Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
dani
The front door slammed shut, and I counted to sixty before grabbing my clothes out of the washing machine and hastily pulling them back on.
My body was aching in the best way, but the elation was slowly wearing off as I stared at the back wall.
Why did I have a horrible feeling that everything was about to change?
I crept forward, pulling the wall open again, revealing the wooden door.
If his secrets were so bad, why were they hidden behind a lock anyone could break into?
Spinning around, I crouched down, opening the cupboard where Kole’s small toolbox was.
I found a narrow, metal tool that would fit into the keyhole.
I moved back to the door, sliding the tool in, jiggling it for a few seconds while twisting the handle. The lock was as simple as it looked, and I froze when it popped open. I cracked the door, sucking in shallow breaths.
“I need to know,” I whispered to myself, my heart hammering against my ribs.
I pushed it open the rest of the way, my eyes meeting darkness. Running my hand along the wall, I found the switch, flicking the light on. My gaze swept across the small room, my worst fears instantly coming true.
A long corner desk took up most of the room and there was some kind of computer in front of a plush chair. But the electronics were not what caught my attention. It was all the items scattered on the other side of the desk.
I grabbed the doorframe, horror holding me hostage. What have I done? Given this man my trust. This was why I promised to never let anyone in. Evil is everywhere in this world. Even the person who I thought was different.
I swallowed thickly, tears of betrayal threatening to escape. I stumbled forward, snatching the scrap of clothing that was on the desk. I squeezed the rough fabric in my fist, not needing to inspect it. A ski mask—the same kind the killer wore. I looked down, counting at least five more masks.
The next thing I saw was a row of knives with jagged blades.
The mask fell from my grip as I staggered backward.
What was all this? Was he the killer? No, it wasn’t possible.
My chest tightened, and I suddenly couldn’t take a breath.
This was the first major panic attack since the one I had at Kole’s bar months ago when I heard the same words as the night of my attack.
I wrapped my arms around my stomach, anguish ripping through me. That was the same night Kole and I slept together for the first time.
My gaze drifted to the walls, panic slithering through my veins. I stared at the smiles of all the victims. Living and dead. Natalie, Miles, Jillian. Me. It was my driver’s license photo, my hair slightly lighter than it was now. My smile was small and forced.
Bile burned my throat as the room spun around me. I was wrong about Kole. So fucking wrong.
A noise broke through my daze, and I whipped around and hit the chair, causing it to roll across the floor.
“I forgot my jacket.” Kole’s voice rang through the house. “I’m kicking everyone out when I get to the bar and coming right back. I’d rather spend the night with you in bed.”
While he was talking, I rushed out of the room, pushing the door closed, not pausing to lock it. I wasn’t sure why I was even trying to hide what I found. There was no way I’d be able to act like I was fine in front of him. Not after this.
Before I could close the fake wall, I went still, feeling his burning stare on my back. I slowly straightened up, trying to clear my head before facing him.
“Dani.” His voice was quiet and steady. “You need to trust me—”
“Trust you?” I hissed, rage seeping into my bones.
I spun around to see him standing in the laundry room doorway.
His gaze gave nothing away when he met my glare.
“I know nothing about you. You—you have it all here. The masks. The knives.” My voice cracked as anger heated my veins. “I can’t fucking believe this.”
“I’m not the killer,” he said in the same calm voice. “I was with you that night at the police station.”
“Then you’re part of it,” I screamed, losing all control. “Why else would you have all of that? You have a hidden fucking room.”
“Let me—”
“Fuck you,” I snarled, hating how hurt was mixing with my anger. This was a different kind of pain, but it was so much worse. “I know what this town is.”
Shock gleamed in his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Capital murder. That’s your charge. Every person in this town has a rap sheet.” My voice shook as I blurted out the truth. Kole stood utterly still, not moving a muscle as I spoke. “Except one. Natalie knew the truth. She’s the one who told me. Meaning Susan knows it.”
He blew out a breath. “Dani. This isn’t something you can tell. Not Susan or anyone else.”
“Are you going to stop me?” I asked, letting threat enter my voice.
“You can’t tell her.”
He was firm, but still calm. Which only enraged me more. He thought he was in charge. I witnessed his body tensing as if he knew I wasn’t going to listen. My racing heart dipped. He knew too much about me. I’d told him all about my self-defense training and everything else.
