Page 80 of Wicked Promises

I was willing to break Margo so our pieces would fit, but Matt took that away from me. She’s more damaged than I am now. Fragile. One wrong move and she’ll shatter, and it wasn’tmydecision. Hers, neither.

No matter.

I’ll throw myself against the truth until I’m dust. And then nothing will separate us.

Chapter 24

Unknown

There’s no calling this one off.

You may take a piece off the chessboard, but I’m still here.

And I’m coming.

Chapter 25

Margo

Lenora finds me in the hallway.

On the floor.

She falls to her knees beside me, grabbing at my shoulders. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

I point toward my room with a shaky hand. The door has swung almost all the way closed, leaving just a crack visible. It’s all I can focus on, although I’d rather close my eyes. Scrub them out and forget I ever came back here.

Home. Someone clearly disagrees.

She stands and forces my door open farther, her hand flying to her mouth.

Robert makes it to the top of the stairs then, coming toward me.

“Robert,” Lenora gasps.

He helps me to my feet, and I follow him closer.

My room is a wreck.

Destroyed.

My mattress is off the box spring, ripped to shreds. Bits of foam and feathers from the sliced pillows coat the floor. The box spring is splintered, one leg completely demolished. Andmy bookshelf… Every book has been thrown off the case, some pages torn out, crumpled.

But the worst part is the red paint, resembling a murder scene. It’s splashed across the walls, the floor, the books. My desk. The window.

And on the wall, a message.

Pretty bird, broken wings. Oh, what a glorious fall.

He takes my hand. “Len, call the detective. Let’s just close this off…”

He tugs me out of the room.

I gasp for air.

Pretty bird.

Where have I heard that before? Who’s called me that?