Love, Lies, and Deception(66)
Laughing, Justin replied, “Please … you were just a means to an end. I almost wanted to kill myself having to deal with you and Emily all the time, but it’s all paid off now. I have Alec right where I want him.”
Wearily, I asked, “When will he be here?”
Looking down at his watch, Justin furrowed his brows and bit his lip. “Let’s see … he was in Boone when I called him and since that’s been several hours ago I’d say he was almost here.”
My pulse spiked and my heart raced. I was about to see Alec for the first time since I left, and I felt ashamed, guilty. He was going to find out about my treachery, and here he was coming to rescue someone that failed to trust him and slept with another man. People made mistakes all the time, but I made a huge one … one that could cost me my life and Alec’s.
“Marissa! Marissa, where are you?” Kristian’s voice echoed throughout the house, and he sounded frantic. Doors were slammed and I could hear his heavy footsteps as he made his way through the house.
“Ah, it appears your other lover has finally awakened,” Justin remarked. “Just in time, too.”
Through the glass patio doors, I could see Kristian running his hands through his hair in frustration. He peered around the room, and once he saw me through the glass doors he froze. Slowly, he staggered out of the house and his gaze met Justin’s.
“You better untie her now or so help me God I will kill you,” Kristian growled fiercely.
Laughing, Justin reached behind him and pulled out a gun, aiming it at Kristian, and I gasped when I realized it wasn’t just any gun. It was my Smith and Wesson M&P; the one my father gave to me. Anger boiled inside of me at the thought of his treacherous hands touching it.
Justin retorted, “I’d like to see you try dear brother. By the way, I don’t appreciate you flaking out on me. It’s a good thing I didn’t need you anymore.”
Gasping, I immediately drew my gaze to Kristian, who winced and avoided my questioning stare. I thought Justin’s betrayal was terrible and heart wrenching, but finding out Kristian played a part in it ripped my heart in two.
“What the hell is he talking about, Kristian?” I asked warily. “Look at me and tell me you had nothing to do with this.”
Justin snickered and shook his head. “Oh, this is priceless. You two finally get your f*ck on and you find out that he betrayed you. Please do tell, Kristian, because I’m dying to hear what you have to say.”
“Will you shut the hell up?” I screamed at Justin.
Even though I was strapped to a chair and helpless, I couldn’t keep from lashing out at him no matter the consequences. Knowing Kristian played a part in all of this was the worst betrayal imaginable.
Taking a seat in the patio chair, Justin raised his hands in defeat and beamed at us. “I’ll be glad to. I don’t want to miss this,” Justin taunted with a wolfish grin on his face.
Kristian’s weary gaze met mine from across the pool, and after taking a deep breath he began, “Justin is my brother, Mare. After Lindsey died, I followed him to North Carolina in search of Alec.”
My eyes went wide and I glanced back and forth to Justin and Kristian. How could I not see it before? Other than the hair color they did have similar features. I wanted to lash out and yell at him, but I couldn’t … I was stunned into silence; I could only glare at him.
Kristian balked under my stare, but continued, “We found Alec after searching the area for a few months. When we saw where he lived that’s when we saw you and Emily.”
“So you used me,” I choked out. “To get to Alec you used me and Emily. You son of a bitch, how could you do that? I trusted you!” I fought against my restraints and almost tipped myself over into the pool. Kristian ran over and got down on his knees beside me. I didn’t want to look at him so I turned my head away.
“It wasn’t like that, Marissa,” he exclaimed. Kristian lightly grasped my chin and turned me to look at him. “At first it was, but then when I met you and got to know you I regretted ever getting involved in this whole scheme.”
As soon as Kristian reminded me of the day we met, realization set in. It was on that cold, dark night when I was attacked that he came to save me and who better to be the attacker than his mentally unstable brother. It was the perfect ploy for him to weasel his way into my life.
Turning to Justin, I curled my lip in disgust and muttered, “It was you, wasn’t it … the one who attacked me on that night two years ago?”
Justin nodded. “Yep.”
“It was all a ploy?” I asked, turning back to Kristian. Reluctantly, he nodded. When he tried to caress my cheek, I jerked away. “Don’t touch me,” I hissed. “You were my friend, Kristian. I … loved you.”
That time he gripped my face in his hands and made me look at him. “That’s why I backed out. I fell in love with you, Marissa, and I still am. I had no clue Justin found you when you left, but after he killed that girl and threatened you I wanted no part in it. I refused to let him hurt you. So when you called me it was my chance to get you away and protect you.”
He leaned in closer and whispered in my ear, “I’m going to get you out of here. Just hang tight, baby girl.”
My chin trembled and the tears started to fall. He may not have been responsible for the girl that drugged me or for killing her, but he still played a part in the deception. That was unforgiveable.