C hapter Twenty - Four

B ack in New Orleans, Nox and Livia made a plan. Nox would go to the police and ask them to reopen his family’s case; Livia would research as much as she could about the family and his father’s business connections .

At first the police were hesitant to even listen to Nox, but finally, a younger detective, Brian Jones, called him back. “Mr. Renaud, I want to help. I’ve been working cold cases for a couple of years and although the official record is murder/suicide, something has always struck me as off. Let’s talk .”

Nox called Liv. “That’s fantastic,” she enthused, “a real step forward. Haven’t found anything online yet, but I’ll keep digging. I do have to go into work tonight .”

“I’ll try and be back to take you, but if not, make sure you take Jason with you .”

“My pet bodyguard,” she sighed but agreed to his request .

L ivia searched the internet and looked at every news story, feature, article, blog post she could find on the Renaud family tragedy. More than one linked it to Ariel’s death, calling Nox cursed, which just made Liv angry. By the end of the afternoon, her eyes were sore and she went upstairs to change for work. As she walked into their bedroom, she froze. On the bed was an envelope, which she knew for certain hadn’t been there that morning. She felt her chest cramp up with unease. The envelope looked like the same heavy paper brand as the one that had been left for her at the college. Expensive paper. Careful not to touch it too much, she eased the note out of it. She couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her .

I told you to leave him. Now everyone will have to die before I kill you, beautiful Livia .

“ J ason !”

Her bodyguard came running, flanked by another couple of Nox’s security men. She showed Jason the letter. Grim-faced, he told the men to search the house .

“And you’re sure it wasn’t here before this morning ?”

“Positive .”

Jason nodded and got on his phone. One of the security guards came back, his face ashen, and visibly shaken. “Boss, the wine cellar. You need to see this .”

Livia insisted on going with them, but immediately wished she hadn’t. “Oh, Jesus …”

Blood. Lots of it smeared across the whole room, stinking, rotting. The corpse was leaning up against the wall, belly sliced open, entrails hanging out .

All of them retched. Jason kicked the corpse with his toe. “Who the hell brings a cow down here to gut it ?”

Livia, covering her mouth and nose, nodded at it. “Someone sending a message. It’s what he’s going to do to me .”

“Get the police down here now,” Jason barked at his men, then turned to Livia was trembling. “Ms. Chatelaine, we need to get you someplace safe. I’m taking you to Mr. Renaud’s offices. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be out in public .”

“No, I need to go to work,” Livia insisted. “Marcel is always shorthanded near New Year’s .”

Jason wasn’t happy and called Nox. When he spoke to Livia, Nox listened to her. “I don’t want to be the one to tell you what to do, even if I think this is beyond worrying .”

“I want to go to work,” she insisted. “It was a cow , someone’s idea of trying to scare me. Fuck them , Nox .”

He gave a low chuckle. “Fuck them. Okay, but I’m taking you to work, and there will be a fleet of security with you all night long .”

“Deal .”

M arcel greeted her with a warm hug, but Livia noticed the strain in his eyes. “ You okay ?”

Marcel shook his head. “Liv, I don’t want to pile on but…have you seen or heard from Moriko? She didn’t come in last night, and it’s not like her. I tried to call her but there was no answer .”

Livia looked at Nox, and there was terror in her eyes. Nox nodded to Marcel. “We’ll go to her place .”

In the cab, Livia held Nox’s hand tightly. “Please be okay, please be okay,” she kept whispering as she tried in vain to reach her friend on the phone. In the elevator to Moriko’s apartment, she grew almost angry .

“Why the hell isn’t she answering ?”

As she spoke, something hit her shoulder. Liquid. They both looked at it. Blood. It had dropped from above. They both turned to look as they approached Moriko’s floor and with mounting horror, they realized that the floor was covered with blood and that it was definitely pooling out from Moriko’s apartment .

“No, no, no...” Livia fought with the lift doors and finally wrenched them open. Nox tried to stop her, his instinct telling him what she’d find, but his outstretched hand missed her. Instead, he kept close as she burst through the door to her friend’s apartment. They both saw her at the same time. Moriko, beautiful, sweet, Moriko, half sat, half lay against the wall of her apartment, ripped open by a knife that still protruded from her body. Her clothes were soaked in blood, her eyes were closed, her face deathly pale .

‘Oh, my god. God, no please… ’ Livia sank to her knees and crawled to her dead friend, willing life back into her, but they both knew she was gone. Butchered. Stabbed to death. Livia let out a howl of agony that Nox would never forget, and gathered Moriko’s body to her, willing her to breathe, to please, please come back to her. She clutched her to her, not caring that Moriko’s blood was soaking her, her sobs heart wrenching. Nox, his voice shaking, quietly called for back-up and the paramedics, but she could see from the amount of blood that there was nothing they could do. Moriko was dead. Murdered .

A ll Livia could see or smell was blood, even after Nox had put her into the shower at the hotel. He had told her the mansion was too dangerous now and she had nodded numbly, not really taking anything in. She felt detached from everything and everyone, even Nox. Moriko was dead .

Now she lay in a strange bed, listening as Nox and the police spoke in the other room. She tried to shut out their voices but also wanted to know what the hell was going on .

There was a knock at the door and Odelle came in, shutting the door behind her. She didn’t say anything but sat on the edge of the bed and held Livia’s hand .

For a long time neither of them said anything. Then Livia, her voice trembling, spoke. “ Moriko’s dead .”

“I know. I’m so sorry, Livvy .”

“He killed her because Nox and I are together .”

Odelle shook her head. “Whoever it was killed her because they are psychopathic, Liv. This is not your fault .”

Livia closed her eyes, letting out a sob. “Why is this happening ?”

“I wish I could tell you, lovely, I do.” Odelle stroked Livvy’s hair awkwardly. “They’re looking for Roan .”

“Do you really think Roan is behind this ?”

Odelle looked so sad that Livvy sat up and hugged her. “I used to think no way , but now… I just don’t know. I still think Amber knows more than she’s telling, but that just might be my bias. Have you seen her lately ?”

“Not since before Christmas .”

Odelle sighed and let Liv go. “Well, I guess the police will question her too .”

“Nox said she went out of town .”

“I think she did. She’s been acting strangely ever since she broke things off with Roan .”

Liv studied her friend. “Odie…would Roan have hurt Amber? Or vice versa ?”

“I don’t know. I got the feeling their relationship was about sex and that was it. Roan doesn’t do deep .”

“Unless he’s with you .”

Odelle half-smiled. “I was going to argue that but I think you’re right, actually. He does confide in me. Share his dreams and hopes .”

“I really want to believe that this isn’t Roan’s doing, Odelle. For your sake as much as his, and ours .”

Odelle nodded sadly. “Me too, Livvy, me too .”

B ut a week later, as Livia was arranging Moriko’s funeral, the police came back to them with devastating news. Roan’s semen had been found on Moriko’s body and the slaughtered cow’s body. A countryside alert was sent out for him .

Nox, Livia, Sandor, Odelle and Amber sat together in a low-key bar in the French Quarter. All of them looked shattered, but Livia couldn’t help studying Amber, who seemed to be on the edge of something else—hysteria? Grief? The other woman, her red hair dirty and unkempt., was biting her nails down to the quick .

