True Control by Willow Madison Read Free Book Online

anymore; I’ve turned away, but I can still hear him snoring. Good.
    Another inch. My left toes are on the floor and I push my upper body gently up with my burning wrists. My head swoons.
    But it’s the low growl that makes my stomach leap.
    I look down and a foot away. I can just make out what looks like a pile of black clothes on the dark carpet. But the pile is growling. And I can see white teeth. A lot of white teeth staring back at me.
    He stirs behind me and I’m trapped between him and this beast. I’m yanked back onto his body by his hand in my hair.
    “Morning.” His smile is full of the same white teeth. Too many of them. I hear a high scream. Mine. I strangle it, shaking, too afraid to give him anything. Even my scream.
    He laughs. “I see you met my other bitch.” At this the dog jumps up on the bed. I don’t turn my head.
    I can smell the same hair I choked down yesterday. I can smell its breath. I can hear its panting.
    He pets the dog and me at the same time. I can see the shine of the dog’s teeth, inches from me. Her ears are back and she still growls low while licking his hand.
    I cower against him for protection, keeping his arm between my face and the beast. He laughs and continues petting me the same way. I’d like to bite his hand; I’d like to have her teeth for weapons!

Chapter 14 HIM
    Killaney introduces me to the media liaison, Eve. She’s young, pretty, a face you’d want to see on TV. She smiles a lot at me and puts her hand on my arm like we know each other already. I move away to sit on the sofa again. Killaney introduces himself to everybody else, taking names down on his notes again.
    Liz doesn’t wait for Killaney to finish writing, “What can you tell us?! Have you found anything that will help?” Her voice is unnaturally high and Paul squeezes her arms again. She pushes off him though and walks closer to the detective. I can see Paul’s patient and frustrated response. He’s never been in control in his marriage.
    “No, Ma’am. We’re still looking, though. We have a canine unit now on the street and we’re canvassing the area around where her purse was found.” He gently pats her arm and says slowly, “We’re doing everything we can.”
    She only nods and takes the seat next to PJ at the table.
    Killaney turns back to me. Dad walks to stand next to him. “So, Max. Do you have that list for us?”
    I hand him a piece of paper. It’s not long, a few employees I’ve had to fire recently. A disgruntled client or two. A few more defendants. No one I can think of who would do something like this though. He glances at it. “We’ll go through these today. Anyone else…anyone who might have been jealous of you or your wife? Of your money?” He looks around the apartment. It’s not opulent, but I obviously have money. “Anyone who would be jealous of your fame?” I’m not famous, but I’m well known in certain social circles. It’s the price of being involved with popular bars and restaurants. Everyone’s asking favors. But no one would do this.
    “No.” I shake my head, putting my head in my hands, rubbing my hair back again. I’ve given this same list to my investigator.
    “Any ex-girlfriends or boyfriends on here?”
    “No.” I clench my jaw thinking about Lucy’s ex-boyfriends. There weren’t many, but I have my investigator looking into any in the area too.
    Killaney turns to Jake. He’s been staying out of my sight, standing near the wall of windows. “Anyone you can think of?”
    Liz looks surprised that Killaney would ask my brother this. So, she didn’t know about their friendship either…Lucy really kept it a secret from everyone. I look at my brother. His face is neutral again.
    “No. I…I don’t think anyone who ever met Lucy would want to hurt her.” Jake doesn’t meet my glare.
    Liz nods and starts to cry into a napkin. Mom turns to walk out the room with a nod from Dad.
    Killaney gestures to Eve and she moves to stand in front of