All For One (A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 5)
By Blake Pierce
()
About this ebook
“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.”
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
ALL FOR ONE (A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 5) is book #5 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 7,000 five star ratings and reviews.
Can Nicky connect the dots in time?
Or will she be doomed to play the puppet of a killer mastermind?
A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the NICKY LYONS series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.
Future books in the series will soon be available.
“An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
“A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
“A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
“Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
“Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
“Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
Related to All For One (A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 5)
Related ebooks
All Alone (A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 4) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll He Sees (A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 3) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Girl He Wished (A Paige King FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 4) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll His (A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 2) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Girl He Took (A Paige King FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 3) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Unhinged (A Cora Shields Suspense Thriller—Book 3) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlready Chosen (A Laura Frost FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 7) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5No Fear (A Valerie Law FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 3) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHer Last Desire (A Rachel Gift FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 8) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Already Taken (A Laura Frost FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 6) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Her Last Regret (A Rachel Gift FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 9) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Girl He Crowned (A Paige King FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 5) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlready Cold (A Laura Frost FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 11) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Refuge (A Valerie Law FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 7) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNever Live (A May Moore Suspense Thriller—Book 3) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Let Her Run (A Fiona Red FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 6) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlready Lost (A Laura Frost FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 8) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHer Last Mistake (A Rachel Gift FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 7) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unwanted (A Cora Shields Suspense Thriller—Book 2) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeft to Loathe (An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book Fourteen) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All He Takes (A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 6) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHer Last Choice (A Rachel Gift FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 5) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Girl He Watched (A Paige King FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 6) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Absent Feeling (An Amber Young FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 3) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHer Last Fear (A Rachel Gift FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 4) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Escaped (An Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 10) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Girl He Chose (A Paige King FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 2) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGirl, Deceived (An Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 15) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNothing There (A Juliette Hart FBI Suspense Thriller—Book Two) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlready Lured (A Laura Frost FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 10) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Mystery For You
The Stories of Ray Bradbury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hunting Party: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hallowe'en Party: Inspiration for the 20th Century Studios Major Motion Picture A Haunting in Venice Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paris Apartment: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5None of This Is True: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pretty Girls: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Short Stories Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5False Witness: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Flight: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sydney Rye Mysteries Box Set Books 10-12: Sydney Rye Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Pieces of Her: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pharmacist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Life We Bury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The River We Remember: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hidden Staircase: Nancy Drew #2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Murder Under a Red Moon: A 1920s Bangalore Mystery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Side: A Collection of Mysteries & Thrillers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summit Lake Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finlay Donovan Is Killing It: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Club: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dean Koontz: Series Reading Order - with Summaries & Checklist Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Woman in the Library: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Sleep Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The People Next Door Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for All For One (A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 5)
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
All For One (A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 5) - Blake Pierce
A L L
F O R O N E
(A Nicky Lyons FBI Suspense Thriller—Book Five)
B L A K E P I E R C E
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSIE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising twenty six books; of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising sixteen books, of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising six books; of the LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising eleven books; of the ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising fourteen books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books, of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising ten books (and counting); of the VALERIE LAW mystery series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the PAIGE KING mystery series, comprising eight books (and counting); of the MAY MOORE mystery series, comprising eleven books (and counting); the CORA SHIELDS mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); of the NICKY LYONS mystery series, comprising seven books (and counting), of the CAMI LARK mystery series, comprising five books (and counting), and of the new AMBER YOUNG mystery series, comprising five books (and counting).