“What is it, Amber?” Livia asked her gently but Amber ignored her. Nox fixed his friend with a stare .

“God, are you high? Jesus , Amber, at a time like this ?”

She shook her head, but now Nox had mentioned it, they could all see Amber was tweaking. Odelle rolled her eyes and instead spoke to Livia .

“How are you doing, Livvy ?”

Livia shrugged. “I keep seeing her lying there , Odie .”

“It’s not your fault, Liv. The medical examiner said she’d been dead for hours .”

“I should have gone to find her sooner. Days sooner. She always looked out for me, I should have done the same for her.” Livia smiled through her tears. ”One time, at college, she shouted at me for opening my dorm room door to her without checking who it was. It was her room too, the doofus. Anyway, she made me promise to always check who was at the door, and if I didn’t know who it was, then I didn’t open the door.” Her face clouded over. “What kind of friend am I that I was — ”

“Too busy fucking Nox in various European cities,” Amber suddenly said, her tone harsh. “Poor little Livvy, precious little Livvy, spreading her legs for the nearest billionaire …”

It was Odelle, moving quickly, who slapped Amber hard across the face, making them all jump. Amber rocked back, then lunged for Odelle, who side-stepped her, leaving Amber to sprawl on the floor. Sandor picked Amber up as Nox stepped between the two women. Livia was too shocked to move .

“Amber, go home and get cleaned up. And don’t ever, ever talk to Livia like that again. Ever .” Nox was furious. Amber spat at him .

“You think that little piece of trash can replace my sister? My sister who loved you? Was devoted to you ?”

“Get out of here!” Livia jumped up to stop Nox from going after Amber, and Sandor stepped in between them .

“I’ll take her home , Nox .”

Everyone was staring at them, some people even taking photographs. Nox put his arms around Livia. “It’s okay, love. She’s gone .”

“What the fuck was that?” Livia said in an incredulous voice. Nox shook his head, holding her tightly .

“I don’t know , baby .”

“It’s Amber’s birthday,” Odelle said quietly, and Nox groaned .

“Oh god, I forgot. It’s Ariel’s birthday too .”

“I’ve never seen Amber so high on something though. She usually keeps it to pot. That wasn’t pot .”

“No .”

Livia said nothing. Amber’s attack had been so out of the blue. Livia could feel the foundations of her composure crumbling, but she leaned into Nox’s embrace. “Maybe you should go see her. I’m not trying to replace Ariel .”

“I know that. Amber knows that. I apologize on her behalf…she’s not herself .”

Livia looked up at him. “Go see her. Make amends. See if she needs help .”

Nox smiled down at her, stroking her face. “This is why I love you .”

N ox went to meet Amber the next day, and it was a contrite Amber who sat with him. “I didn’t mean what I said,” she began, “please, please , tell Livvy I love her. I didn’t mean any of it. I was just…god, Nox, I miss Ariel so much .”

Nox nodded. “I do too, Amber, you know that. But neither of us could have stopped what happened .”

Amber was silent and Nox was surprised to see something else in her eyes. “What? What is it , Ambs ?”

She shook her head. “I can’t…I can’t tell you, Nox. It’s too…it’s something I did. Something I have to live with, except…I don’t know how to live with it anymore .”

Nox was really worried now. “Amber…please tell me you didn’t have anything to do with the threats to Liv ?”

Amber gave a mirthless snort. “No, Nox. Not the threats .”

“ Then what ?”

She mumbled something and Nox couldn’t clearly make out the words. “What? Did you say ‘ scare her ?’”

Amber stared at him with endless sorrow in her eyes then suddenly got up. “I can’t…I can’t…I’m sorry , Nox .”

I t wasn’t until he was in bed with Livia later that it dawned on him what Amber had said. When he realized, it send a cold arrow right through his heart. He said the words over and over to himself, hoping beyond hope that they didn’t mean what he thought they did .

“He was only supposed to scare her .”

Amber wasn’t talking about Livia…she was talking about Ariel .

Amber knew Ariel’s killer .

C hapter Twenty - Five

“A re you sure?” Livia was looking at him with shocked eyes. Nox had related his entire theory to her as they sat eating breakfast the next day, and now Livia sat back, her distress obvious. “You think she hired someone to scare her sister and he went too far and killed her ?”

“That’s exactly what I think,” Nox said, grim-faced. “I always knew Amber was jealous of Ariel but I never thought she would have done this .”

Liv shook her head. “Maybe it was a prank gone wrong .”

“Pranks gone wrong don’t end with a woman being stabbed to death, Livia. Whoever killed Ariel meant it. He gutted her…he enjoyed doing it .”

“So, Amber got in with the wrong crowd. Maybe she wanted someone to scare her sister, but she picked a psycho who killed Ariel instead and has been blackmailing Amber ever since .”

“Wow, you really ran with that theory.” Nox was impressed .

Liv half-smiled. “It just came to me. It’s not hard to figure out Amber’s motive .”

“It isn’t ?”

“You , numbnuts. Amber’s in love with you .”

“No .”

Livia rolled her eyes. “Dude, wake up. Of course, she is. She always has been, but once the plan with Ariel went awry and Ariel died, she knew she could never be with you, that it would make her look guilty and sooner or later she would give herself away. Problem is, what do you do now? Do you go to the police ?”

Nox sighed. “I think I’d better talk to her again first. If the killer is the same guy and she knows it, then maybe we get it out of her in return for not bringing her into it .”

“But how will we tell the police how we figured it out ?”

Nox’s green eyes were dangerous. “We don’t. I’ll deal with whoever it is .”

Livia swallowed hard . “Nox .”

“No one threatens the woman I love. No one. And for Moriko, for Pia, for Ariel…I’ll deal with it .”

Livia was both scared and turned on by the menace in his tone. She leaned over and crushed her lips to his. “I love you,” she whispered, “please take care .”

“I promise.” His kiss was sweet and tender and went on for a lot longer than expected before they were interrupted by his cell-phone buzzing. Looking regretful, he broke away from her and glanced down at the screen .

“It’s Detective Jones.” He answered the call and Livia listened as he spoke, his face clouding over .

What now? She thought wearily, and got up to go take a shower. Nox caught her hand and she saw his distress. “Okay, thanks, Detective. I’ll be right down.” He hung up the phone .

“What is it , baby ?”

“Amber’s going to have to wait. They’re digging up my family today .”

N ox insisted on watching as his family members were exhumed from their family mausoleum. Livia stayed with him, holding his hand as his expression changed from determination to sorrow as the coffins were raised. He turned away as the medical examiner opened his brother’s casket .

Nox gagged and threw up while Livia, not knowing what else to do, rubbed his back and tried to console him. “I’m so sorry baby .”

Nox wiped his mouth. “It’s okay. I know we’re doing the right thing .”

His family’s caskets were loaded into the ME’s van and taken away. Left alone, Nox and Livia gazed down at the empty graves. “Promise me,” Nox said, “that when we die, we won’t be buried like this. Let’s both get cremated and fly in the wind for eternity .”

“Agreed, baby. Mausoleums creep me out .”

