Chapter 176: The Perfect Setup

Chapter 176: The Perfect Setup
Nina’s POV
I never knew Raymond had a son. But when I learned Luka was looking for Nina, I could guess his intentions. He must have been after that safe.
Raymond and I never took photos together. I was only his secret lover. Besides, my makeup and appearance now were completely different from before. I figured Luka wouldn't discover my true identity anytime soon.
Then I saw him go to my mother's house. Panic seized me. Unlike Dean, I sensed Luka was the type who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. What if he hurt my mother? The thought kept me awake at night. My mother had already suffered enough because of me. She didn't deserve to become collateral damage in this dangerous game I was playing.
Soon enough, Luka began using our dates as cover to investigate my identity. Every smile, every laugh, every casual question had an ulterior motive. I could feel him studying me, watching for any slip that might reveal the truth.
One night around 2:30 AM, I came home to find Luka and his bodyguard waiting at my door. The sight of them standing there in the darkness made my heart race. I kept my face neutral, my steps steady, even though every instinct screamed at me to run.
Luka threw a stack of photos at my feet. They scattered across the concrete, images of a life I'd tried so hard to bury. "You and Nina were friends. You danced together at that strip club. Why are you pretending you don't know her?"
I looked down at the photos without picking them up. "You've got the wrong person."
Luka blocked my path, keeping me from my own door. His bodyguard stood silently behind him, a menacing presence in the shadows. "I'm not mistaken. Does your cop boyfriend know you used to be a stripper? That you were Nina's friend?"
"Dean is just a client, like you," I replied, keeping my voice level. "And I pretended not to know Nina because I didn't want trouble. Can you blame me? A dead woman is nothing but problems."
"You're lying," Luka said, stepping closer. "Why didn't you keep stripping in New York? Why run here? You took Nina's things, didn't you?"
I played innocent, meeting his gaze without flinching. "What things? I don't know what you're talking about. I came here for a fresh start. Is that a crime?"
Luka smiled coldly, then sent his men into my house. I stood in the doorway, forced to watch as they violated my space. They tore through everything, leaving chaos in their wake. Drawers were yanked open, cushions thrown aside, belongings scattered across the floor. My carefully constructed life was being dismantled before my eyes. But they found nothing.
Finally, Luka emerged from my apartment, frustration written all over his face. "I'll have you watched twenty-four seven. I'll find it eventually."
"That's illegal," I said, my voice sharp. "I'll call the police."
Luka laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "The police? You dare call them? You pushed Nina into that river, didn't you? You killed her, then stole what she took from Raymond."
"That's just your imagination," I shot back. "You have no proof. I just want to live quietly. Leave me alone."
After Luka and his bodyguard left, I collapsed onto my couch, my back drenched in cold sweat. My hands were shaking so badly I had to sit on them. The adrenaline that had kept me composed was draining away, leaving me hollow and afraid.
Thank god I'd buried the safe at June's grave right after Luka arrived in town. That's why they found nothing today. June's final resting place had become my insurance policy, the one place no one would think to look.
Luka hadn't discovered I was the real Nina, but he was getting too close to the truth. The walls were closing in. I needed to get rid of him before he put all the pieces together.
Not long after, Luka suddenly left Willowbend, though his bodyguard stayed behind. For a few days, I allowed myself to hope he'd given up. But deep down, I knew better. Men like Luka never gave up.
When he returned, he came to the bar during my shift. He leaned across the counter as I poured drinks, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "I know you're Nina. Hand over that safe, or I'll tell the police your secret."
My blood turned to ice. The shock hit me like a physical blow, followed by a wave of terror that threatened to drown me. He knew. After all my careful planning, all my precautions, he had figured it out. My hands trembled as I wiped down the bar, my mind racing through every interaction, every lie I'd told. How had he discovered the truth? What evidence did he have? The fear wrapped around my throat like a noose, making it hard to breathe.
I managed a tight smile. "I don't know what you're talking about."
But Luka just smiled back, confident and cruel. He knew he had me cornered.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I stared at the ceiling, my mind churning through possibilities. I had to eliminate Luka. I'd already killed two people. One more wouldn't matter. The guilt that might have stopped someone else had long since burned away. I'd crossed too many lines to turn back now.
But when I killed Raymond, I had Kevin's help. How would I deal with Luka now? I couldn't ask Tyler to help me commit murder. He thought he was protecting an innocent woman, not aiding a killer.
After thinking all night, watching the darkness slowly give way to dawn, I decided to use Tyler to get rid of Luka. Not directly, but cleverly. I would create a situation where violence seemed inevitable, where Luka's death would look like an accident or self-defense.
First, I arranged to meet Luka at the abandoned Pier 9. I called him from a burner phone, keeping my voice steady and businesslike. I told him to come alone at 9 PM. "I'll give you what you want. I buried everything from the safe under the abandoned pier. Come get it."
"Come alone?" Luka questioned, suspicion clear in his voice.
I challenged him, putting just enough mockery in my tone. "What? Are you afraid to come by yourself? Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I'm just concerned that too many people might draw attention. This town is too small. Everyone knows everyone's business."
Luka scoffed. "What do I have to fear? My father was too stupid, that's why you killed him. Come to think of it, I should thank you for killing him. He was a pathetic old man who couldn't keep his mouth shut or his pants on."
From Luka's words, I learned his relationship with Raymond had been poor. The bitterness in his voice was unmistakable. No wonder Raymond never mentioned having a son. They'd hated each other.
After setting things up with Luka, I called Tyler. I let my voice shake, let fear creep into my words. I told him Luka was harassing me, threatening me, forcing me to meet him at Pier 9 at 9 PM. Tyler believed me without question. He wanted to play hero, wanted to protect me. His feelings for me made him blind to the truth.
Before the meeting, I went to Pier 9 alone. I placed that sharp, rusted steel rod at our meeting spot, positioning it carefully where someone could fall onto it during a struggle. The metal was corroded, dangerous, perfect for my needs.
On the evening of October 8th at 9 PM, both Luka and Tyler showed up as I'd planned. What I didn't expect was Vivian coming too. Her presence threatened to derail everything. For a moment, panic fluttered in my chest. My carefully orchestrated plan was falling apart.
But then I realized Vivian's presence actually accelerated our confrontation. She provoked Tyler, made him angrier, more protective. The tension escalated faster than I could have managed alone.
While Tyler and Luka argued, their voices rising in the darkness of the pier, I positioned myself carefully. I watched and waited for the perfect moment. When it came, I moved quickly. I shoved Luka hard onto that steel rod. The sound it made when it pierced his body would haunt most people. But I felt only relief.
I'd even prepared for failure. If Luka didn't die, I had a gun hidden nearby. I'd shoot him in the chaos. At worst, I'd be charged with excessive self-defense. A woman protecting herself from a dangerous man. The jury would understand.
Either way, Luka had to die tonight. He knew too much. He threatened everything I'd built.
The final result was that Luka died on the spot. The steel rod had done its job perfectly. And better yet, I could pin the blame for his killing on Tyler. He'd been there, he'd been arguing with Luka, he had motive. In the confusion, no one could prove I'd been the one to push.
Joy flooded through me. In the holding cell afterward, I closed my eyes and leaned against the cold wall, feeling a peace I'd never known before.