The Bound Between Us

Chapter 819

It was a knife.

Pressed hard against Alisa's waist-a knife, cold and sharp.

The man who'd been shadowing Monica was the same one now threatening Alisa. If Alisa hadn't walked in at the wrong time, Monica would've been the one cornered.

Alisa caught a heavy whiff of fish, raw and pungent. Her stomach twisted in fear, but she kept her voice low, pleading, "Don't kill me, please. I don't have any money. If it's cash you want, that woman from earlier-she's rich. She's got plenty."

People always think robbers want money or worse. You watch enough true crime, you know how these stories usually end.

The guy wasn't tall-maybe five foot tall, about Alisa's height. Unremarkable, really. He looked like the man Monica had seen by the river, except for a tiny mole at the edge of his brow-easy to miss if you weren't looking.

He leaned in, his voice like gravel. "You know what I hate most? Women who live off men. I heard everything you two said. Lazy, spoiled-women like you deserve what's coming."

"Herman, please let me go. I'll do anything. I have a daughter, she's just a kid. I can't die, not now. I didn't have a choice. Jason did this to me-he ruined my life, killed my husband," Alisa lied quickly, desperate to shift the blame. "And that woman from before? She's the real problem. She's got money, looks, and she scams men-she's the one you want."

She was smart. She'd picked up on what set him off-women who take advantage of men. Maybe he'd been burned before.

He sneered, "If it weren't for you, I'd already have taken care of her."

but determined. "If you want her gone, I'll help you. I won't say a

man's eyes narrowed

laugh. "So you're Alisa? What's

must have overheard

hate that woman too. If it weren't for them, none of

guy's relationship to Jason was, but she had to make it clear-she

Well then, here's to

echoed, her voice shaking. She was terrified, but her hatred for Monica and Jason

unbothered. "We'll

she called the cops. He just tucked the knife away and

heart pounding, until her fear finally ebbed. Then she took off after

"Wait!"

let

called out, "Loan me fifty thousand. The debt collectors are eating me alive. You give me fifty grand, and

a second, then

only

dared

person who's ever to

revealing the same face Monica had seen by the