Page 111 of Ricochet

Idowant to kill him.

For sneaking into Callum’s room while he was in the shower. For following me that night in Massachusetts. For trying to worm his way onto the first line to…what? Get closer to me or Callum to find evidence against me? For breaking into my apartment.

But most of all?

For pointing that fucking gun at the man I’m in love with.

Since the first moment I started feeling anything for Callum, I’ve felt like I’m hardwired to give him anything and everything he wants.

But this?

I don’t know if I can give him this.

The beast wants fucking blood.

My burner phone vibrates in Eric’s hand. His gaze moves between me and Callum before he peers down at the screen and clicks on the file Lacey sent. As he reads what’s there, his eyes sweep from left to right, slowly growing more red and a little wet. His face screws up into hard lines, nose scrunched, mouthtwisted in a grimace. I know he’s gotten to the worst of it when his complexion pales.

I don’t remember a lot of the details of Jim Adelman’s many vile indiscretions, but I remember the gist. Besides the sexual assault of children, Lacey also believes she found enough evidence—well, enough forus—that he may have at least been complicit in the death of a young girl.

Eric’s gun is back at his side. His face is now a sickly green. With his focus still on the phone, now’s my perfect opportunity to strike.

Before I can, Callum’s hand wraps around my forearm, his nails digging into my skin.

Okay, he mightactuallyhave a superpower.

But I’m cursing that gift of foresight or mind reading or whatever it is as my chance passes when Eric lifts his gaze to us. He blinks, and a tear rolls over his lower eyelid and trickles down his cheek.

Oh, my bleeding fucking heart.

He shakes his head, his voice thick and distraught. “This isn’t true.”

“It is,” I tell him, more than happy to rub it in that the man he cared about was one of the largest piles of shit the world is capable of crapping out.

“I didn’t know.” His agony lingers heavy in the air, but all I do is soak it up. “He…he was like a father to me.”

Don’t give a single flying fuck.

“I’m sorry. Both of you. I swear I won’t say a thing.”

Still gonna kill you.

“I’m sorry too, Eric,” Callum says.

I’m sorry too, baby.

Something else seems to come over Eric, his chest rising and falling rapidly as though he’s spiraling into a panic. He drops the phone on the coffee table.

“Fuck.” He swallows and shakes his head again. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

The second he turns his back to head to the door, I’m on my feet. Callum digs his nails in deeper. When I peer down at him, I see a knowing look within his pleading stare.

Why the fuck does he have to know me so well?

By the time I look back to the door, Eric is gone. But what’s not gone is the cloud of red veiling my vision, blood dripping down the edges. The thundering of the cage door in my mind. The beast’s roar in my ears.

I guess we’ll see just how much power Callum has over me.

I don’t know if it’ll be enough.