Chapter 128

The photo showed Alyssa in tears, a streak of red hastily wiped from her lip. She had coughed up blood. On the phone, she sobbed, "Howard, can you come? Please? I feel awful." Howard frowned and closed his eyes. "Alright," he said. Megan was standing right in front of him. He hadn't stepped away to take the call, so she knew it was Alyssa. "Aren't you going to find her?" she asked. "I know you want to." Howard pressed his lips together. He wanted to say he was leaving because Alyssa was sick, but the disgust in Megan's eyes made him swallow the words. He changed his clothes, grabbed his keys, and walked out of the room. At the foyer, he paused to glance at Megan's closed bedroom door, then turned and left the villa. ... Only after his car pulled away did Megan finally let out a sigh of relief. She rushed to the door, threw the deadbolt, dragged a console table over as a barricade, and slid to the floor. Her fingers clenched at her collar. His scent still lingered on her blous