Something triggered in me, and I looked more closely at her. “May I ask why you don’t confront him yourself?”
She looked as if I’d slapped her. Her face paled as much as it possibly could, and her mouth dropped open. Recovering quickly, she cast her eyes downward.
“I could never. I have neither the courage nor the will to kill him myself. I loved him so deeply. To look into his unfeeling eyes after all this time may be too much for me to take. It’s been so long.” Her tone grew wistful as if her mind went to a happier time in her life.
I used her distraction as an opportunity to flip open the file folder, but the instant that I saw the photo on top of the sheaf of papers, I froze. I could barely keep my heart rate from soaring. I pulled the folder closer so that I could get a better look at the black and white picture.
It was old. From the style of dress, it appeared to be way before my time. The photo itself was from a wedding. Bridesmaids wore their hair in high curls and posed in extremely large skirted gowns. The bride, an unknown beaming blonde, smiled up at her handsome husband as he kissed her upturned hand. My eyes quickly skimmed over the groomsmen, each dressed in the same black suit with fringes of white lace peeking from beneath the cuffs. But, the groom held my attention.
Though his black hair was very short and he wore the same suit as the others, I stared at Arys while he happily fawned over his new wife.
I realized then I had recognized Cat from his memories. What in the hell?
“That was the most recent photo I could find of him.” Cat said as she noticed my intent stare. “I think he started using a new alias shortly after killing her.” She gestured at the photo in my hand, and I dropped it.
“And, what was his name when you knew him?” I murmured, as I fought to tear my gaze away from the picture. It mocked me from where it sat as surely as it mocked Cat. I was feeling both stupid and thankful. Thankful that I didn’t take Arys’s blood, didn’t complete a blood bond with him. I’d f**ked up enough without linking us mentally.
“His real name is Sindarys Ainsley Knightingale.”
“Knightingale?” I heard myself say.
“An old family name. They were royalty once, or so he said.”
She didn’t continue, and I chewed my lip. “And, you’re sure that you want me to kill him?” My voice squeaked, and I hoped that she didn’t notice my unease.
“I don’t suppose you’d rather bring me his naughty bits in a jar?” The faintest of smiles played around her lips, and I forced a small laugh.
“I’m sorry, Cat, but you sound like you still love him.” I almost stopped when I saw her face fall. “Do you really want him dead?” Please say no, I chanted inside my head.
“I love who he pretended to be. But, I accepted long ago that was never really him. He’s nothing more than a lying, womanizing murderer who thinks of nothing but himself.”
I nodded slightly. I could agree with some of that. She looked like she was about to say more, but her mouth snapped shut, and she shook her head.
After a long moment, she sighed and said, “He needs to die so that I can finally escape him. He haunts me constantly, and I would give anything in the world to make that stop.”
I could sense the weight on her, feel the burden she carried around with her, but I didn’t know why. Was her hurt really never going to heal?
Was I really thinking that? If I were in her place, I would be on the hunt for blood, too. But I’d want to do it myself.
“Look Alexa, I appreciate your time, but I really should get going. I’ll understand if, for any reason, you don’t take the case.” She stood, and I held the cash envelope out to her. She counted out five thousand dollars and forced it into my hand.
“Keep it. Read through the file and tell me what you think. I’ve included a few pages from my journal. It seemed better than reciting the past in detail.”
I closed the folder and accompanied her out. “I will definitely read through everything and get back to you. But, I can’t accept your money.” I had difficulty swallowing around the growing knot in my throat.
“Please, I insist. Something for your time at least.” She refused to take the bills when I tried to give them to her.
When she was gone, I sank against my desk in relief. What in the world would she think if she knew that I’d been in the arms of her traitorous ex only two nights ago? I felt sick.
“Holy shit,” I said aloud to myself. I had to look at the photo again.
I had accepted jobs like this before. Vampires were monsters, and no matter what the situation, they usually gave me just cause to kill them. I kill rogues and eliminate problems. It’s what I do. But Arys? I just couldn’t do it.
I was still staring at the black and white, elegantly dressed Arys when Jez appeared in the doorway of my office.