Page 22 of Burn Me Down

“Trust me, you don’t want to know.” He stomped to the door and picked up the mop and bucket. “Besides, then I would have to kill you,” he said and disappeared out the door.

I slumped in the chair and rubbed my forehead. There was something about his answers that made me feel like he was dealing with unresolved pain or issues haunting him. If it was Asher’s brother, then the little I knew of their past had been traumatic and more so for Derek. I suddenly wished he got me a psychology book instead of a romance novel.

There was no way to know if he was watching me now, but I picked up my new book, got up from the chair, and looked at the camera.

“I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry that I pushed. Goodnight.”

Laying on the bed, I tried to remember everything Vi told me about Asher and Derek. Was I really considering helping him? