19. Lies and Obsessions

Beingin their apartment is like being in a whole new world, one that opens my eyes to who these guys really are. With just me and Saint, it feels somewhat normal, but seeing random weapons and dried blood stains on the carpet remind me that this is far from fucking normal. Pushing me on the couch, he sits beside me, staring at me as if he has something on his mind he wants to get off.

"What is it?" I ask him, hoping he"ll open up to me, but knowing deep down it"s a long shot.

"Just thinking about Carli," he says randomly, a devilish grin taking over his sexy lips and it makes a bone-chilling shiver rock my body—something isn"t right.

"What about her?" I ask, afraid of finding out the answer.

"Shawn didn"t kill her. I did." Saint says, grinning, leaving me feeling like my whole world just got turned upside down. "What are you talking about? I saw what happened," I yell, confused, not wanting to believe him." No, you saw what you wanted to see, Scarlett. I was there. I killed her. I planned this the moment I laid eyes on you. I told you that you were mine from the start." My heart sinks and it"s then I realize this was all a fucking trap. No wonder the bullet was perfectly between her fucking eyes. Shawn couldn"t have done that, swinging the gun the way he was.

My mind races as I try to process Saint"s words. How could he have done such a thing? How could I not have seen any hint of his true intentions? Anger and betrayal surge within me, causing my voice to tremble as I respond, "You"re lying! You"re just trying to mess with my head even more!"

Saint"s laughter echoes through the room, the sound grating against my raw emotions. "Oh, Trouble, you always were so na?ve. Shawn was merely a pawn in my game. I used him, manipulated him, just as I have done with countless others before him. And you, my little killer, were the ultimate prize."

A sickening feeling churns in my stomach as the truth starts to settle in. I remember the strange coincidences and the too-perfect timing of our meetings. It was all carefully orchestrated by Saint and the others to lure me in. A wave of self-disgust washes over me, accompanied by a sickening realization that I had been played from the very beginning.

"How could you do this? How could you toy with people"s lives like they"re nothing but playthings to you?" I hiss through gritted teeth, trying to control the rage simmering beneath the surface. The person I had believed to be there by chance, had been the one orchestrating my downfall.

Saint"s expression remains smug, his eyes gleaming with a twisted pleasure. "Oh, Scarlett, don"t be so righteous. The world is a playground, and we are all just pawns in the game of survival. You see, I have always been one step ahead, manipulating the pieces to ensure my victory. And you, my little psycho, were just another pawn in this grand scheme."

A flicker of defiance ignites within me, fueled by the desire to reclaim my power. I straighten my posture, meeting Saint"s cold gaze with unwavering determination. "Maybe you think you"ve won, but I refuse to be just another pawn in your sick game. I will find a way to expose your true nature to the world. You may have fooled me once, but I won"t let you destroy anyone else."

Saint"s laughter morphs into a sinister chuckle, his face contorting with amusement. "Oh, Scarlett, you underestimate the lengths I will go to protect my secrets. Your pathetic attempts to expose me will only lead to your own demise. You belong to us now, and there"s no escaping the fate that awaits you."

As he utters those final words, a chill runs down my spine, and I can"t help but wonder if this twisted game will ever truly end. But despite the fear that lingers within me, I refuse to surrender. I will dig deep, and uncover every secret, no matter the cost. Because one thing is certain—I will not let Saint"s darkness consume me or anyone else. The battle has only just begun.

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