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“I love you more.” I imbue that promise of love in my tone, and my heart holds on to it as she leaves me.
I watch her until she leaves through the door. When it clicks shut, I allow rage to take me again.
I hear her car start up on the driveway and then rumble as she drives away, then I plan my next move, vowing blood for blood.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chloe
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
I need to breathe. The moment I stop, I’ll lose focus.
I have hope, and Cillian and I have a plan.
A plan is a hell of a lot more than what I had earlier when I left Mom’s house.
I’m nearly back there. I just hope she’s okay. And I hope everything works out.
The problem is I have to play everything by ear when I get back. There is no plan that’s set in stone on what I’m supposed to do. I just have to try to touch Lance and let the poison take effect.
I run through a scenario of what I’m going to say all the way back, and when I pull up on Mom’s drive, I get out the poison and rub it on the palm of my left hand.
I’m right-handed, so I should be able to use that hand to get into the house without touching anything with my left.
Carefully, I open the door and get out, dreading going back inside with that man.
I think of Roxanne. She’s at the restaurant, completely oblivious to what’s going on. Maybe it was for the best. I can’t imagine how hurt she’ll be when she discovers Adrian was a complete fraud.
I’m glad now that she confessed to not being madly in love with him. This would be worse if she were.
I’d say the Ricci women were cursed with bad luck in men, but that’s not true. I had my father and Cillian. Two of the best men I’ve ever known.
Summoning strength from somewhere, I make my way up the garden path and head back into the house.
My steps become more labored the closer I get to the back room.
I keep worrying that Lance has hurt Mom. Every time that thought crosses my mind, my lungs burn like acid is eroding them.
I reach the door and find Mom and Lance inside the room. Thank God Mom isn’t hurt. She’s still sitting on the sofa in the same spot.
“Well done. You did it,” Lance congratulates me with an impressed smile. “You didn’t do anything to alert anyone, did you?”
“No. You saw what I did. Cillian drank the wine.”
“Well played. I knew your mother was the perfect leverage to hold over you. Your beloved left in his car just after you. It seems he’s on his way to his uncle’s place, but he won’t make it. That poison should take effect while he’s still at the wheel.”
I could almost rejoice. We fooled him. Good. He believes I did everything he told me to do. Now I just need to touch him.
“You monster.”
“You’re the one who made the choice to kill your husband. So, who’s the monster today?”
“Fuck you.”
“No, but I will fuck you. I’ll fuck you right here in front of your mom. Then I’ll kill the two of you.”
He lunges for me, and I allow him to grab me. Mom screams, but I try to stay focused.