Nox half-smiled at her attempt to cheer him up. “Our family will be a happy one .”

“Certainly will.” Livia said firmly. “All this crap we’re dealing with right now will be behind us, and we’ll have a bunch of kids and we’ll be happy. Summer vacations in Italy, Christmases in Vienna .”

“I can’t wait.” He splayed his fingers out over her belly. “Is it wrong that I kind of want you to be pregnant right now ?”

“Ha,” she said. “Let’s wait until psychopaths aren’t threatening to kill me, shall we ?”

His smile faded and she nudged him. “Sorry, bad joke .”

“I won’t let anything happen to you .”

“Right back at ya,” she said. “Come on. Let’s go see Detective Jones .”

H e watched them from the farthest end of the cemetery. They had no idea that whatever they were doing was only going to make his plan to kill Livia better. He had almost brought them to their knees…but what he would do next would destroy Nox Renaud forever. There was just that one loose end to tie up, and he would do that in spectacular style .

Amber .

A mber was pale, but sober when Nox met her in a small café in the city. To her credit, she didn’t attempt to speak before Nox sat down and said simply. “He was only supposed to scare her . ”

Amber lifted her head from where she had been staring at her coffee and nodded. “It was supposed to be a prank. I knew she would go outside for a smoke before you picked her up. He was supposed to take her for a ride around the block and then bring her back immediately. I knew something was wrong after a while when he didn’t call me like he was supposed to .”

“Who is he, Amber ?”

She shook her head. “Please, let me finish the story. He had agreed to do it because…he was mad at you. Something to do with your family, I don’t know exactly. When he didn’t bring her back, I knew. I’d always suspected he was a little off, but nothing like this. When I saw what he did to my sister…” She covered her mouth and choked back a sob. “He told me if I ever told anyone, he would let them all know that I planned it, that I wanted her dead. I never wanted her dead, Nox, you have to believe me .”

Nox, a vortex of emotions swirling inside him, stared at her coldly. “The sad thing is I loved you. You and your shiny cap of red hair and your thousand-watt smile. And you loved me too—as long as I stayed in the box you made for me. Lonely, bereaved—less . While I still grieved for Ariel, you knew you controlled me. I scared you, I know. Once I crept out from the box and began to stretch and crack my limbs out to their full extent, once I stopped letting myself tamp down this fire—this life. This love. This love for Livia. I didn’t want to think you were one of those women, those women who only see other women as a threat. One of those friends who kept me around just to make them look better—I’ve had a lifetime of those. Leeches. I never thought you would turn out to be one of them. But you were the worst of them because I loved you like a sister, Amber .”

He fell silent then, swirling his glass, watching the ice melt in the green liquor. Melon. The door blew open, and a cackle of noise rushed in with the rain. Rain on wooden floorboards. Two elderly women, huddled in woolen coats, trying to warm up from the cold .

Tears dropped silently down Amber’s face. Nox shook his head. “You killed her. Your own sister . Why ?”

Amber looked at him, her eyes not angry, just sad. “I loved you. I love you .”

Nox tried not to lose his temper but his voice shook as he asked her the questions he need to. “Did you have anything to do with the attacks on Livia? On me? Did you murder Pia? Moriko ?”

“No, no, I swear,” Amber seemed almost desperate. “It wasn’t me. Look, I really like Livia, and I can see she is perfect for you. God…no. I swear. But…I did do one thing and I can’t believe I did it .”

Nox wasn’t convinced . “What ?”

“Roan would… He would leave his used condoms tied up in my trash can .”

Nox made a disgusted noise. “What the hell does that have to do with anything?” He leaned forward to make her look at him. “Who did you hire to kill Ariel, Amber ?”

She closed her eyes. “I didn’t hire …”

There was a sharp crack and, for a second, everybody in the café froze. Amber’s eyes widened, then a thin stream of blood began to stream from her temple .

In utter shock, Nox saw the bullet hole in the window in the seconds before it smashed. And then Amber slumped forward, her eyes open and staring but very, very dead .

Bedlam. People screaming. Nox was up and running, out into the street to see where the gunman was—who the gunman was. But, of course, the killer was in the wind. Nox slumped to the ground, deeply shocked, and waited for the police to arrive .

L ivia ran straight into his arms. “God, Nox, thank god you’re alright.” She held him tightly as he buried his face in her hair .

“Enough,” he said, his voice muffled, “enough people have died. We need to find him, right now .”

“Who, darling?” Livia stared up at him with scared eyes . “Who ?”

Nox looked shattered beyond belief as he said the words. “Roan. We need to find Roan .”

C hapter Twenty - Six

J anuary slunk onwards as the surviving friends worked with the police to find Roan. More convinced than ever that Roan was the killer, Nox asked the police to compare any old DNA that didn’t belong to his family to Roan’s. Detective Jones agreed. “We’ve issued a countrywide search for Saintmarc, but if he is the one who shot Ms. Duplas, he’s obviously around New Orleans, waiting to finish the job. Do you have adequate protection ?”

Nox nodded. Sandor looked at Livia and Nox now. “Look, being at the hotel doesn’t work. Come stay with me. It’s no mansion but there’s a hell of a lot less dark places for a stalker to hide. Odelle, you too. We need to stick together until Roan is found .”

S andor’s home was large but comfortable, and Livia felt safer there than she had anywhere else for a while. She worried about her friends though, knowing one of their own was responsible for so much of the mayhem and murder. She had hatred in her heart for Roan Saintmarc, and although she wouldn’t say it aloud, she almost wanted him to come for her so she could avenge her friends. Avenge Moriko, avenge herself. Even if it killed her .

She could feel Odelle keeping an eye on her, though, and knew that if she needed to break down, Odelle would be the one to help her. She didn’t want to add to Nox’s pain. Of all of them, he was the most affected, she thought, seeing Amber killed in front of him. He looked shell-shocked still, even after a few weeks, and it was hard to tell if it was from Amber’s murder or Amber’s admissions .

“What I don’t understand,” she said to him, “is how Roan knew to shoot her at the moment she was about to tell you about him. He couldn’t have been bugging her, for crissakes, he didn’t have the resources .”

“It may be that he doesn’t know she didn’t reveal him,” Nox said, “in which case, he knows we know and will hopefully trip himself up out of desperation .”

“Or do something reckless that takes someone else’s life.” Livia sighed. “God, what a fucking mess…but what the hell is his motive? I don’t get it .”

“I can’t help you there. I honestly have no idea .”

Livia chewed her lip. “And what did Amber mean about Roan’s discarded condoms? That makes no sense… Unless …”

Nox was studying her closely. “ Unless what ?”

Livia was sickened. “Unless she was telling us someone was using Roan’s semen to frame him. And Amber knew .”

D etective Jones came to see them one afternoon at Nox’s office. Having given up her job at La Chat Noir, Livia now worked on her college projects at Nox’s office during the day. She found, to her surprise, that they didn’t get tired of seeing each other all day and all night .

“This bodes well,” Nox grinned as she said as much one night, and she laughed. It was a relief to laugh and be happy, and they made love often, clinging to each other .

