Page 141 of Pink Ink

I need to get out of here.

I snatch the switchblade off the floor, and run into the hall to the top of the steps. When I’m certain I’m the only one in the building, I check my phone to see if Maddox has picked up, and bring it up to my ear.

“M-Maddox,” I stutter.

“Are you ok—”

“Th-There was a guy here. And he attacked me. And I-I stabbed him. But he took it out.” I keep rambling despite his curse. I don’t realize there are tears streaming from my eyes until the salty taste hits my tastebuds and mingles with copper. “And then—and thenAlexcame in. And blood splattered everywhere because heshothim. And he said he’s your man and he thought I knew about everything. And then he left, and I-I don’t know what to do. There’s a body. He’s still there. He’s dead and—and I can’t go to jail—and—and—and—”

“Breathe, Reyna.” His voice is tense. “Stay on the phone. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

No, no, no. That’s too long. “I can’t stay here. H-He might come back.”

“Make it five.”

I pocket my phone and run back into the studio.

They’re going to send me to prison.

My career is over.

My fingerprints are everywhere. There’s an Uber transaction and emails taking me straight to the crime scene. I’m covered in blood.

They’re going to fucking kill me, because what did Alex mean by my attacker being one of Maddox’s men? Did the Order send Alex to watch me? He could have called reinforcements already and it’s just a matter of time before he realizes that the police aren’t coming.

I can’t wait for Maddox to arrive. Jumping toward my bags, I rush to pack everything up. I can’t leave any evidence behind. But my fingerprints and—

The front door slams open.“Reyna!”

I stagger from the relief. “Third floor!”

Footsteps pound up the stairs as I finish putting all my gear away. Maddox’s crazed eyes crash with mine and turn lethal in an instant. My muscles tense as I brace myself for the verbiage on safety when he storms up to me. His lips collide with mine, kissing me with frantic intensity.

“You’re bleeding.” Maddox’s voice seeps with violence against my lips.

“It’s not mine,” I assure him, pointing at the corpse bleeding out on the floor.

Then it hits me.I was set up.

No one is here, yet the paper has been rolled out on top of a waterproof canvas, and there’s a chair with duct tape on top of it. He laid out everything he needed to kill me, clean up, then dispose of my body like I was never there.

My chest heaves as I run through the facts. The booking was made a month ago. Has the Order been planning on killing me for that long, or did they sabotage my work after discovering me last night?

“He’s one of my father’s men.” The predatory look from before turns downright murderous.

I suck in a sharp breath as another realization makes my heart stop beating. They want to kill me because of Maddox. They’re going to keep trying to kill me because I’m the reason Maddox isn’t falling in line.

He tugs on my arm. “We need to get you out of this building.”

I nod. It’s not safe for me in New York anymore. “I need to leave.”

Tonight.

And I’m never going to see Maddox again.

MADDOX

I slam my phone on my kitchen counter hard enough for the screen to shatter.