“Why? I want to go to his house right now, wherever that is, and stab him straight in the throat.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because…what if he’s your dad?”
Chapter 43
Evie
The Unauthorized Shot
“You’ve reached the offices of Hodder Real Estate. We’re unable to take your call right now, so leave your details, and we’ll be in touch. Have a great day, and we look forward to helping with all your real estate needs.” The voicemail was taunting me now. I’d called about thirty times this morning. I needed answers.
How could Charles look so deeply in love and yet go on to rape and murder my mother?
I knew it wasn’t uncommon for people to murder their partners. But it still didn’t make sense to me. Regardless of what I discovered from that backpack, or who left it for us, I was still planning to end Charles’s life.
In the privacy of my trailer, I watched tutorials and practiced with my daggers, preparing for a battle. I wanted to be ready. Standing in a defensive stance, I counted down. When I hit zero, I snatched the blades from my boots and lunged forward, slicing invisible Hodder’s belly open with one hand and plunging into his jugular with the other.
I paused when there was a knock on my trailer, and Skye popped her head in.
“Hey, what are you up to—whoa, intense.” Her eyes widened when she saw the knives in my hands.
I relaxed and set them on the counter. “Come in. What’s up?” I shut the video off and grabbed my water.
She came in and leaned against the counter. “Nothing much. I just wanted to see if you wanted to come out with us tonight. Sebastian is taking me to his favorite gay bar. It’ll be my first time.” She beamed.
“Sounds fun! I’m excited for you, but I’ll pass tonight. I’m tired.”
She pouted. “Are you sure? You’ll miss me taking my first real steps toward lesbianism.”
“I can’t. I’m still trying to get a handle on using these things.”
I picked up a dagger and spun it between my fingers—then fumbled and dropped it onto the floor.
“Evie...” she sighed.
I picked it up swiftly. “Hey, you have your plans, I have mine. Go, get laid, or kissed or whatever you’re looking for tonight. I want you guys to have fun. Let me be my loser self.”
“Fine, but once your wholerevenge erais done, you’re going out with me.” She wagged her finger at me and left my trailer.
I picked up both knives and examined them, reading the engraving.
Good For Her.
My mother had left these for me. She knew I’d need them. She knew about the monsters in this town, and that someday, they’d get her. There’d be time for nights out after.
Or probably not. But I’d always known that.
I ignored Sebastian’s texts and dodged him as I left the studio after we wrapped for the day. He knew about my evening plans and wasn’t happy about me ditching him and Skye for sitting alone and plotting my next kill.
He’d mentioned stopping my quest for revenge, but until I could sleep peacefully—with no nightmares of my mother’s feet dangling in the air, her blood pooling on the floor, my screams echoing until I woke up—I wouldn’t stop planning their deaths.
If they wanted a bloodbath, I’d give them one.
Chapter 44