They also talked more about their charitable foundation ideas, asking Charvi to be involved. Charvi—who, much to her disgust, also had a protective detail—was enthusiastic. “For a rich dude, Nox Renaud, you’re quite the guy.” But she looked at him with proud eyes and Livia knew her approval meant the world to him. Charvi got tearful when Nox told her they were naming the foundation after her former lover, and she hugged Gabriella’s son .

“I always thought you might resent me,” she told him, wiping her tears, “for being with your mother before she met your father. But she loved me truly, and she loved Tynan truly. There was not a bad bone in that woman’s body .”

Nox got choked up then, and nodded. Livia smiled at them both. “Family isn’t just blood. I know that. I’m looking at mine right here .”

W hen Detective Jones came to see them, family was on their minds again. “Something strange, Mr. Renaud. When we went to compare your father’s DNA to your friends, we found a match. A familial match. The thing is, the lab messed up the labelling. So, we need to take your DNA again to test against the sample, in case, for some reason, we’ve made a mistake .”

The detective was being cagey, and Nox and Livia shared a look. “What aren’t you telling us ?”

Detective Jones drew in a deep breath. “Look, if the lab is right then one of your two closest friends, is also your half-brother .”

Nox’s eyes widened. “You’re fucking kidding me ?”

“ No , sir .”

W hen the detective had left, Nox and Livia stared at each other. “My brother …”

“This is just bizarre. I’m sure they must have gotten Teague and someone else’s DNA mixed up .”

“It must be. My parents did not cheat on each other.” Nox was fierce in his denial, but Livia could see the doubt in his eyes .

“Look, it can only be Roan or Sandor if it’s anyone. I can’t see any physical similarity between any of you .”

“It’s a mistake,” Sandor was at the door then, obviously having heard the conversation. “The police fucked up. Dude, as much as I think of you as my brother, it’s not possible. Dad had a vasectomy after they had me, and Mom died before even Teague was born .”

“It doesn’t explain how it can be a half -brother, if Teague’s DNA got mixed up. Teague was my brother, you can see the likeness between us.” Nox sighed. “Okay, so maybe my dad wasn’t a killer , but — ”

“What?” Sandor looked surprised at that comment, and Nox and Livia exchanged a look .

Nox cleared his throat. “I’ve been passive for too long, Sandor. I do not believe my father killed my mom and Teague. I do not. Someone else killed them and I want to know who .”

Sandor nodded slowly, and Livia studied him. Was there something behind that closed expression, or was it just shock? “Well, good. I think you need to look into it. It’s been haunting you too long. I got your back , dude .”

“Thanks, man.” Sandor smiled at them before disappearing back out of the room. Livia chewed her lip. Unease settled over her—Sandor’s reaction to the news that they were looking into Nox’s family tragedy had got her thinking. However, she stayed silent—Nox didn’t need more complications .

“You look tired, baby.” Nox pressed his lips to her forehead and she wrapped her arms around his waist .

“I am. Let’s go home .”

“I’ll see if Sandor needs a ride home .”

Livia hesitated. “I meant…our home. I want privacy .”

Nox sighed. “It isn’t safe, baby. There are too many ways to get into it, and believe me, Roan knows all of them .”

“And we can’t get them secured ?”

Nox was the one to hesitate now. “Baby…it’s more that I’m scared. Bad things happened there—more than once—and I’m terrified I’ll lose concentration for a second and someone will get to you. Seriously, Sandor’s place is safer .”

Within a week of Nox making that statement, he would realize just how horribly wrong he was .

C hapter Twenty - Six

S andor didn’t come home with them. “I’ve got some paperwork to catch up on, then I think I’m going to meet a girl .”

Nox grinned. “ Oh yeah ?”

Sandor shrugged. “It’s nothing. But enjoy the privacy and I’ll see you later .”

In the car on the way home, Livia was pensive . “Huh .”

“What ?”

“Sandor said enjoy the privacy . How does he know Odelle won’t be home ?”

Nox shrugged. “Probably forgot. She does tend to keep to herself—except when you and she are plotting something.” His cell phone buzzed. “It’s the detective. Hey there .”

He listened and paled. “You’re sure? God. Okay, yeah, we’ll be right there .”

He ended the call and looked at Livia. “They’ve pulled a body out of the bayou near the mansion. They think it might be Roan. They want me to go down there and identify the body .”

L ivia waited in the medical examiner’s office while Nox went with the doctor. Soon he was back. He shook his head, looking shaken. “Impossible to say. The body’s been in the swamp .”

He didn’t have to say anymore. Detective Jones followed Nox out of the morgue .

“Look, we’ll do the DNA work then see where we go from here .”

Livia cleared her throat. “Detective Jones? Has Sandor Carpentier submitted his DNA sample ?”

“I’ll check, but I think so . Why ?”

“Just curious. No reason .”

Detective Jones smiled at her. “Well then, I’ll leave you. Thanks for coming in—and sorry to put you through that, Mr. Renaud .”

“Anything to help .”

In the car, Nox let out a long breath and Livia looked at him sympathetically. “Was it bad ?”

Nox nodded. “The body was mutilated and barely looked human. As much as I blame him, I hope to god it wasn’t Roan. That body’s been in the swamp a while .”

W hen they got home, Odelle was there, and Nox told her gently about the discovery. Odelle nodded calmly. “It’s him,” she said, “I know it in my bones. Nox…I think we need to start looking for somewhere else to stay .”

Nox’s eyebrows shot up . “Why ?”

“I don’t feel safe here. Do you feel it, Liv?” Odelle looked at her and Livia nodded .

“I do, but I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the confusion over the DNA, or that the body—if it’s Roan’s, it means he didn’t kill Amber… But until we have confirmation that Sandor’s DNA is in the all-clear …”

Nox stared at them both. “You honestly think Sandor might have something to do with this ?”

“Let me be clear,” Odelle said, “it’s just a feeling I have. I have no proof of anything, just my gut instinct .”

Nox turned to Livia. “ And you ?”

“The same. There’s just been something off lately about Sandor—or, to be fair, it could be paranoia on my part given what’s been happening. The only people I trust right now are in this room .”

Nox sighed and Livia could see him struggling with the idea that his friend may not be who he thought he was. She put her hand on his arm. “Look, we’re not saying Sandor has done anything wrong. Just be cautious .”

“That’s fair enough.” Nox thought it over for a while. “Okay, look, we’ll tell him we’re going to move out because… God, I don’t know, to give him his privacy back. I’ll look into renting something short term .”

I n the end, it was Livia who told Sandor they were moving out. He came to find her one morning while Nox was at work. Livia was packing a bag when she heard a step behind her. She spun around, startled to see Sandor there. He smiled at her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you .”

Livia, her hand on her chest, tried to smile. “It’s okay, I just didn’t expect to see you. I thought you were at work with Nox.” Her heart was beating uncomfortably against her ribs. Sandor sat down on the edge of the bed without being invited and nodded at her bag .

“Going somewhere ?”

Livia felt awkward. “Has Nox spoken to you ?”

“ About what ?”

“About us moving out? We just feel that we’re giving into the killer by huddling together.” A thought occurred to her and she half-smiled. “Nox and I don’t want to put you and Odie in the line of fire anymore that you already are. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to either of you.” That’s it, lay it on thick .

