She spun around, and I rushed behind her, hoping that she was going to have more tact when she asked Alexander to leave our group.


    But it turned out that I had been worried for nothing. When we got back into the house, Alexander was shaking Kelly’s grandma’s hand and thanking her for the hospitality.


    “I must get back to my friends,” he told the room. “Thank you for letting mee along.”


    I crossed my arms and eyed him suspiciously. This seemed almost too


    easy.


    Alexander came over to me, and when he grabbed one of my hands in his warm grip, my heart skipped a beat.


    Slowly, he leaned down and whispered in my ear.


    “Remember your promise to be careful,” he murmured. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”


    When he pulled away, I flushed from his words and the fact that everyone was staring at us.


    My cheeks were still burning even after Alexander walked out of the house.


    Once he was gone, Ava turned to Aiden and Richard, who had been gone a suspiciously long time in the bathroom. In the back of my mind, <i>I </i>wondered if he had searched this house like he had done to Kelly’s apartment


    After Ava exined the n, we set off after thanking Kelly’s grandma.


    We navigated through the busy vige quickly since we knew where we were going now.


    As Richard drove to the first location with Ava giving him directions from her phone, Kelly turned to me.


    “What had Alexander said to you before he left?” she asked.


    A warm blush spread across my cheeks, and I squirmed in my seat, unsure how to answer her question.


    Ava smirked. “I’m sure he told her he loved her and to be careful,” she


    teased.


    I looked down at my hands in myp. She wasn’t that far off.


    “Oh, sorry, I asked,” Kelly said, and her eyes widened. “I didn’t know it had been a private moment.”


    Thankfully, we made it to the first location, and we explored the area quickly. Although the area was beautiful, with a quiet pond with lilies and flowers and a charming log cabin, there was nothing suspicious about it.


    It was the same in the second area.


    The mood was somber as Richard drove to the third location. There was a silent understanding between the group that this was ourst chance. As we drove, the sky turned ck, and thunder shook the car. Soon, we were caught in a torrential downpour. It was hard to see five feet in front of our faces.


    “How will we search the area in all of this?” Kelly asked.


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    But her question was met with silence. Nobody wanted to <b>say </b><b>the </b>answer out loud: We couldn’t.


    “Please pull over,” I told Richard since he had slowed the car down until we were only going about five miles an hour.


    We waited for ten minutes, but the rain didn’t let up. It only poured harder.


    A pair of headlights drove past us and were illuminated by a streetlight.


    I got a good look at the sleek red Corvette for a moment, and my stomach jolted.


    That was the car that had tried to run me over.


    Ava turned to me with wide eyes. “Is that…” She trailed off like she was afraid to be hopeful.


    “Yes,” I answered as my heart raced and the rain pounded on top of the roof of the car. “That’s Chloe’s car.<i>” </i>


    *Olivia*


    Kelly sharply turned her head and stared at us with usation in her eyes. “How do you two recognize Chloe’s car?” she demanded. “Do you know her?” Then she looked at Ava. “I thought you had said that you were Russell’s cousin. What’s going on?” She raised her eyebrows and impatiently waited for us to answer.


    My mouth dried, and Ava shifted in her seat next to me.


    Damn it.


    We had given ourselves away.


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    Ava faced me, and from the way her face was set, I could tell <b>that </b><b>she </b>wanted to tell Kelly the truth.


    I nodded, silently agreeing to it. For us to proceed with the n, <b>we </b>needed toe clean.


    “We weren’t entirely truthful earlier,” Ava admitted and blew out a long breath.


    Kelly scowled and crossed her arms but gestured for Ava to continue.


    “I’m not Russell’s cousin,” Ava said with shame in her eyes. “Olivia and I want to take down Chloe because, like you, we are also victims of her. She’s been horrible to both of us, and she needs to be put in a mental hospital and receive care. There is something seriously wrong with her. She’s a danger to herself and others. Olivia and I came to Ld to find evidence of Chloe’s crimes and turn her into the police.


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