Page 139 of His Wicked Revenge

It’s the only way you will be truly free of her.

Hurt her worse than she hurt you.

It got to the point that I stopped pushing the voice out of my head and welcomed it. Because it was right; this was the only way I could be free of the woman who stole everything from me.

Three years of my life.

My career.

My heart.

I tried to be the same man I was before I met her, but she took him away from me the night she sunk a knife into my stomach. The old Leo died that night. A new version of me was reborn, and that version of me only wanted one thing.

Revenge.

In the beginning, messing with Veronica the way I did was child’s play. It made me feel good destroying her stuff and making her angry, but it wasn’t enough. No. I needed to destroy her.

I laid out the plan to my mother, who I hope wasn’t judging me from Heaven. I vowed that after it was done, I would visit her more because once I do what I am about to do, I won’t see my mother in Heaven. I’ll be best friends with the Devil in Hell.

I waited a few days after Chloe and Myles left for their honeymoon to act on the plan. I wanted them far away, including Dad and Carter.

They ended up going on a grandpa and grandson trip. I reassured him that I would mind the shop, and he had nothing to worry about.

While bored at work, I texted Veronica about the date, and given that it was a slow day, I closed up shop early.

To prepare.

Getting Veronica to go on this date with me was easy. All I had to do was tell her we were doing something, and she agreed.

Ever since she returned to my life, she has said she wanted to prove the reason she was back was for me, which is a load of bullshit. She may be back for me, but not in the sense she says.

Veronica came back to mess with my head again. And she almost got me. I removed myself from under her spell, the same one she put on me in the asylum. This time, I was lucky enough to see the signs.

I must admit, my performance tonight was one for the books. Needing to act like everything was fine, that I was still in love with her, she took the bait and now learns she shouldn’t have bitten the line.

The look in her eyes when I held the knife to her stomach was beautiful. Confusion and fear were etched into her gaze because she had no idea what was happening. That is how I wanted it to be.

I wanted to take her by surprise.

When I told her to run? I could practically hear her heart pounding in her chest. I was nice, though. I gave her a head start.

Now, I stand alone beside the cliff edge, staring at the water. The waves produce a calming sound. As the waves crash against the rocks at the bottom, the noise reverberates off the cliff’s side and is swept back to sea.

You’ve let her run long enough. Go get her.

Inhaling, I nod and turn towards the woods. Veronica is fast but not fast enough.

I take off into the woods. Running fast while still listening to any signs of her. In the distance, I hear footsteps punching the ground. Leaves crunch under her sneakers. I smirk and take off in her direction, whipping around trees that stand in my way. My head dips low every time I’m met with a branch.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” I yell with a haunting tone.

Run faster.

The voice urges me on. I pick up my speed, my calves burning every time my feet hit the ground. Breathing evenly through my nose, I stop and listen for her again. Nothing. The forest is silent around me, but I sense her. Turning to the left, I see a figure lying in the shadows.

I grin, knowing I caught her. “You thought you could hide from me?”

Her breathing shudders as I step into the darkness.