Chapter 57
ALICIA
He's going to kill me.
He's going to kill me.
He's going to fucking kill me.
My breath hitches. My heartbeat kicks up a storm in its cage, and a cold sweat breaks out all over my body.
You're next on my kill list.
Breath.
It doesn't look like my lungs are getting the memo of pulling oxygen inside them.
The pressure behind my eyes is almost at a busting level now. It feels like they might pop out at any moment. Sweat pools on my forehead and my hands are clammy- I don't recall ever having sweaty palms before.
Dark spots have begun to dance in front of my eyes and I know, I just know this might be my end. . .
That is, until my eyes land on the China dish. Suddenly, my lungs inflate and I suck in air greedily as my heartbeat slows down by a fraction. I pitch forward and cough raspily, beating my chest, all the while sucking in large gulps of air, my eyes watering from the strain.
This is how Clarissa finds me.
"Oh, my goodness . . .'lis!" She's by my side in a jiffy, helping me sit up.
I'm shaking so badly, I can't seem to focus. I clutch the edges of the chair I'm sitting on and try to stay in the moment.
"There! There! It's fine. You're fine, you're going to be fine, I promise. I'm here, I'll be here." Clarissa croons as she holds me to her body and smooths my hair back from my face.
Gradually, my body calms down but I'm still experiencing pockets of shock. I pull back from her and clutch the edge of her top. "I need to tell you something." My voice sounds frantic, so I try to tone it down with a shake of my head. "I have to tell you something."
Clarissa moves away from me and holds me by the shoulder with one hand. "What is it? What has gotten you this way?"
Wordlessly, I hand her the now-crumpled piece of paper. She smooths it out and I watch the myriad of expressions flit across her face, so I wait for it.
When she's gotten her fill of staring at the words and digesting them, she raises her head, and it's obvious. The shock on her face is palpable. "What is this?"
I roll my eyes at the sheer stupidity of her question.
"I mean, I know what it says, but is this meant for you, and who sent it?"
This time, I let out a bark of laughter. "Earth to Clarissa, that right there in your hand is a message meant for me. The same person who killed Tanya wants to kill me."
Clarissa jerks, like I punched her.
Words would do that to you . . . paunchy words that creep up under one's skin like a virus waiting to be unleashed.
"It's. . . I . . . ah, well. . ." I take a deep breath. "I lied to you earlier on about how Tanya died." My heartbeat kicks painfully.
She has a look on her face like she's seen a ghost. Pretty sure that same look's on mine as well. "It wasn't a drive-by shooting?"
I can't hold it in any longer. Tears I had been keeping at bay, crowd my eyes and fall. "It. . . she was killed by a man th. . . that looks like. . . Ash."
I swipe at the tears, angry at myself for the feeling of helplessness flowing through my veins. I make a resolve here and now, not to go down without a fight. A new resolve takes hold in my chest and I lift my chin and watch as Clarissa's brows crease. "Is that why Max is outside your door standing guard?" At my confused look, she explains further. "I'm talking about Night eyes."
It's cute they're now dating and all, but their love life is the least of my problems right now.
As if what I said is just registering, she turns wide eyes at me. "Oh, my God, 'Lis, you've got to tell Ash about this new development, the state of your security lies in this."
Clarissa can be airheaded sometimes, but Im thankful for her presence and emotional support, but I have other plans brewing in my mind. I stand, fueled by my strengthening resolve. "That's not going to happen."
The creases on her brows deepen and then they clear as another emotion settles on her face. "Don't you go and do something stupid, Alicia Sweden Jackson, I won't stand for it."
I stifle an eye roll and walk to the other room where our clothes are kept. I change out of the black dress I have on and slip into jeans and a tee. By the time I come out, I run, smack, into
Clarissa. She steadies me and speaks at the same time. "Alicia, where are you going to?"
There's a concern and an undercurrent of fear laced into her voice. I turn to face her fully and I can see the display on her face. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this."
Her face pales and she staggers back with a shake of her head. "You can't! You just can't, I won't let you."
I raise a brow at that and push past her. She quickly catches up with me as I step out of the room. Sure enough, Night eyes and Rip are standing guard at the door. Clarissa is fast on my heels, so I cut her a look and she looks away immediately.
"Where to, ma'am?" Rip asks with folded arms against his chest as I walk past him. I know he's wondering why I'm going in the direction of the stairs and not Ash's office.
"Going to take some air in the garden." I throw it over my shoulders. I cut Clarissa a look before taking two steps forward.
"Does Ash know about this?" Night eyes ask.
I stop in my tracks and turn around slowly, cocking my head at an angle to stare at him aghast, because - what the hell! "For a walk in the garden, really? I wasn't under the impression I was a prisoner here."
He has the decency to nod before looking away.
That's what I thought.
I'm about to turn around but on a hunch, I stop and turn around, and just in time too because I catch Clarissa leaning towards Night eyes to whisper something into his ears. I can't allow her to spill the beans. "Coming, Clar?"
She immediately straightens and nods sharply, a strange expression crowding her face, as she follows me. She's coming with me whether she likes it or not. I can't have her wagging her mouth at her boyfriend. If that happens, Ash will definitely find out and will never allow me out of the house. I can't have that.
I need to find out how that note got into my sister's coffin. Better still, I need to know who put it there.
When Clarissa is close, she whispers conspiratorially. "Where are we going?"
"To my sister's resting place. The cemetery." I reply without hesitation.