“Shiloh? You know I would never cheat on you.Never.That night … I don’t know what happened. I was mixed up, stupid. I wanted you to know because I want to be totally honest with you and that’s new to me. I don’t usually let myself become open to anyone.”
Shiloh nodded slowly. “Thank you for telling me. I just need some time to process it.”
“Of course.”
They lay side by side in bed that night, both of them awake until Shiloh suddenly turned to him and rested her head on his chest. Benoit felt a sudden rush of relief, and he wrapped his arms around her, thinking that everything was good and he could relax.
He had no idea that he would soon receive some of the worst news of his life.
Netta was tiedto the chair, shivering and terrified, but determined not to show him how scared she was. He’d stripped her down to her underwear now, and his hands roamed freely over her skin.
“So soft,” he cooed in a sing-song voice, almost tender. She could almost believe him to be that caring—if it wasn’t for the crossbow in his other hand. He saw her looking at him and grinned. He brought it up and leveled it at her. Point blank.
“Tell me you love me,” he said tenderly, and she looked him straight in the eye.
“No.” Her voice was strong and defiant.
He smiled. “What a waste of such beauty,” he said, and fired the bolt deep into her body.
The pain was unimaginable. Netta screamed as the bolt sank deep into her flesh, her blood beginning to flow.
“Tell me you love me …”
Panting for air, she looked up at him, her hatred radiating from her. “No. You are not worthy of anyone’s love. Not Viola’s. Not Ori’s. Not mine.”
He smiled. “Viola’s dead. Ori will be dead soon. You will be dead even sooner.”
Netta, despite her fear, smirked. “Poor little lonely boy. You’re pathetic.”
That got him. He ripped the bolt from her and used it as a knife, driving it again and again into her soft flesh. Netta felt her life slipping away from her as the blackness loomed.
He pushed the chair she was strapped to onto the floor, and Netta struggled to take one, two, three more breaths, and then there was just emptiness.
Kate and Lisanderwere woken by a terrific banging on Kate’s apartment door. Lisander opened it to see Seth, his usual tall frame bent over with grief, his eyes haunted.
“Seth … brother, what is it?”
Kate watched as Lisander pulled Seth into the apartment and walked him to the couch. Seth almost fell down on it. Kate and Lisander shared a look of concern.
“Seth … what’s happened?”
Seth looked sick. “Netta’s dead. Alex killed her and then hanged himself.Jesus, Jesus.”Lisander and Kate looked appalled as Seth began to sob.
* * *
Seth huggedOri and Maceo as they arrived at the funeral home. Both of them were startled by Seth’s gray face, and Ori felt tears pricking her eyes. So much loss.
Netta’s funeral. The medical examiner had finally released her body to be buried; Alex was still being examined. “He stabbed her to death and then hanged himself,” Seth kept saying in an almost disbelieving tone. “Why didn’t he just kill himself? Why take her with him?”
Ori leaned against him. “I’m so sorry, Seth.”
He put his arm around her. “Thank you for coming, Ori. I know you must be exhausted.”
“I’m fine, Seth, really. I’m worried about you.”
Seth looked at Maceo. “Well, at least we can say it’s over now.”
Maceo nodded. “But what a price.”
