Page 93 of Wicked Games

“I sure felt like it in the lake,” she says, but it’s a poor joke. “We’ll figure something out.”

I have the resources to protect her, but not in any way I’m sure she’ll tolerate long-term. I doubt “figuring something out” will be as easy as it sounds.

Not as many people are attending the graveside service as at the church, and only a few watch as Brooke’s casket is lowered into the hole in the ground. The pastor who spoke at her funeral says a handful of words, and when she’s done, in the silence, I apologize to Brooke one last time. I picture her on our wedding day, frowning at Violet . . . I sigh. My marriage was never what I thought it was. Blissfully unaware of all that would happen as the years moved on.

With tears on his cheeks, Vale throws roses onto Brooke’s casket. Brooke’s parents, brother, and sister-in-law are standing next to him, but I don’t get a sense that they feel he’s part of their family. They may not know him well, as I doubt she introduced him to them while we were still married. He’s alone, or appears to be, not having family of his own to support him. His parents could be dead and he could be an only child, but if he’s as heartless as we think he is, a better reason he’s here by himself is that his family doesn’t want anything to do with him, which would be very easy to believe.

“I’m going to say hello to Hattie,” Avery says, touching my arm. “She’s across the cemetery, that way.” She nods to an area several yards away.

“Okay. Be careful.”

“I will.”

She takes her heels off and walks barefoot over the grass. Theo’s also buried here, and I shuffle around the headstones to his, a white marble angel protecting him. I’m not here for a minute before I feel movement behind me. I think it’s Violet, but when I turn, Vale’s standing next to me, his hands tucked nonchalantly in his pockets.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” he says, eyeing me.

I scoff. “No, you’re not. You and Brooke planned Theo’s kidnapping, all to get back at me. And for what? Because I’m friends with Violet? Because I like going to work? Nothing I could have done would’ve made me deserve that.”

“You don’t understand, and it’s nothing you did try to understand. She came up with the idea on her own. I simply gave her the tools she needed to implement it.”

“Brooke didn’t want Theo dead,” I say, hoping it’s not true.

“No, she didn’t, but shit happens and she knew the risks.”

“Then Hattie wasn’t much of a safety net.” I throw that out there, testing our theory. I’m not wired and I doubt anything he’ll say can be used in court. It will only turn into his word against mine, but I want to know.

“I knew she wouldn’t be, but it made Brooke feel better. I just saw her as someone who wouldn’t keep her mouth shut, but I was able to take care of that easily enough. People will do anything if you can convince them they won’t get caught.”

“And Brooke? You didn’t love her?”

Casually, Vale rocks back on his heels. “As much as you did. I was fond of her and she was good in bed if she had some booze in her, but that’s hardly a reason to keep a woman around, is it? When we married, I got what I wanted. I don’t have to spell that out, I hope. Now I can pay my debts, of which I have many, and do what I want, but I have some loose ends I need to take care of first.”

His gaze slides across the cemetery to Avery and my blood freezes in my veins.

“I didn’t know they were sisters. They probably shared everything, don’t you think?”

“Hattie didn’t tell Avery a single thing,” I say, my voice steady, praying he’ll believe me.

He doesn’t.

“I’d be a fool to believe that. Just like I’d be a complete idiot to think she didn’t say anything to her husband. Two loose ends, wouldn’t you say, if you were in my shoes. Three, if I count you. Four, Violet, five, her simpering boyfriend who follows her around like a goddamned puppy. Too many, really, but I have a way to keep all that from spreading, like a wildfire set off by a stray firework.”

I don’t know where he’s headed, though I vaguely remember Violet saying something along those lines, that he can’t kill everyone close to me. That was before we knew who was behind all of this, and why. Not only is Vale defending his windfall, he’s defending his freedom, and he’ll do anything to keep both.

“What’s that?” I’m forced to ask. He’s already got four billion of my dollars. It won’t be more money he’ll ask for.

“Stay away from her,” he says calmly, his gaze pinned on Avery who’s kneeling on Hattie’s grave. “Stay far away from her, and as long as you do, she’ll be safe. Say you’re still in love with your dead wife, whatever it is you need to say to make her believe you want nothing more to do with her, and I’ll pretend none of this ever happened. Live your life, and I’ll live mine. I think that’s more than a fair deal for both of us.”

My heart drops to the ground. Stay away from Avery. Never make her my wife. Never talk to her again. And more than that, make her hate me so much she doesn’t ever come looking for me, asking for an explanation.

Vale’s eyes are hard and determination sets his features. He’s not lying to me, at least, right at this moment he’s not. If I stay away from Avery, she’ll be safe. Bill. Violet. Walker. He’ll use Avery’s safety as a threat to keep us from talking to the cops or from pushing this any further. I’m stuck. There’s nothing I can do.

“All right,” I say, already craving a drink. I can’t tell Violet what’s happening. I can’t tell anyone. I’ll go to Lakehaven Falls and finish out the summer— No, somewhere else. Somewhere no one can find me.

“I’m glad we were able to come to an agreeable arrangement,” he says, holding out his hand.

Numb, I shake it.