Chapter 70

Two hours later, Sutton and Keira were sitting in Roman’s living room, staring at Blair like she’d lost her mind.

“Let me get this straight,” Sutton said slowly. “You want us to pretend you’re dead? At your fake funeral. So we can catch Uncle Peter confessing to murder.”

“That’s the plan,” Blair confirmed, curled up on the couch next to Roman. Her head was still pounding, but the painkillers were finally kicking in.

“That’s the dumbest plan I’ve ever heard,” Keira said flatly. “And I once watched you try to dye your hair with Kool–Aid.”

“It worked, didn’t it?”

“You looked like a traffic cone for three months! And that was just regular stupidity, not fake–death stupidity.”

Roman cleared his throat. “The plan has merit. Peter thinks he’s untouchable right now. If he believes Blair is dead, he’ll let his guard down. It’s the safest plan because it will be a neutral location out of his control. She will not be facing Peter in their home.”

“And if he doesn’t confess what, then?” Sutton asked.

“Then we still have the financial evidence Peters is gathering,” Blair said. “plus the hitman is talking to the FBI. They will be there as well. We need a full confession about our parents‘ deaths and his involvement. Was Aunt Viv involved? We can get him on the attempt on my life, but what about our parents?”

Keira was pacing now, which was never a good sign. “So we have to act like we’re grieving. Like our sister is actually dead.”

“I know it’s asking a lot—”

“Blair.” Sutton’s voice was sharp. “We buried our parents. We know what real grief looks like. You want us to fake that?”

The room went quiet. Blair felt like she’d been slapped. She hadn’t thought about how this would affect her sisters, having to relive that kind of loss.

“Shit,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think-”

“Of course you didn’t,” Keira said, but her tone was softer now. “You’re too busy trying not to actually die to think about the emotional trauma you’re putting us through. Plus, let’s be honest, thinking isn’t exactly your strong suit lately.”

“Hey-”

“Am I wrong? In the past two weeks, you’ve gotten engaged to your boss, moved in with said boss, been attacked multiple times, and now you’re faking your own death. I’m starting to think you have some kind of death wish, or you’re secretly an adrenaline junkie.”

Roman’s arm tightened around Blair. “We can find another way—”

“No,” Sutton interrupted. “Blair’s right. This bastard has been stealing from us and trying to kill our sister. If faking some tears at a funeral is what it takes to stop him…” She shrugged. “I’ll do it.”

“Sutton, you don’t have to-”

“Yes, I do. Because you’re my sister, and I’ve already lost too many people I love.” Sutton’s eyes were fierce. “I’m not losing you too. Not to him.”

Keira stopped pacing and flopped into a chair. “Fine. But I have conditions. And they’re non–negotiable, unlike your engagement timeline, apparently.”

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Chapter 70

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asked, ignoring the

Knox safe. Because knowing her luck,

have a full security detail, plus the FBI

sideways–and I mean the very moment–we pull the plug. I don’t care

“Agreed,” Blair said quickly.

in the face when this is all over. Hard. Like,

“I’ll hold him down

to be devastated while wearing black. You know how washed out I look

“Keira,” Sutton said, exasperated.

to fake cry over my sister’s fake corpse, I should

said, but she

do you

now that I took a turn for the worse around noon. Officially,

muttered. “This is so

said helpfully. “Very expensive, very dangerous performance

phone buzzed with a text. She glanced at it and felt her

it say?” Roman

Peter told me about

start practicing our grief faces now? I’ve been working on mine.” She demonstrated an exaggerated expression of sorrow. “Too much? Not enough? I want to

“Keira,” Sutton warned.

Roman said, trying not to smile. “Hospital staff will tell them that

getting

is what it’s getting,” Keira corrected. “We’re like a really twisted version of Romeo and Juliet, except hopefully with less actual dying and more competent

want to do

Keira exchanged a look–one of those sister

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Chapter 70

said finally, “But I have one more condition that

now?” Blair

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your own funeral, you better have something dramatic to say. None of this ‘surprise, I’m alive‘ bullshit. I want a full dramatic speech

Blair laughed. “I’ll work

like that. Really milk the resurrection angle.” Keira grinned. “And Blair? When this is over, we’re having a long talk about your tendency to

actual action movies.”

our

rang. He answered it quickly. “Peters… Yeah… How long

to get information about Blair’s condition, then made at scene when they didn’t get information straight

he bought it?”

Peters said he didn’t look particularly devastated.” Roman’s expression was grim. “Which tells us everything we

broken up about his niece’s

to the bank. Literally.”

“So it’s really happening.

firmly. “And only so we can

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