Sandor touched her face. “You’re very sweet, Livvy.” He stood and, to Livia’s surprise and unease, took her face in his hands. “Every day,” he said softly, “I see more and more why Nox fell in love with you. You are beautiful, inside and out, Livia Chatelaine. Is it inappropriate to say that I wish I had met you before Nox did ?”

Livia was about to brush off the compliment, but then Sandor gently, quickly, brushed his lips against hers. He immediately dropped his hands and stepped back, making a good show of looking horrified. “Gosh, I’m sorry, Liv. That was so inappropriate. I’m sorry .”

There was a curl of fear in Livvy’s stomach. What the hell was going on here? “ It’s okay .”

“I’ll leave you alone. I will miss all of you, but I understand why you’re moving out .”

He left her alone, stunned and feeling weirdly tearful. She sat down on the bed heavily and wondered why she felt so upset. The kiss had been wildly inappropriate, but it wasn’t even that which upset her. It was the expression in Sandor’s eyes the whole time he was speaking. Cold. Dead. Not the eyes of the man she had hoped—had assumed— he was .

Her gut instincts were kicking in again as she closed the bedroom door and called Nox. When he answered, she burst into tears and it took her a minute to calm herself before she said what she wanted to say. “Please, Nox. Come get me out of here .”

T hey moved into a hotel to begin with, although Odelle simply went home. “I’ve hired extra protection,” she assured them, “and I don’t want to play the third wheel, as much as I love you both .”

At the hotel, Nox and Livia ordered room service, took a long hot shower together, then made love. Livia hadn’t felt comfortable having sex at Sandor’s place, so now, reveling in their privacy, Livia clung to him as he fucked her slowly and tenderly. She smoothed his dark eyebrows as he moved above her. “I love you so much , Nox .”

He grinned as his pace quickened and she gave a little cry of pleasure. “As I love you, pretty girl .”

Livia tightened her legs around his hips, squeezed her vaginal muscles on his diamond-hard cock. Nox groaned. “God, yes, just like that, baby.” He slammed his hips against hers, and Livia took him in deeper each time, tilting her pelvis so his huge cock could drill ever harder into her. “God, I love fucking you, Livia Chatelaine…your body was made for fucking .”

Livia grinned then arched her back as her orgasm hit, pressing her belly against his. “Nox?” She was gaping as his pace grew rougher and quicker. “Come on my belly .”

Nox, panting for air, drove himself to the peak then withdrew, shooting thick, creamy white cum onto her belly, fingering her clit as he did and making her come again .

Afterward they caught their breath as Nox massaged his cum into her skin. He circled her navel with his finger. Livia gazed up at him. “I’m thinking about our Christmas getaway, all those dirty games we played .”

“You enjoyed them ?”

“You know I did. When all this is over, I’d like to do that again. Maybe even try some new stuff .”

Nox slid his finger into her cunt and moved it gently in and out, while his thumb stroked her clit. Livia could feel the excitement build again in her body. “That’s it, Livvy, just lie back and let me do the work.” Nox nipped her nipple with his teeth before taking it into his mouth as he stroked her. Livia tangled her fingers in his dark curls as he sucked at her breasts, making her nipples rock hard. Then he moved down to tongue-fuck her navel .

“God, that’s so good .”

“Sensitive belly .”

“You know it.” Livia sighed as he moved further down to take her clit in his mouth, while his fingers moved up to stroke her belly. Livia spread her legs wider and Nox, his tongue dipping in and out of her cunt, began to finger-fuck her navel with his thumb, finding a rhythm that drove her crazy. He made her come again and again, before plunging his straining cock back into her. Livia cried out as she came hard, breathless and sweating, clawing at his buttocks, urging him deeper .

At moments like these, she could pretend everything was okay, that everything was happy. Nox knew how to command her body entirely and he was relentless in making her come every single time. God, she loved this man. She would do anything, try anything he wanted to, but in the end, it came down to their animal selves, almost feral in their carnal desire for each other .

They fucked until they were exhausted. Then, his head resting on her breasts and her arms around him, Nox fell asleep, but Livia’s mind was whirling with questions .

This whole thing was so confusing, with a myriad of suspects. But in her mind, Livia felt sure she knew who was behind all of this, and tomorrow she would start to find out more about the man she was certain was trying to kill her .

Sandor .

C hapter Twenty- Seven

C harvi Sood was surprised to find Livia not in the music room, but at one of the computers in the college’s library. “Hey there, kiddo .”

“Hey Charvi .”

“What you doing ?”

Livia smiled at her. “Research. Charvi, you might be able to help me out.” She looked around the library then lowered her voice. “What do you know about Florian Carpentier, Sandor’s father ?”

Charvi felt cold inside. “Why do you ask ?”

Livia just looked at her and Charvi nodded. “Okay, but not here .”

They went to Charvi’s office and the older woman locked the door behind her. She offered Livia a cup of coffee and when they had their drinks, they sat on her old comfortable couch. Charvi sighed. “What I’m about to tell you, I’ve never told anybody, mostly out of respect for Gabriella’s wishes. When she died, I thought about going to the police about it, but they seemed so certain that Tynan had killed her and Teague that I didn’t want to cause Nox any more pain. That was the real reason I stayed away from him.” She sipped her coffee, collecting her thoughts .

“Before Gabriella met Tynan, and after we had decided to split up—she was worried what our relationship could mean for my career, can you believe it? —she worked a little for the Carpentier’s as a consultant. Eleanor Carpentier was a lovely woman and she and Gabriella became good friends. Then one day, Gabriella called me, hysterical. I went to her apartment to find it in disarray, and Gabriella bleeding and bruised. She had been raped .”

“Oh, god.” Livia felt sick .

“At first, she wouldn’t tell me by whom, she just said she couldn’t go out in New Orleans anymore for fear of seeing him. Eventually I got it out of her. Florian Carpentier was not a good man. He beat Eleanor, raped her too, I believe, and Florian didn’t even bother to hide it. I tried to make Gabriella go to the police but she swore he would kill her if she did. She swore me to secrecy and for a time it seemed like things would go back to normal. Then, about a month later, Gabriella left town unexpectedly and didn’t return for a year .”

Livia’s eyes were full of understanding. “She was pregnant .”

Charvi nodded. “She had the child and Florian and Eleanor brought him up as their own .”

“Sandor. Sandor is Nox’s half-brother .”

Charvi nodded. “When Eleanor died, and when Florian got Alzheimer’s, Sandor took over the business with Teague. Then when Nox was at college, they all died. Over the years, I’ve tried to find reasons why Tynan would have done it, but there are still none. He loved Gabriella, and those two boys were his life. I truly believe they were all murdered .”

Livia swallowed . “By ?”

“I think Florian got confused, thought his secret might be revealed. He went mad, shot them all .”

“But how the hell would he have the brain power to frame Tynan then ?”

“He was a vicious man, no doubt about it, and thought himself above the law. But I believe he had help .”

Livia closed her eyes. “Sandor .”

Charvi nodded. “Over the years, I’ve become more convinced. I don’t know Sandor at all, so I can’t speak to whether he takes after his mother or his father. Wouldn’t any loyal son help his father, even after his father committed such a heinous act ?”

