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."

hatred and something darker. She squared her shoulders and faced him, voice trembling but determined. "If you want her gone,

narrowed behind

let out a twisted little laugh. "So you're Alisa?

must have overheard her

I'm Alisa. Jason ruined me. I hate him. I hate that woman too. If

no idea what this guy's relationship to Jason was, but she had to make it clear-she was no

Well then,

voice shaking. She was terrified, but her hatred

and unbothered. "We'll see each

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

finally ebbed. Then she took off after him, chasing him out past the front

"Wait!"

stopped, surprised. He'd let her go-why was

collectors are eating me alive. You give me fifty

her for a second,

only

dared

second person who's ever to

yanked off his mask, revealing the same face Monica had seen by