Stanton Box Set

“Don’t let her death be in vain,” he whispers.

He grabs my hand over the table. “Just take it one day at a time. I beg you don’t do this to your family and friends,” he whispers. “It’s so dark now. I know this darkness.”

I nod as I squeeze his hand.

“Just one day. Just worry about getting through today, and let us out there work on getting you out.”

I nod.

The door opens and the guard walks in. “Time’s up.”

Adrian

Cameron and I wait outside for Nicholas who is in with Joshua. Cameron is pacing back and forth nervously. He is beside himself. He thinks Joshua is on the edge and we are trying everything we can to move him to protective custody with no access to other prisoners. Once it’s done, it’s done. You can’t undo death.

The door opens and I hear the click of the heels on the cement floor. I turn and my eyes find Amelie.

She lifts her chin defiantly as she glares at me. “Adrian,” she mutters.

“Hello,” I reply cold-faced. God, I can’t believe Cameron actually rang and asked her to come and see Joshua. He would try anything to keep his brother safe. Even do a deal with the devil.

“I’m going in now,” she mutters as she looks at her watch.

“He has someone with him,” I reply.

“Who?” she snaps.

I frown at her venom. “A psychologist,” I reply.

Cameron turns and sees Amelie and his eyes light up. “Am, thank you for coming.”

“What’s the problem?” she asks.

Cameron runs his hands through his hair in frustration. “We are worried about Joshua’s frame of mind. He asked to see you.” He smiles hopefully.

Amelie smiles triumphantly. “I knew he would wake up to himself eventually,” she mutters.

My blood runs cold. Fuck, I hate this bitch.

Cameron bites his bottom lip as he holds his tongue and his eyes flick to me as I blow out a deep breath.

“He was never suited to Cinderella anyway,” she replies.

I narrow my eyes at her. What?

Cameron frowns. “Why do you call her that?” he asks.

She smiles knowingly. “That’s a pet name that Joshua called her.” She shakes her head and does an exaggerated eye roll. “Pathetic really,” she mutters.

My world spins and I drop my head as I think. How would she know that? Not even Joshua knows that. My heart starts to thump heavily in my chest and my eyes flick to Ben and Max who are waiting over on the lounge. Ben frowns in question. I shake my head subtly as I try to reconcile what she has just told me. She called Natasha Cinderella. It’s her. It’s Amelie. She would only know that if Natasha had told her, and I know that Natasha had not spoken to her before she went missing. My eyes flick back to Amelie and her phone rings. I walk calmly over to Ben and Max.

“It’s Amelie. Amelie killed Natasha,” I blurt out in a whisper.

“What?” Max frowns.

Amelie is having trouble with her coverage and the line drops out. She walks out toward the doors to get better coverage and leaves her handbag on the seat next to me.

“What do you mean?” Ben snaps.