Page 94 of Vicious Intentions

“Who else could be behind this bullshit?” Hunter was as exasperated as I was.

“We’re going to make a list and check them off one by one.”

Cristiano nodded. “Do you think Sage’s father admitted he killed your brother?”

I raked my hand through my hair. “I don’t know.” All the years I’d wanted to hunt the man down, taking my time to torture before killing him remained in my mind. However, if I followed through with acting on my revenge, I’d lose Sage forever. “The truth is that I’m not certain I care.”

Hunter opened his eyes wide, then offered a nod of respect. “But it might matter to her.”

He had a good point.

“Did she answer your text?” I asked him.

“No. She read it.”

There was nothing to say to that.

“Whoever is behind this will try and take Sage away from us.” Hunter’s voice was haunted.

“They won’t be able to touch her. But l hope they try.”

As a grin shifted across Cristiano’s face, I sensed he knew what I was thinking. “You want to call them out in the open.”

“You bet I do.”

“That’s dangerous,” Hunter threw in.

Danger.

The word had been one of the first ones I’d spoken as a kid. I’d grown up on adjectives and verbs that most mothers would attempt to keep stricken from a child’s vocabulary for as long as possible. I’d valued their meanings because that’s what was expected of me.

I’d also learned that danger fed adrenaline. If controlled properly, the rush could be used to generate boosted strength and agility. However, once anyone fell into the darkness that danger often provided, there was no chance of using its core value.

Given I’d never allowed it to happen, I hadn’t been prepared for the anger and trepidation that had already spread throughout my system.

There was no doubt in my mind that whoever was behind the charade would make good on their threat. My bets were on William Watkins, although a strange nagging remained in the back of my mind. There were too many cryptic pieces, oddities that seemed amateurish but in truth, were brilliant crumbs dropped in hopes that we’d spend time going down a wrong path.

The driver’s license found on the assassin inside the SUV had turned out to be just another part of the game. While the picture had been of the dead man, the reality was that the social security number and name had been stolen from someone who’d died several years before.

While we were completely aware whoever was doing this wanted the three of us, it was also obvious they didn’t mind creating collateral damage.

That included the ultimate revenge, taking her life for real. Nothing else could be worse.

If that was the case, then whoever was behind the game knew how much we cared about her. Watkins wasn’t the obvious choice. Not for this. But the person responsible had hoped that’s what I’d think.

I’d grieved Sage’s death more than I’d let on to anyone. I’d thought of her so often at times it had felt as if she were standing in the same room.

It wasn’t about ghosts. My reaction has been caused by the desire that had never truly been fulfilled even once.

Did I feel guilt for what had happened to her? Without a doubt. But I didn’t feel any remorse for ending Theo’s life. He’d deserved what he’d gotten.

We stood in the airport near the terminal where her flight was due in any minute. It was entirely possible once she’d spoken with her parents that she wouldn’t return. Why should she? Did that mean I wouldn’t hunt then down in San Diego? No.

The sound of my phone drew Hunter and Cristiano’s attention.

“Brock. You found something.”

“You’re not going to like it,” he said.