Page 110 of This Life of Mine

“I don’t care about you,” I continue. “I care about who signed the contract.”

That gets his attention. His jaw tightens. His eyes flick away.

Good.

“That woman,” he says, nodding toward Lina. “She’s worth more dead than alive. How about we split the money?”

Lina sucks in a breath, hand flying to her mouth.

I don’t react.

“How much are they paying you?” I ask.

He hesitates.

I lean forward to remind him I’m not guessing. “This is the part where you decide how the rest of your night goes.”

“Five million,” he mutters.

I feel the confirmation lock into place.

“Who?” I press.

His lips curl into a half smile.

I stand, every movement deliberate. “Say it.”

He swallows. “David Allister.”

Lina’s knees buckle slightly, and she sinks onto the side of the couch, stunned.

“You were supposed to make it appear like an accident,” I say. “Weren’t you?”

He doesn’t answer at first.

“I was supposed to make it look like you two had a…domestic dispute.”

He apparently didn’t do his homework on me.

I straighten, decision made.

“You’re going to sit here quietly,” I tell him, “while I make a call.”

He scoffs weakly.

“Call the cops. I don’t give a fuck. I’ll be out within hours.”

I study him.

“Calling the cops would be mercy,” I say, adding, “I don’t do mercy.”

Behind me, Lina watches. Terrified, furious, but alive.

Chapter thirty-five

Alex

Icarefully lead Lina back to the bedroom—like I’m walking a line that could collapse under the wrong word.