Livia was silent for a time. “But to frame Tynan? Do that to his supposed best friend? Did Sandor know he was Gabriella’s son ?”

“I don’t know .”

“What if he found out? Got angry? Sandor does a good job of appearing friendly and warm, but there’s something else there. An anger. What if it wasn’t Florian who killed Gabriella? What if Sandor, on finding out the truth about his parentage, got angry and went to confront her? He takes a gun, and when she tries to deny him, he kills her. Tynan and Teague were collateral damage .”

Livia looked sick, but Charvi nodded. “It could have easily happened that way .”

“And Ariel…what if Amber and Sandor had planned the prank together, then Sandor went way, way off script. Got off on killing women. He could have been …”

“Livia, darling, let’s work one problem at a time. But I think you should stay well away from this if your theory is correct .”

“I have to talk to Nox,” Livia said, “but Sandor is his business partner as well as his best friend, and I know that they’re having enough trouble. Someone’s been buying up all the shares .”

“Sandor, perhaps? Trying to oust Nox ?”

Livia shook her head. “He mentioned someone called Roderick LeFevre .”

“Rod?” Charvi looked surprised. “I’m surprised. It doesn’t seem like his m.o. The Rod I know is a straight shooter .”

“If you know him, could you get me in to see him ?”

“I’m sure that can be arranged .”

A n hour later, Livia was waiting nervously in the reception of Roderick LeFevre’s company. His opulent offices and sleek staff made Nox’s building look shabby and old-fashioned. Why on Earth would Roderick be interested in it ?

“Ms. Chatelaine?” A tall, blonde, classically handsome man smiled at her. “Rod LeFevre. Please, we’ll meet in my office .”

Liv followed him. “So, you’re the lady who’s won Nox’s heart ?”

She smiled hesitantly at him. “I am. And you’re the man who’s been buying all the shares in his company .”

Rod laughed. “I am. I like you already, straight to the point.” In his office, he invited her to sit. Livia studied him. He was a little older than Nox, mid-forties, short hair, dark green eyes. His face could go from friendly to dangerous in a moment, she guessed, but he exuded warmth and honesty. She drew in a deep breath .

“You seem like you like honesty, so here goes. Was it your idea to buy all the shares you could in RenCar, or did Sandor Carpentier come to you and ask you to do it ?”

Rod’s eyebrows shot up. “My, my. Okay, well, Ms. Chatelaine — ”

“Livia .”

“Livia. I could, of course, tell you to mind your own business .”

“You could, and I would respect that.” Livia met his gaze steadily .

Rod smiled. “Yes, I do like you. Well, to answer your question, yes, he did. He told me he wanted to buy the company from underneath Nox, that he thought Nox’s heart wasn’t in it anymore and he wanted to give him the push to try something new. Sandor told me if I bought the shares, he would pay me double for them .”

Livia scoffed. “And you believe him about him wanting to help Nox ?”

“Of course not, but that’s none of my concern. I’m a businessman, Livia, and what Sandor was suggesting would have made me in the region of seven hundred million dollars .”

Livia whistled and shook her head. “You people deal in figures I can’t even comprehend .”

“What is it you do, Livia ?”

She lifted her chin proudly. “I’m a grad student and until recently, a waitress .”

Rod smiled. “Both admirable vocations. I had heard you were one of the finest students ever to study at the university .”

Livia looked surprised and Rod laughed. “I do my research too, Livia. And because I am who I am, if women were my type, I’d be fighting Nox Renaud for a woman like you.” He grinned. “Thankfully for all of us, my husband would object .”

Livia giggled at his teasing and decided she liked this man very much. “Could I ask you not to reveal our conversation to Sandor, please ?”

“You have my word .”

He walked her to the door, but then stopped her. “Livia…I won’t share this conversation, but I can’t speak for anyone who might have seen you come here. New Orleans is a relatively small town when it comes to who knows who in certain circles. Please, tell Nox you came here and make sure you have adequate protection in place .”

Livia studied him. “You think Sandor’s dangerous ?”

“I have no evidence of it , just — ”

“Gut instinct .”

Rod nodded, half-smiling. “Exactly .”

Livia nodded. “Did you know Sandor’s father? Florian Carpentier ?”

Rod’s smile faded. “I did, unfortunately .”

“Why ‘unfortunately ?’”

“He was a vicious fuck .” There was that honesty again and Liv half-smiled .

“Understood. Thank you again, Mr. LeFevre .”

“Rod, please. Goodbye, Livia .”

L ivia, being driven back to the hotel by Jason, called Nox. She didn’t want to tell him what she had discovered over the phone, just in case Sandor was listening in, but merely said she’d come to his office later that day. “I love you .”

“Love you too , babe .”

After she ended the call, she looked over at Jason. “Jason, could we stop somewhere else, before home?” She gave him the address and he turned the car around without comment .

At the residential home, she asked if she could see Florian Carpenter. “I’m his niece from out of town and I just got here,” she lied smoothly. “I haven’t seen him in years .”

The receptionist looked at her for a long moment, then turned away. “Just a moment please, ma’am .”

Nervous, her hands clenched with fingernails digging into her palms, Livia waited. Soon enough a smartly dressed administrator came to collect her. “If we could just step into my office .”

Shit, they didn’t believe her ‘niece’ story. “If I could just see my uncle .”

The administrator, whose named tag said Susan, ushered her into the office. Her expression softened. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Carpentier, we assumed all the family knew. Did Mr. Carpentier’s son not inform you ?”

“Inform me of what ?”

“I’m sorry to tell you that Mr. Carpentier Sr. passed away last month .”

Livia stared at her, not needing to pretend her shock now . “What ?”

“I’m so sorry, my dear. He passed peacefully .”

God, no. I didn’t want him to pass peacefully, I wanted him to fucking suffer after what he did to Gabriella. Livia tried hard to keep the hatred off her face. Susan, reading her, mistook her anger. “You weren’t down as his next of kin, you see .”

“I haven’t spoken to Sandor yet,” Livia said by way of explanation. She sighed, closing her eyes. “May I see his room ?”

“I’m afraid it’s occupied, dear. Unfortunately, we can’t keep the rooms open for long. Too much demand .”

“Of course, I’m sorry.” Another idea came to her. “Did Sandor, I’m sorry, I mean, Mr. Carpentier Jr., take possession of Florian’s personal items ?”

Susan nodded. “He did. He didn’t want to linger. He arranged the cremation quickly, and took the small amount of personal possessions that were left .”

Livia thanked the woman and left the residential home. She sat in silence in the car as Jason turned the car. “Where to, Ms. Chatelaine ?”

She chewed her lip for a moment. “You know, I think I left some personal items at Mr. Carpentier’s mansion. Do you think we could swing by there ?”

C hapter Twenty- Eight

N ox looked up as Sandor poked his head around his office door. “Skipping out for some lunch, want to join ?”

Nox shook his head. “Not for me, thanks. I’m meeting Liv in a while .”

“Cool. See you around .”

Nox got back to his paperwork but found he couldn’t concentrate. Livia was right, there was something off about Sandor. Oh, he gave the impression of just being your friendly everyman, but behind his eyes…fuck, Nox shook his head. Were they both just paranoid? Instead he called Livia. He was surprised when she seemed cagey. “Where are you ?”

