Page 27 of Deadly Sins: Lust
She giggled. “Acouple? We were friends.”
“I heard you were lovers, but Marissa insisted on keeping it a secret. The only people who knew the truth were Shawn and Layla.”
“I can’t believe this. Did Shawn tell you that? He’ll say anything. You can’t believe a word he says.”
“You and Marissa moved in together after college. Everyone thought it was innocent, two roommates sharing a nice house together. When people were around, she treated you the same way she treated all of her friends. She even took Shawn with her to her parents’ house for holiday get—togethers because she knew they wouldn’t accept your relationship. I imagine it must have been hard to love her in private all that time.”
“I loved her ... as a friend. If Shawn thinks we were more than that, he’s mistaken. Ask Layla. She’ll tell you.”
I was sure she would.
She’d tell me exactly what she wanted me to hear.
“You caught Shawn off—guard,” I said. “He knew how much you struggled when she met Nick and ended your relationship, but until this morning, he didn’t want to believe you’d ever hurt her.”
She stabbed a finger into my chest. “You’re crazy. I don’t have to stand here and listen to this.”
I stepped back. “Pieces of your necklace got caught in the clasp of Marissa’s dress. How did that happen, do you think? Was it when you were leaning over her body, forcing her head under the water? Did you know Marissa has thumbprint—shaped bruising on the back of her shoulder and a broken collarbone? The prints are a bit larger than average. Looking at your thumbs now, they look like a perfect match to me. After dress rehearsal, why not stop into the police station? If the prints aren’t yours, you can rule yourself out as a suspect.”
Val lunged to the side, grappling for a steak knife off a nearby table. She sliced it through the air, her intended target the center of my chest. I jerked to the side, wincing as the knife pierced my shoulder. As blood soaked through the sleeve of my shirt, a familiar voice rang out behind me.
“Val, that’s enough! Put the knife down.”
Val turned the knife on James. “You don’t understand. Everything was fine untilshegot here and started snooping around.”
“Whatever you’re arguing about, it doesn’t matter.” He reached a hand out. “Give me the knife. Let me help you.”
She snorted a laugh. “You don’t get it. You think you knoweverythingthat goes on in your little world. Well, guess what? You don’t. You’re oblivious. You can’t help me. No one can. It’s too late for that now.”
She swung the knife at me again. I dodged it, preparing to tackle her to the ground. James beat me. He grabbed Val’s wrist and snapped it back. It made a popping sound. She squealed and dropped the knife. “You asshole! You broke my wrist!”
“I gave you a chance. You should have listened.” He turned toward me. “What is this all about?”
I stared at him. “You really don’t know, do you?”
“Would I be asking you if I did?”
While he tied a cloth napkin around my arm and one of the staff went for a first—aid kit, I explained everything. He appeared genuinely shocked.
Maybe hewastelling the truth.
Maybe hedidn’tknow.
Layla and Georgia rushed to Val’s side.
“What happened to her?” Layla asked.
“He broke my wrist!” Val said.
“What?” Layla looked at James. “Why would you do such a thing?”
“She had a knife,” James said. “She stabbed Sloane with it.”
“I don’t understand. Why did you have a—”
“It’s over, Layla,” Val said. “Just ... stop. She knows. He does too.”
“Knows what?” Georgia asked. “What are you talking about?”