Kiss at Your Own Risk Read Free Page A

people—”
    “Trinity? Trinity Harpswell?”
    Trinity glanced up to see two women standing beside her table. They were both wearing suits and looked like consummate professional types. Probably had careers that took them into close proximity with men every day, unlike Trinity’s job at a company that helped divorced women turn their lives around. Had these women been to one of the support groups? Is that how they knew her? “I’m sorry, I don’t recognize you—”
    “It is you.” One of the women grabbed Trinity’s hand and shook it vigorously. “I’m so happy to meet you.”
    Trinity shot a look at Reina, who shrugged. “Um, I think you may have me confused with—”
    “You aren’t the woman who singlehandedly murdered the Boston Bedtime Strangler in your own bed?”
    Ohh… Trinity pulled her hand free. “His name was Barry Baldini, and he was a good man—”
    “Yes, that’s her,” Reina interrupted. “But it’s still very traumatic for her. If you don’t mind—”
    “Oh, of course.” The woman ducked her head in acknowledgement. “I just wanted to say that you are such an inspiration for me. The way you were able to stand up against a man who had oppressed so many women, when the cops had no clue how to stop him. You’re total girl power.” She gave a sheepish grin and did a little “hoot hoot” fist waving thing. “You’re the reason I went to law school, and I’m now the assistant district attorney, and I put away scumbags like the Strangler every day—”
    Trinity’s fist clenched in her lap. “He wasn’t a scum—”
    “Thank you,” Reina interrupted, kicking Trinity under the table. “Have a nice day.”
    Trinity glared at Reina as the women hurried away. “Barry wasn’t a scumbag, and I don’t deserve accolades for killing him. It was murder—”
    “Drink, girl. You need to chill.” Reina pushed her wineglass across the table. “He strangled two dozen women. The females of Boston are lucky you fell in love with him and killed him. Give yourself a break. The whole reason you started to date him is because he was such a misogynist pig that you knew there was no way you could fall in love with him. He wasn’t that good of a guy, even aside from the serial killer thing.”
    Trinity’s heart tightened at the thought of their last night together, when Barry had made dinner for her, presented her with champagne and roses, and told her she had showed him how to love himself for the first time in his life. In that moment, she had lost her heart to him, and an hour later, he’d lost his life to her. “Yes, I know he had bad traits, but beneath all that, he was a really caring and sensitive guy. I had no clue he was the Strangler when I killed him. I offed him because he was a good guy—”
    “And if the rest of the world thinks you killed him because he snuck into your room to torture and strangle you, then you need to let it stay that way.” Reina rolled her eyes. “You have to stop defending him. I mean, he deserved to die. He killed all those people—”
    “So, anyone who kills innocent people deserves to die? Like me?”
    Reina’s eyes flared. “Oh, come on, don’t start with that. You know you’re different. You’re being compelled.”
    “So was he. Yeah, it wasn’t a curse, but it was still a compulsion. What makes me so much better?” Her parents had always told her that she wasn’t a bad person, that it wasn’t her fault, but how did they know? She was the only one who felt that satisfaction pulse through her when she stood over the body of a man she loved. Yeah, she was usually crying and felt like throwing up, but deep inside, there was always this feeling of pride. Maybe it was the curse. Maybe it was her true inner being.
    She had to find out which it was.
    “You’re a good person!” Reina argued. “You—”
    “Don’t you understand how scared I am that I’m like Barry? That I should be killed to save everyone else from me?” Trinity