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
img1.pngCopyright © 2022 by Blake Pierce. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright Mr Dasenna used under license from Shutterstock.com.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
AMBER YOUNG MYSTERY SERIES
ABSENT PITY (Book #1)
ABSENT REMORSE (Book #2)
ABSENT FEELING (Book #3)
ABSENT MERCY (Book #4)
ABSENT REASON (Book #5)
CAMI LARK MYSTERY SERIES
JUST ME (Book #1)
JUST OUTSIDE (Book #2)
JUST RIGHT (Book #3)
JUST FORGET (Book #4)
JUST ONCE (Book #5)
NICKY LYONS MYSTERY SERIES
ALL MINE (Book #1)
ALL HIS (Book #2)
ALL HE SEES (Book #3)
ALL ALONE (Book #4)
ALL FOR ONE (Book #5)
ALL HE TAKES (Book #6)
ALL FOR ME (Book #7)
CORA SHIELDS MYSTERY SERIES
UNDONE (Book #1)
UNWANTED (Book #2)
UNHINGED (Book #3)
UNSAID (Book #4)
UNGLUED (Book #5)
MAY MOORE SUSPENSE THRILLER
NEVER RUN (Book #1)
NEVER TELL (Book #2)
NEVER LIVE (Book #3)
NEVER HIDE (Book #4)
NEVER FORGIVE (Book #5)
NEVER AGAIN (Book #6)
NEVER LOOK BACK (Book #7)
NEVER FORGET (Book #8)
NEVER LET GO (Book #9)
NEVER PRETEND (Book #10)
NEVER HESITATE (Book #11)
PAIGE KING MYSTERY SERIES
THE GIRL HE PINED (Book #1)
THE GIRL HE CHOSE (Book #2)
THE GIRL HE TOOK (Book #3)
THE GIRL HE WISHED (Book #4)
THE GIRL HE CROWNED (Book #5)
THE GIRL HE WATCHED (Book #6)
THE GIRL HE WANTED (Book #7)
THE GIRL HE CLAIMED (Book #8)
VALERIE LAW MYSTERY SERIES
NO MERCY (Book #1)
NO PITY (Book #2)
NO FEAR (Book #3)
NO SLEEP (Book #4)
NO QUARTER (Book #5)
NO CHANCE (Book #6)
NO REFUGE (Book #7)
NO GRACE (Book #8)
NO ESCAPE (Book #9)
RACHEL GIFT MYSTERY SERIES
HER LAST WISH (Book #1)
HER LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
HER LAST HOPE (Book #3)
HER LAST FEAR (Book #4)
HER LAST CHOICE (Book #5)
HER LAST BREATH (Book #6)
HER LAST MISTAKE (Book #7)
HER LAST DESIRE (Book #8)
HER LAST REGRET (Book #9)
HER LAST HOUR (Book #10)
AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES
CITY OF PREY (Book #1)
CITY OF FEAR (Book #2)
CITY OF BONES (Book #3)
CITY OF GHOSTS (Book #4)
CITY OF DEATH (Book #5)
CITY OF VICE (Book #6)
A YEAR IN EUROPE
A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1)
DEATH IN FLORENCE (Book #2)
VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3)
A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4)
ELLA DARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
GIRL, ALONE (Book #1)
GIRL, TAKEN (Book #2)
GIRL, HUNTED (Book #3)
GIRL, SILENCED (Book #4)
GIRL, VANISHED (Book 5)
GIRL ERASED (Book #6)
GIRL, FORSAKEN (Book #7)
GIRL, TRAPPED (Book #8)
GIRL, EXPENDABLE (Book #9)
GIRL, ESCAPED (Book #10)
GIRL, HIS (Book #11)
GIRL, LURED (Book #12)
GIRL, MISSING (Book #13)
GIRL, UNKNOWN (Book #14)
LAURA FROST FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
ALREADY GONE (Book #1)
ALREADY SEEN (Book #2)
ALREADY TRAPPED (Book #3)
ALREADY MISSING (Book #4)
ALREADY DEAD (Book #5)
ALREADY TAKEN (Book #6)
ALREADY CHOSEN (Book #7)
ALREADY LOST (Book #8)
ALREADY HIS (Book #9)
ALREADY LURED (Book #10)
ALREADY COLD (Book #11)
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
MISFORTUNE (AND GOUDA) (Book #4)
CALAMITY (AND A DANISH) (Book #5)
MAYHEM (AND HERRING) (Book #6)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
LEFT TO VANISH (Book #8)
LEFT TO HUNT (Book #9)
LEFT TO FEAR (Book #10)
LEFT TO PREY (Book #11)
LEFT TO LURE (Book #12)
LEFT TO CRAVE (Book #13)
LEFT TO LOATHE (Book #14)
LEFT TO HARM (Book #15)
LEFT TO RUIN (Book #16)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
FACE OF FURY (Book #5)
FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)
THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)
THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)
THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)
THE PERFECT IMAGE (Book #16)
THE PERFECT VEIL (Book #17)
THE PERFECT INDISCRETION (Book #18)
THE PERFECT RUMOR (Book #19)
THE PERFECT COUPLE (Book #20)
THE PERFECT MURDER (Book #21)
THE PERFECT HUSBAND (Book #22)
THE PERFECT SCANDAL (Book #23)
THE PERFECT MASK (Book #24)
THE PERFECT RUSE (Book #25)
THE PERFECT VENEER (Book #26)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED (Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND (Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)
A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)
A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
EPILOGUE
PROLOGUE
Amanda watched through the windshield of the boat as the play lit up the night. They'd set a stage up on the beach, and thanks to the stage lights, Amanda could clearly see the performers as they frolicked about. The sandy beach sparkled under a serene starry sky. The boats bobbed in the water, their masts and ladders swaying gently in the soft ocean breezes.
