Flipping the picture over, my eyes widen at the words that are once again so different from the other times.
I WISH I’D BEEN THERE TO SNAP A PICTURE OF YOU LAST NIGHT, WHEN YOU KILLED THE RAPIST. BUT THIS ONE FROM A WHILE AGO WILL HAVE TO DO.
I BET YOUR KNICKERS WERE SOAKED WITH YOUR AROUSAL AFTER YOUR KILL.
My lips part in a silent gasp as I reread the note.
What the actual hell.
This guy, whoever he is, is getting bolder. And shit, I hate that he’s pegged me so well.
After a kill, I do get aroused. I know it’s not right. I can’t exactly go to a therapist to find out why it happens, but I’m pretty sure it’s related to the euphoria I feel when I make monsters suffer for their crimes.
But shit, this guy somehow knows how it affects me.
“Fuck my life,” I mutter to myself, feeling like everything I’ve worked so hard to keep secret is on the brink of reveal.
Everything seems to be escalating in all areas of my life right now.
None of them good.
Well, maybe except for Asher, but even that is a secret I can’t risk going public.
I still don’t know what we are to each other, or if we are even alright after our disagreement the other night, but I do know he’s still here for me, supporting me despite the trouble I seem to have gotten myself into.
Granted, he doesn’t know everything, but the more I get to know therealAsher Scott, the more I feel like he’d be here for me, regardless.
The sound of the back door opening alerts me to my staff arriving, so I shove the picture back into the envelope before stashing it in my bag. I’ll need to let Barrett know I received another one.
“Hey, Lily. How was your Easter?” Bonnie sing-songs as she enters with Joel and Lenny on her heels.
Plastering on a fake smile, I turn and flash it at them.
“Wonderful,” I lie. “It was great having the twins home.”
“I bet it was. How are those two devils, anyway?” Bonnie asks as Joel and Lenny slide past her, storing their bags in their lockers.
“Oh, you know those two. Always balls of energy,” I say, trying not to think about the hate in their eyes directed at me before they left on Sunday.
Bonnie laughs, throwing her head back, her jet-black hair bouncing from the movement. “That they are. I bet the little shits are having a right old time playing the old switch-aroo on campus.”
“Probably. I don’t want to know.” I smile, speaking honestly about that.
I have no doubt that’s exactly what they’ve been doing.
As Lenny and Joel move out into the salon, already knowing how to prepare for the day ahead, the back door opens and Sebastian and Darla stride in.
“Full house today?” Bonnie asks, giving Seb and Darla a friendly wave.
I nod. “Yep. We are booked out. The Fairfield wedding is this weekend, so all their family and friends have booked in for colours and cuts.”
“I heard the bride was talking about a bold colour change before her big day. Please tell me we talked her out of that?” Seb asks, and I nod.
“Yep, Bonnie did. Didn’t you, Bon?”
She beams. “Sure did. She wanted to go from dark brown to blonde…”
The chatter fades out as Bonnie, Seb and Darla, our barber, leave the back room, heading out into the salon, and I sigh, relieved to finally be alone again.