“Give me five minutes to explain,” he urged with a note of desperation.
God it hurt. I could handle anger. Fear. Terror. But this was worse than all of that. I let Kole in. The first person in twelve years who I began to trust. I didn’t know my heart could shatter like this.
“No.” My one worded answer was barely a whisper. Kole didn’t move from the doorway, his pleading gaze locked on me.
After this, I couldn’t believe anything he said. I’d already seen how well he lied. The words that left his mouth meant nothing. I was in too deep with him to be rational.
“Don’t,” Kole warned in a low voice. “Just hear me out.”
Instead of responding, I turned around, ripping the hidden door back open.
His footsteps were quickly approaching behind me, and I lunged toward the desk.
My fingers wrapped around the hilt of the closest knife, but before I could lift it, Kole’s hand landed on mine as his chest smashed against my back.
He kept the knife pressed to the desk, my hand trapped under his.
“Drop it,” he demanded in a strained voice. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Then let me go,” I ground out, attempting to free my arm.
His hand slid down slightly, and he wedged his thumb between my palm and the hilt.
“Shit,” I breathed out, panic tightening my chest when he pushed his thumb at the base of mine, hitting a pressure point I wouldn’t be able to fight against. In the times I’d talked about my training, he failed to mention his.
It was becoming quickly apparent I wasn’t the only one with fighting skills.
I yanked against him, shoving my body into his, trying to stop him.
I made a frustrated noise when he squeezed the pressure point, forcing my grip to relax.
When I lost my hold on the knife, I threw my other elbow back, catching him in the side of the ribs.
A pained grunt left him when I did it again.
He grabbed my wrist once my hand was off the knife, and reached around me, going for my other arm.
In a practiced move, I spun around to face him, breaking his hold before bringing my knee up.
He turned just in time, and I kneed him in the thigh instead of the groin.
My palms slapped on his shirt when I shoved him back.
He stumbled back only a step, reminding me I couldn’t beat him with strength alone. He overpowered me in weight and muscle.
He knocked my arm away when I went to jab his throat. “You know how to fight,” he said between heavy breaths, blocking my next attack. “But you’re rusty. When’s the last time you trained?”
“Rusty?” I repeated, fury exploding within me. “I took two men down while drugged. I think I can handle you.”
He snatched my wrists, his hold iron tight as he kept me at arm’s length. My struggles ceased when we locked eyes, his deep stare stabbing me in the heart. There was no malice or anger in his gaze. He still looked like the man I was falling for.
“This is different,” he said gruffly. “I’m different. Even after finding all this out, you don’t want to kill me. Deep down you know I’m not the killer. That I’m not a bad person.”
“I don’t know that,” I choked out hoarsely. “I know nothing about you.”
“Give me a chance to fix that.”
“This—you—are the reason I don’t let people in,” I shrieked, ignoring the tears running down my cheeks. “There is no fixing it.”
It didn’t matter that I was keeping secrets from him. My twisted, murderous past. I knew my own mind. I would never harm an innocent. It was impossible to know Kole’s mind or intentions, just like everyone else in this world.
I raised my foot, and this time my kick landed. When my heel connected with his groin, he hissed out a string of curses, his hold loosening on my wrists. He went to his knees, and I shoved him to the floor before racing past him, out of the room. He yelled my name as I ran through the kitchen.
I didn’t care how much I disliked Susan. She was the only person I could confide in about Kole’s secret room.
My bare feet slapped against the wood as I passed the island. There was no time for shoes. I could deal with the freezing weather for a few minutes since her condo wasn’t too far. My pulse thudded in my ears as I reached the front door.
My moments of relief were short-lived when I heard him behind me. I let out a scream when his arms banded around me, trapping mine at my sides. He lifted my feet off the floor, preventing me from gaining any upper hand against him.
“Get off,” I screeched, struggling in his hold.
“Stop fighting me,” he shot back.
He pushed me onto the couch, my chest pressing into the cushions as he pulled my hands behind my back.
He was sitting on my legs, his weight more than enough to keep me still.
Something wrapped around my wrists, and I fought against him, spitting curses at him.
The restraint was pulled tight, and once it was secure, he climbed off me.
“I’ll kill you,” I snarled, terror lining my veins when he picked me up. “You won’t get away with any of this—”
“All we’re going to do is talk.” He threw me over his shoulder, walking back toward the laundry room. “Trust me.”