The man next to her reached across her shoulder, playing with the strap of her dress. Amanda shuddered under his touch.
Beautiful, isn't it?
he said. The boat rocked and lulled beneath them, but Amanda's stomach churned with sickness.
Y-yes,
she managed.
She knew what he'd do if she didn't play along.
Here you are, my dear,
he said, handing her another sunflower seed. With her bones shaking, Amanda bit into the shell, extracting the seed from it and eating it slowly. But it felt like mulch in her mouth. Fear shook her to the core, and she couldn't stop trembling.
He hated it when she trembled.
My dear,
he said slowly. Are you cold? That incessant moving is driving me mad.
Amanda was too afraid. Too afraid to look at him. So, she focused on the stage ahead of them. S-sorry,
she managed. Sorry...
The man next to her smiled. Don't be sorry my dear, just be still. That's all I ask.
She absolutely failed to comply, sitting upright, waiting for him to strike, as he'd done before. She was afraid of what he'd do if she even moved a muscle, but on instinct, her mouth moved for her:
P-please,
she begged, tears welling up in her eyes. Please let me go.
His laughter beside her made her skin crawl. My dear Amanda, you know I can't do that. Now shh... the show is still going on.
Amanda held her breath and forced herself to watch the play. It was a dramatic, medieval style play, one she'd never heard of; but before this man had taken her as his captive, Amanda had loved plays and acting, although she'd always been too shy to perform. Of course, months ago, she had agreed to play a role in an old play. She had gone to the festival, one stupid festival, and he had taken her there. It infuriated her to think about how if she had never gone... maybe this never would have happened to her.
But this was her life now. Here... with him... he'd had her for so long now, but it never got easier. She was so close to the public, and yet too far to get help. He would kill her if she screamed.
And so, she watched the play with him, doing everything in her power not to breathe in a way he didn't like. She had to bide her time. She had to get out of this.
Every time the moonlight broke out and shone through the stage lights, Amanda swore it was the moon itself, reaching out to her for help. The actors' words resonated with Amanda:
" And here we see the fool himself...
Without a care in the world...
Proud and arrogant...
As if nothing will ever go wrong
Until one day... "
The play changed from a medieval theme to an epic battle, and the actors put on an incredible show. But Amanda was shaking violently, terrified the entire time.
Are you having fun?
he whispered in her ear.
Struggling not to breathe, Amanda nodded, tears sliding down her face. He'd told her so many times before that if she cried here, he'd kill her. Maybe he'd really do it this time. As much as the idea scared her, would it be so bad? If he killed her, she'd be free of this nightmare. Maybe she'd wake up in another life...
Amanda missed her old life. So much. She missed her friends, her parents, her work. She missed sitting alone. There were so many little things she had failed to appreciate when she had them, things as simple as the freedom to walk around. He had taken it all away from her, turning her into his plaything.
What else could he take?
Her life?
He had already taken it.
In that moment, Amanda thought that maybe dying wouldn't be so bad.
My dear Amanda,
he suddenly whispered.
Amanda sucked in a breath. Y-yes?
We've been together for so long now,
he said with a sigh. But I know... I can tell you don't appreciate the arts the same way I do. You aren't enjoying the play.
I-I am,
she managed. I am. I promise, I am.
Hmmm... I don't think so,
he mused. His held his arm over her shoulder, twisting and playing with the strap of the dress he'd forced her to wear. No matter,
he said quietly. It's almost over now, Amanda.
She stayed quiet, trembling. There was something different about him--almost like he was sad. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but he felt different than he had before. Her mouth became dry, and a feeling of dread took over her.
Then, he looked at her and whispered, This is it.
Amanda dared to look into the eyes of her captor. Those endless, soulless eyes that had haunted her for so many months now. The only eyes she ever saw... staring into her own soul, as if to devour her.
This is what?
she