As soon as I decided to trust Travis, he made the call. Fifteen or twenty minutes later, they arrived in a black Mercedes with tinted glasses, which they parked a few blocks away from Jenna’s apartment building.

Getting into the backseat of the car is one of the scariest things I’ve ever done in my life. Sitting here waiting for someone to say something makes me want to pass out.

There are only two suited man in the car. The one with a scar on the side of his face observes us from the passenger seat with an amused expression.

“I had no idea there were two of you.” His face twists into a grin that reveals unnaturally white teeth.

“Neither did I,” Travis says, “until three years ago. We—”

“Your story of brotherly love doesn’t interest me. We’ve got pressing business.” His brows hug in the middle. “You said he needs our help? You do know what that means?”

Travis shifts in his seat. “I do.”

I lean into Travis. “I don’t think I can do this. Maybe I should turn myself in.”

“We only help members,” the man in the driver’s seat murmurs. “He’s a stranger.”

“He won’t tell anyone about us,” Travis says quickly. “He’s interested in joining the club.” Travis glances out the window. “He killed someone tonight. And he’s prepared to pay us a lot of money in exchange for our protection.”

My stomach tenses when they argue back and forth. The two men are clearly pissed off at Travis.

Finally Scar Face holds up a hand. “Let’s give the stranger a chance to speak.” He narrows his eyes at me. “Is what he’s saying true?”

I nod. “I need your help. I won’t tell anyone about you.”

“No, you won’t.” Scar Face sniffs. “One word to anyone and you’re dead.”

I hesitate for a moment. “Yes.”

“If we agree to welcome you into the BAD Club. You will pay a monthly fee and in exchange the members will keep your dirty secrets hidden.” He cracks a knuckle. “But there are rules that must be followed.” He raises a finger. “Rule number one, each member is only allowed one murder a year. Rule number two, each murder should be reported because it reflects on all of us.”

Blood drains from my face as I look at Travis, who’s staring straight ahead. He failed to tell me that murders committed by his club members were not accidents. These people are career murderers, who enjoy the thrill of the kill.

“I don’t plan on killing anyone...else.” My hands curl into fists. What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

“Never say never,” Travis mumbles next to me.

I give him a frosty look. “What if I refuse to join the club?”

“You will die,” the driver says. “You’ll be a danger to us.”

Fucking hell. Yet another thing Travis failed to tell me. Watching him, my chest feels on the verge of exploding. “You’ll let them kill me?”

He turns to meet my eyes this time. “My loyalty lies with the Brothers. They are as much my brothers as you are.”

“You never told me I’ll have to join by force.”

“It’s not by force,” he says, glancing out the window. “You still have a choice, to become one of us or join your girl in the afterlife.”

“We don’t have time for this shit,” Scar Face barks. “We have a murder to cover up.” His eyes lock with mine. “Are you in or are you dead?”

I clench my fists, glance at Travis, then back at him. They say I have a choice, but I don’t and the fact is, I’m desperate. “I’m...I’m in.”

Fuck them. I’ll never be a part of their murder club. After they help me tonight, I will renegotiate. If I have to pay them lots of money to let me go, I will.

“Good.” Scar Face pushes his door open. “Let’s get to work.” Before he gets out he turns to the driver. “Stay here. You’re our shadow. Call the other members to arrange a video conference for tonight. All members—including the internationals—should be present.” He gets out of the car and slams the door shut. Travis and I join him outside.

No more words are exchanged on our way to Jenna’s apartment. The closer we get, the harder it becomes for me to breathe. When we get to the entrance, an image of her corpse forces its way into my mind and I stumble to the side of the road to retch.

“Shit,” Scar Face grumbles when I’m done and plants a hand between my shoulder blades to keep me moving. “Another mess for us to clean up.”

When we finally make it to Jenna’s door, my head is spinning and my eyes are filled with tears.

“Don’t worry.” Travis snatches the key from my hand and unlocks the door. “The first time is always the hardest. It gets easier.”

“Where’s the body?” Scar Face asks.

“Bedroom. In the bedroom.” I point to the door leading to the bedroom. I don’t trust myself to go in there again, to see her lifeless body. So I remain in the living room while Travis shows Scar Face the way.

“Is this a joke?” Scar Face’s voice booms from the bedroom. “What kind of fucking game are you playing?”

Seconds later he storms into the living room again, his face distorted by anger. “You said there was a body. Where the fuck is it?”

“I...she’s not there?” A surge of adrenaline shoots through me. It sends me stumbling into the bedroom, where Travis is standing by the bed, a hand pressed to his forehead.

Jenna is not where we’d left her. “She’s alive,” I say to myself. I’m not a murderer. My feet are light as I dash to the front door while Travis and Scar Face search the room. “She didn’t die,” I call out when I notice that the second key is missing from where Jenna used to keep it next to the door. It was there when we left the apartment. “The key...it’s gone. She’s gone.” I rush back to the room to make sure it’s true.

Scar Face storms back into the bedroom from the bathroom. “You fucking fool. You didn’t feel for a pulse?”

“I did, but—” I inhale sharply. “I could have missed it. I was in shock.” I square my shoulders. Confidence replaces my earlier fear. “This is great news for me, gentlemen. Since she’s still alive, I guess I no longer need your services.”

Scar Face smacks his forehead and explodes with laughter. He pulls himself together quickly and plants himself in front of me. “Brother, I’m afraid it’s not that simple.”