Page 11 of Deadly Sins: Lust
“Whereis he?”
Layla shook her head. “No.”
“What do you mean ...no?” Nick said. “Did Marissa know he’d be here?”
“She didn’t. I thought it would be better to tell her after she arrived.”
“Why? Because you knew I’d protect her, that I wouldn’t allow her anywhere near that stalker?”
“Stalker?” Georgia said. “What are you talking—”
“Shawn was my roommate in college,” Layla cut in. “We’ve been friends for a long time. Whatever bad blood there was between him and Marissa, it’s been over for a while now. She moved on. He moved on. It seemed to me enough time had passed to bring everyone together again.”
“I don’t give a shit how you justify it,” Nick said. “Shawn Hayes is a selfish dirt bag with no respect for women.” He pointed to one of the wine glasses on the counter. “That his? Is he hanging out somewhere, hiding?”
“Here’s not here,” Layla said.
Nick stared into the hall. “Come out, coward! No point in hiding now. I know you’re here.”
“He’s not here,” Layla repeated.
“She’s telling the truth,” Georgia said. “He left about an hour ago.”
“And went where?”
“If you think he had anything to do with what happened to Marissa, he didn’t,” Layla said.
Nick looked at Maddie and me, then jerked his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”
Maddie grabbed an empty wine glass off the counter, poured the last of the wine in the bottle into it, and gulped it down.
“Maddie!” I said.
She shrugged. “What? It’s getting tense in here. Besides, someone needed to finish it off. And I’m thirsty.”
I grabbed her by the sleeve of her shirt and pulled her toward the front door. In the meantime, Georgia played a game of twenty questions, Shawn Edition, with Layla. Val followed us outside.
Val closed the door behind her, gripping the doorknob in her hand like she was worried someone would try to open it. When no one did, she followed us to the car and said, “Hey, Nick. Hang on a minute.”
He glanced over his shoulder, eyes lit with anger. “What?”
“Shawn is staying at The Devonshire.”
“Room number?”
“I’m not sure, but he’s on the top floor, second from the left, I think.”
She handed him a slip of paper.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“My cell, in case you need anything.”
He got into the car and sat down. “Why tell me where Shawn’s staying?”
“Shawn isn’t the saint Layla makes him out to be. He’s not a killer either, though. He wouldn’t hurt Marissa. I’m sure of it. They resolved everything after she arrived here. I swear. Go talk to him, and see for yourself.”
“Lemme ask you something,” Nick said. “You ever felt the ache of jealousy so deep in your bones that all rational thought leaves your mind?”