18

Colton’s heart raced as they pulled up to what used to be his aunt and uncle’s house. Carmen, their only child, had inherited everything. Memories flowed through him and he shuddered as he pushed them away. The last time he’d been here, Jillian had almost been killed.

Law enforcement arrived, sirens off, earpieces on. The plan was for Colton to approach the house and see if he could get Carmen to come to the door. Authorities would then present the warrant that had been signed in record time by Judge Harmon.

Hunter and Dominic took up positions on either side of the front door. Officers covered the other exits. Colton received a nod from Dominic and he pressed the doorbell. His nerves twitched. Everything in him wanted to kick the door in, grab his cousin, and demand she tell him what she thought she was doing.

Instead, he rang the bell again.

Meg grabbed Jillian’s hand. “Behind the door.”

“Why?”

“Because it worked before. When she pushes the door open, we’ll be behind it.”

“This is it, Meg. We have to get her when she comes in. It’s two against one now.”

The door opened silently. “Come out from behind the door. Now.”

Jillian considered pushing it shut in one hard shove, but figured Carmen was smart enough not to place herself in the spot where she would be hit by the door. “Why are you doing this, Carmen? We’ve never done anything to you except want to love you and include you in our family.”

“I had a family.” Her flat monotone scared Jillian more than if the woman had yelled. “Emphasis on had. But thanks to you and your snooping, my mother is in jail and my father is dead. What family do I have now?”

“You have cousins, aunts, and uncles who love you.”

“I thought so too.” Her last word caught on a sob and Jillian winced. “I thought I could handle it, but the dreams kept coming. My mother accusing me of interfering. I went to see her in prison every chance I got, but it was never enough. She said I had to avenge her. It was my duty as her daughter.” She hiccupped. “And she was right.” Jillian blinked at the sudden change in Carmen’s voice. Nothing but ice. “I realized she was right.”

“And so you decided to ruin my family? My daughter?”

“Not just yours, Jillian. Colton’s.”

Loathing dripped from her husband’s name and a wave of nausea swept over Jillian.

“Do you know I went to see my mother yesterday? I told her what I had planned.”

Jillian’s brain twitched. She had to do something. They couldn’t stand behind the door any longer. She stepped around it and came face-to-face with Carmen.

Meg gasped and Jillian shot her a warning look.

She turned her attention back to the pretty girl who could have been anything. She had beauty, money, talent, intelligence.

And she’d chosen revenge.

“Meg and I are walking out of here. We’re going home.”

Carmen’s lip curled and she lifted the weapon. “You see, Colton just pulled up and is standing on my front porch ringing the doorbell. No one is going anywhere because it’s time for all of us to die.”