“Um…I left something at Sandor’s place and we’re just about to go pick it up .”

Nox frowned. Livia had been so adamant that she didn’t feel safe there. “Why not just get Sandor to bring it to the office ?”

“I don’t want to bother him, it’s only a hairbrush .”

She was lying, he knew it in his bones. “Liv…what are you up to? Tell me .”

“Nothing, honestly. I spent the morning with Charvi and then remembered I’d left my hairbrush at Sandor’s—random, I know. But it was a present from Moriko .”

“Ah. Well, is Jason with you ?”

“Of course, darling. It won’t take long .”

A few minutes later, Harriet, the new receptionist, called him. “I have a Roderick LeFevre on the phone for you .”

Nox was surprised. “Calling to buy my shares too , Rod ?”

Rod gave a chuckle but then his voice turned serious. “No, actually, it’s about your lovely lady .”

“Livia?” Nox was astonished .

“Unless you have more than one .”

Nox shook himself. “What about Livia ?”

“She came to see me this morning. Asked me point blank if Sandor Carpentier was the one who was really buying all the shares in your company .”

“And what did you tell her?” Ice was creeping through Nox’s veins. What the hell was going on ?

“I told her he was .”

The shock hit Nox full-force in the chest . “What ?”

Rod LeFevre explained the same thing to Nox as he had to Livia. “Sandor Carpentier is not your friend,” he concluded, “and god damn it if I can’t stop worrying about your lovely lady. If Sandor finds out she was asking questions …”

“Thanks, Rod. Listen, I have to call her .”

“Stay safe, Renaud…and I’m sorry .”

Nox tried to call Livia, and then Jason, but to his distress, could not reach either of them. As he hung up, his phone rang again and it was Detective Jones .

“The body is Roan Saintmarc,” the detective told him, “and he’s been dead a good couple of months. Multile skull fractures; he was beaten to death. He couldn’t have killed Amber Duplas or Moriko Lee .”

Nox closed his eyes. “What about the DNA? Sandor ?”

“It’s confirmed. Sandor Carpentier is your half-brother. We have men on the way to your office and to his mansion right now .”

“He’s not in the office…and Livia is at his home .”

“Gotcha. We’re on our way .”

He got up and raced out of the office, ignoring Harriet’s startled yell as he pushed past her and out to his car. “Answer your phone, goddammit !”

He called Charvi in desperation. “Charvi, I know Livia came to see you this morning. I need you to tell me everything. Everything. Right now …”

Chapter Twenty -Nine

A s Livia moved through the hallways of Sandor’s mansion, her heart thumping, she looked for his security team but there was no one. “Where the hell is everybody ?”

Jason was looking tense. “I think we should get you out of here, Ms. Chatelaine .”

Livia shook her head, heading for Sandor’s study. “Keep a lookout for me. I’ll be quick, I promise .”

Inside, she rummaged through every drawer in Sandor’s desk, every file she could get her hands on from his cabinet. Nothing. Finally, she found a box shoved on the window sill behind the curtain. She opened it and saw various personal items—toothbrush, toiletries, old postcards, and photos. At the bottom, a stack of letters. She flipped through them and saw they were all addressed to Gabriella. She stuck them in the back pocket of her jeans and returned the box to where it came from .

“Ms. Chatelaine, I think we should go.” Jason had stepped into the room, but before she could answer, he gave a strange, gargling, noise, his eyes bulging and, in horror, she saw blood spurt from his neck .

“Jason ?”

He looked at her, his expression confused, pained. Blood spurted from the hole in his neck that Sandor’s knife had made. Sandor grinned at her as he yanked the knife out of Jason, who slumped, dead, to the floor. “Hey there, Livia. Good to see you.” He waved the knife. “Time to be gutted, pretty girl.” And he went for her .

C harvi told him everything and, desperate, Nox drove like a mad man towards Sandor’s home, knowing he might be too late, that Sandor had had a head start, and if he caught Livia snooping... Images of Ariel dead, of Pia, all superimposed with Livia’s face. Livia lying dead on the grave, her belly cut open, her blood soaking everything .

No. No. Not again .

And his family. Nox knew in his bones that Sandor and Florian had killed them, had framed his beloved Dad, murdered his brother, shot the defenseless Gabriella and left her to die a slow, agonizing death. And all because Florian Carpentier was a jealous, psychopathic rapist. Fuckers .

But all he could think of now was getting to Livia, to save his love. Please, please, let her be okay …

D espite being shocked and terrified at Sandor’s appearance, Livia was ready to fight .

“Motherfucker!” She yelled at him and launched herself at the man. Hitting him full force, they tumbled to the floor, the knife slicing through the air, precariously close to Livia’s body. She pounded at his face, kicking him, totally enraged .

Sandor cuffed her across the face so hard her ears rang as she crashed to the floor. “I knew you suspected me, Livia, as soon as I saw your face yesterday. When the home called me this morning and told me you’d been snooping around…” He straddled her and tried to bind her hands. Livia struggled, yelling at him, hoping that someone, anyone would come. He grabbed her head and bounced it viciously off the floor .

“Livia !”

Nox. Nox was coming. It gave her strength, and she brought her knee up, striking Sandor in the balls—but it wasn’t enough. As she scrambled away from him, he jerked her back and slammed her back against the wall, ripping open her shirt. Livia struggled, but then he put his forearm across her throat, pressing down hard, and she couldn’t breathe .

“Fuck you, asshole,” she gasped, “you can kill me but you won’t get away with it .”

Sandor merely smiled and drove his knife into her belly. Livia gasped at the agonizing pain that shot through her. “Shame I can’t do this slowly, beautiful girl, but as you can tell, I’m in a hurry.” Blood pumped from the wound and Livia could smell rust and salt. Sandor admired his work. “You bleed well, Livia. I’m going to enjoy this .”

Dazed by the pain, Livia lost her breath as he stabbed her again, the knife driving through her navel and slicing deep into her. But then Nox was there, roaring, knocking Sandor off of Livia, who slumped to the floor. Livia rolled onto her side and crawled away, bleeding heavily, her hands clamped to the vicious wounds in her belly .

Seeing Nox and Sandor struggle, she crawled towards Jason’s body. Grabbing the bodyguard’s gun, she turned in time to see Sandor sink his knife into Nox’s stomach. Nox yelled out in agony and Sandor laughed, yanking the knife free .

“No!” Livia screamed and aimed the gun at Sandor, pulling the trigger. The gun clicked. Livia cursed. Was the gun empty? Sandor got in a vicious right hook to Nox’s temple. Nox staggered away from Sandor and Sandor dived at Livia .

“Stupid bitch,” he snarled, “you have to turn the safety off . Allow me to demonstrate .”

As Nox, bleeding, came after him, Sandor turned the gun on Livia and shot her, the bullet tearing through her belly. It felt like fire ripping through her. Her body jerked with the impact and she could no longer feel her legs .

We’re going to die here. We’re both going to die here… “Nox…” Her voice was weak and she felt herself dying now. There was blood everywhere, and she could feel her body shutting down. Fighting with Sandor, Nox looked at her desperately .

