Killer Instinct by Barbara Winkes

Author:Barbara Winkes [Winkes, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2018-11-29T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Please, let me explain.” Silence ensued as they were walking on the sidewalk, in the general direction of Joanna’s apartment, convincing Joanna with each passing second that there was really nothing Rue could explain. “I saw him mentioned in one of the articles I read about you, but I didn’t really think it mattered. Then I was afraid you wouldn’t want to see me anymore if you knew…I swear I’ve been looking for another job, but it’s not that easy. And he isn’t one of the worst.”

“Let me be the judge of that. Do you know how many times he came visiting me in prison? Not once.”

“That’s terrible, but it has nothing to do with us!”

“Is that so? You’re not going to take me to office parties or introduce me to your colleagues.”

“We weren’t there yet,” Rue defended herself. “Besides, I didn’t think these things mattered to you so much.”

“I haven’t been in the closet in over twenty years, and I have no intention of going back there. He doesn’t know, right? Because there’s no way in hell he would have hired you.”

“Joanna, that’s work. Okay, he doesn’t know, but who cares? I’ve been to hotels and bars with you. I don’t care!”

“Well, that’s too bad, because I do. You should have told me the moment you knew.”

Rue kept her gaze straight ahead, but Joanna had seen the tears glistening in her eyes.

“I don’t understand. I work for him. You of all people should understand that we make compromises. He should have been there for you.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t matter. The thing is I’m so fed up with being lied to. I don’t want that in my life anymore, and for sure, I don’t want him in my life anymore. I’m sorry.”

“Joanna, don’t do this.”

“You haven’t given me a good reason why not.”

“What do you want?” There was surprising anger in Rue’s words. “Give up a career I’ve been working hard for in the past few years? I know you did that, but Joanna, you have to realize not everyone can go that far for a principle. Do I like the philosophy of this company? Hell, no. I just don’t see how it would help anyone if I lost my pay check and my condo tomorrow. I didn’t tell you the truth, because I could guess it was complicated between you two. In the years I’ve worked there, he never mentioned you. I’m so sorry,” Rue added quickly when she seemed to realize that those words had hit home with Joanna.

“You know what, I’ll take a cab from here. I’ll call you tomorrow, and I hope we can talk?”

“Yeah, sure,” Joanna said, because it was the fastest way to end this conversation.

* * * *

She could remove herself from the situation, try to ignore what it meant, but Joanna couldn’t get away from the memories, the experiences that had shaped her.

Back then, Mila had gotten away. Joanna and Theo vowed she’d be his last victim. Together with Mila, they

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