บททั้งหมดของ Secrets Behind The Mask: บทที่ 241 - บทที่ 250

"How?" She pulled back enough to look up at him, tears streaming down her face. The women Liam had killed and Michelle's father's death, all this had started because Michelle had said no. "How do we end it when he's killed six people and gotten away with it every time? When he's smart enough to have alibis and patient enough to wait for the perfect moment? When the police can't do anything until he actually hurts me, and the first time he hurts me will probably be the last time? Because his victims all seem to end up dead or missing. No one had connected the victims together before.""We don't be waiting for him to hurt you." Wyatt's voice went hard, that edge she'd heard when he talked about putting a bullet between Liam's eyes. "We make him come to us. Our terms and timeline. We control this, not him.""What does that mean?""It means we go on the offensive." His hands framed her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. "He kills women who reject him. Kills people who stop him from getti

The next morning, Lauren woke wrapped around Wyatt, her leg thrown over his hip, her face pressed against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong, and for a moment she just lay there, listening to it, trying to memorize the sound.Because if this plan went sideways, she might never hear it again."Stop thinking so loud," Wyatt murmured, his hand sliding up her spine. "I can feel your brain working overtime, and it's giving me a headache.""Can't help it." She tilted her head back to look at him. "We're about to use our engagement as bait for a serial killer. That's not exactly normal pre-wedding jitters, but it's a huge reason for cold feet."His mouth quirked. "Nothing about us has been normal from the start. Did you see yourself getting married three weeks ago? Because I sure as hell didn't.""True." She pressed a kiss to his chest, right over his heart. "When are you calling Nate?""Once breakfast is sorted." Wyatt's hand moved to cup her face, his thumb brushing

The ride back to her apartment was quiet. Lauren stared out the window and felt guilt settle heavy in her chest. Honey and Maggie. Her two best friends. The women who'd stood by her through everything. Who deserved to hear about her engagement directly from her, not through the grapevine or worse, social media."I haven't told them," she said suddenly.Wyatt glanced at her. "Told who what?""Honey and Maggie. My best friends. I haven't told them I'm getting married." She turned to face him. "Prue and Nate already know because of their involvement. It won't be long before they tell Grayson, and then Honey will know. And once Honey knows, Maggie will find out, and I'll be the asshole who let her friends hear about her engagement secondhand." She couldn't deny she'd been preoccupied, but then again, Honey had plenty on her plate when she'd encountered Grayson... actually, she'd known him from the office beforehand, though Lauren meant the kinky Grayson, that Honey had encountered at the

"Not without proof that holds up in court," Wyatt said. "Each incident is isolated. Different jurisdictions, different methods. And in most cases, Liam had alibis. The pattern only becomes clear when you connect all the dots, which no one did until now." Clark had set the ball rolling on that. If she hadn't hinted at another case, then they wouldn't have what they did."Until you did," Maggie said, looking at Nate. "How?"Nate shrugged. "I have resources. People who can dig deeper than local PD. Who can cross-reference databases, sealed records, things that aren't supposed to be connected." Nate's voice was careful. "The information exists. You just have to know where to look.""So, hacking." Grayson guessed.Nate shrugged."And you gave this to the FBI?" Honey asked."This afternoon. Special Agent Nelson from Behavioral Analysis is coordinating with Officer Clark. They're building a case, but—""But they need him to make a move," Maggie finished. "Something prosecutable. Something the

The next morning, Lauren woke to find Wyatt already up, dressed in jeans and another black polo, standing at her bedroom window with his phone pressed to his ear. He was listening, but he was watching her."Okay... got it." He ended the call. "Morning.""Morning." Her voice came out rough with sleep. "Everything okay?""Nate's team has eyes on Liam. He got home late... well, this morning, but hasn't left his place yet."Lauren pushed herself upright, the sheet falling away. "What do you mean late this morning?""He didn't go home last night. Spent hours at some dive bar, then a twenty-four-hour diner. Just sat there drinking coffee, staring into space. Finally went home around six AM." Wyatt crossed to the bed, sat on the edge. "He's been in his apartment since. Probably sleeping. Or planning.""Planning my murder or yours?" But Lauren already knew the answer."How to get to you. How to remove me. How to stop us being together." Wyatt's hand found hers on the mattress. "But we're not