“Hang on, baby girl. Hang on, please…keep breathing, Livvy…” He was struggling with Sandor now, trying to get control of the gun. Another shot rang out, the bullet burying itself in the wall, then another and Nox jerked back, his shoulder gushing blood. Sandor laughed .

“Whatever you do to me now, Nox,” Sandor snarled at Nox, “she’s still a dead woman. Look at her, bleeding out. And I thought killing your Ariel was satisfying. You can watch while I empty the rest of this gun into your beautiful girl, Renaud.” He aimed the gun at Livia again .

Nox, weakening from blood loss, nevertheless threw himself at Sandor again and the two men tussled once more. Livia was losing consciousness, but she was desperate to stay awake, desperate to help Nox. Somehow, she managed to crawl to where Sandor had discarded his knife. Grabbing it, she plunged it into the back of Sandor’s knee, then yanked it out and sliced his Achilles tendon .

Sandor roared in pain, going down, and Nox grabbed the gun from him. Sandor laughed, knowing he was beaten. “I hope she suffers before she bleeds to death. My only regret is that I only got to kill her once.” He spat out the words, looking up at Nox in pure hatred. Without a moment’s hesitation, Nox shot his half-brother in the face. Sandor went down, stone cold dead. Nox staggered over to Livia, who was fading fast .

“Stay alive, baby, please…we get our happy ending. I swear. We deserve our happy ending…” He collapsed next to her, trying to stem the blood flowing from her body, ignoring his own savage wounds. “Please, Livvy, stay with me .”

Livia stroked his face. “If I die, I want you to know, I loved you more than you will ever know. You are the reason I lived .”

“If you die, I die. We go together or we live together, baby, that’s the deal.... Liv? Liv, please …no ….”

Livia heard his beautiful voice, begging her to live, hearing the love in his voice. But then the darkness took over, and she heard nothing more .

C hapter Thirty

T here was so much pain and Livia didn’t want to open her eyes but she had to know if she was alive. Please, please , she begged, let Nox be alive too. If he’s dead …

“Livvy.” She had never heard such a beautiful voice in her life. “Livvy, baby, you can open your eyes, sweetheart .”

She opened her eyes and focused on his face. Nox was pale and needed a shave but he was there, alive and smiling at her. He stroked her hair back from her face. “We made it, Livvy .”

“Kiss me.” She said the words but no sound came out—her throat was so dry. Nox smiled and helped her sip some water .

“Kiss me,” she said again and this time, her voice rang out, pure and strong. Nox pressed his lips to hers and she sighed happily. “We’re alive .”

“Yes, we are.” Nox took her hand. “You, just barely. But you’re a fighter, Livvy .”

She touched his face as if she couldn’t believe he was real. “Sandor .”

Nox’s expression hardened. “Dead. Good fucking riddance .”

“Agreed. He was a hell of an actor though. Imagine holding onto that anger, that jealousy, that rage all those years, just waiting for when you fell in love again? All because his daddy couldn’t keep it in his pants .”

Nox nodded. “Sandor didn’t intend to get arrested either. He left a suicide note, mailed it to the local news station. He intended to kill us, then himself. I saved him the bother. He’d killed Roan weeks before. That’s how I knew it must have been Sandor, that’s how I knew to get to you .”

“My hero.” She kissed him again then groaned. “God, I could kill him all over again for how much this hurts .”

“I know, I’m sorry, honey. Press this if you need the morphine but docs said you’d be in pain for a while .”

Livia pressed the button and felt a warm rush of something in her veins. It took the edge off. “How about you? Why do you look so good ?”

Nox grinned and pulled his shirt up. A heart-shaped scar was healing well, stark pink against his skin. Livia was confused. “Nox…how long have I been out ?”

Nox’s smile faded. “Three weeks. You had a pulmonary embolism, plus the bullet damaged your liver. God. It was touch and go for a long time. You were in a coma, which, strange to say, was a blessing.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe what he was saying. Livia took all this in and then nodded .

“Nox ?”

“ Yes , baby ?”

“Is it all over now ?”

Nox nodded. “It is, honey. It was all in the letters Florian wrote to my mom. He didn’t regret a thing, the bastard. He wrote such vile things, told her the way he was going to kill her. He never mailed them, obviously. Florian raped my mom, she had the baby and gave it to them to raise. Then she met my Dad. Florian held onto that jealousy for years, and one day, he just snapped. He killed them all, saving my mom for last. In his letters, he wrote that Florian wasn’t even the one who pulled the trigger on my mom. It was Sandor .”

Livia felt sick. “He murdered his own mother ?”

Nox nodded. “He was a sick fuck .”

“I don’t get why he killed Pia, or Moriko. I understand Roan, to frame him, and Amber to silence her, but why those two innocent girls ?”

Nox hesitated. “Liv…they think he killed a lot more than that. They think he’d been murdering women all over the country for years. He enjoyed it, darling. He got off on it. Sandor was quite the writer himself. They found diaries where he described his kills. He murdered Ariel and then blackmailed Amber into shutting up. Pia, Moriko…there was an entire notebook on the myriad of ways he dreamed up to kill you . God .”

“Fucker .”

“Quite .”

Livia sighed. “How’s Odelle? How is she taking the news of Roan’s death ?”

“She’s doing okay. She’s outside, if you want to see her .”

“ God , yes .”

Nox grinned, kissed her forehead and went to fetch his friend. Odelle walked in and her face was blank as she stared at Livia for a second .

“Well, look at you, lounging around doing nothing but costing my friend more money .”

For a moment, Livia was shocked, but then Nox burst out laughing and Odelle cracked a smile. Livia giggled .

“Odie, did you just make a joke ?”

“I think I may have. Hello darling, it’s good to see you awake.” Odie bent down and kissed Livia’s cheek then held her hand. Livia was surprised to see tears in her friend’s eyes. “We nearly lost you .”

“But I’m still here,” Livia said, squeezing her hand. “And I’m not going anywhere .”

“I’m so happy, honey, so glad you’re okay. I love you so much .”

Livia did cry then and Odelle hugged her—awkwardly, of course—but Livia clung to her friend. “Thank you, Odie. I love you too .”

Odelle couldn’t speak then, and soon after she left them alone, promising to come back—and bring some contraband food with her .

A lone, Livia smiled at Nox. “Have I told you how much I love you ?”

“Even though I got you into all this ?”

She pulled his head down for another kiss. “I would take every minute of pain over and over again for you, Nox Renaud. This is us, this is our life .”

Nox kissed her as if for the first time. “From now on,” he promised, “I swear it will be a good , happy life .”

“Nox ?”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Yeah, baby?” His voice was soft and tender .

“Nox Renaud ?”

He grinned at her formal tone. “ That’s me .”

Livia gazed at him, her eyes shining. “Nox Renaud, would you do me the great honor of marrying me ?”

Nox’s eyes widened and he began to chuckle. “Well, damn, woman, you just stole my best line .”

Livia grinned and pulled his face to hers, crushing her lips against his. “Is that a yes ?”

Nox kissed her passionately and then nodded. “It’s a hell yes, Ms. Chatelaine. It’s a yes and a yes and a yes …”

T he End