice has my skin breaking out in goosebumps. “Touch her and I will blow your fucking brains out all over this office.” 

Leo swiftly raises his hands in surrender. 

“Why would you want the police to find him in bed with my mom—” I stop talking when I realize. 

He’s setting it up to make it look like a double homicide and a suicide. 

By making it look like Leo’s screwing my mom behind her husband’s back. 

Jesus. I have to hand it to him…that is…brilliant. 

There’s only one problem. Actually, make that two problems. 

“That means my mom has to die.” 

Knox’s jaw bunches. “It’s the only way it works. I can’t take the chance that she’ll talk.” 

While I don’t think my mom deserves to die for being a heartless bitch who was more concerned with money and appearances than she was with her own child, Knox has a point. 

It’s the only way this goes off without a hitch. 

“What about Leo?” 

His brows pinch. “Leo will be dead, too, Stray. That’s the fucking point.”

It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. “I know.” A renewed spark of anger heats my blood. “But I want to be the one to shoot him.” 

A sardonic smirk curves Knox’s lips as he looks at Leo. “Anything for my girl.” Briefly, he flicks his gaze to me. “Do you know how to use a gun?” 

I nod. My dad kept one in the house and wanted me to learn how to use it for safety reasons. 

“Good.” He takes a step in my direction. “Now switch places with me so I can restrain him.”  

After we do, I point the gun at Leo’s head. Adrenaline courses through my limbs as Knox ties him up and it takes every ounce of willpower not to shoot him right this second. 

Knox stands behind a bound and gagged Leo and kicks him. “Let’s go, asshole.” 

“Wait,” I say as we haul him out of his office. “What about his car?” 

It’s going to need to be in our driveway. 

Knox holds up a pair of keys. “We’re driving it there. But I’m parking it down the block from our house so it looks like he was trying to cover his ass.” 

“Okay, but where’s your jeep?”  

“In the parking lot of a fast food place up the road.” 

That’s good, but I have a better idea for it. 

“Give me your keys.” 

He quirks an eyebrow. “Why?” 

“I rented a motel room.” Knox opens his mouth to yell at me, but I continue, “I told the guy at the front desk that my boyfriend was in the car, so we might as well park your car there and then take Leo back to the house.” 

He mulls this over. “How will we get back to the motel to pick up my car?” 

He’s right. One cab ride tonight is dodgy enough, but two? 

I could call Brie, but there’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll have lots of questions about why she’s dropping Knox and I off at a motel in the middle of the night. 

And while I can trust her, she’s too sweet and honest. She might crack once the news of the murder-suicide breaks, and God forbid they bring her in for questioning.

Violet, on the other hand…she’d be the person to ask for a ride. 

She’s quiet, keeps to herself, and won’t say shit to the police no matter how hard they press her. 

“I can ask Violet.” 

Knox makes a face. “Stray—”

“Violet’s been my alibi every time I had a shift at the Bashful Beaver. She’ll cover for me.” 

Leo’s eyes enlarge at that, but I flip him the bird. 

“No. We’ll go back to the motel on foot.” Reaching a gloved hand into the pocket of his black jeans, he pulls out his keys and tosses them to me, along with a pair of black gloves. “Put those on.” 

He pushes Leo, who’s squirming to get free. “Start walking, dipshit.” 

Knox’s steps slow when we reach the living room and he looks at his aunt.

For a moment, I’m afraid he’s going to take her hostage too because of everything she’s witnessed, but he ambles over and kisses her forehead.  “Don’t mind me, Aunt Lenora.” A sly grin pulls at the corner of his mouth. “I’m just taking out the trash.”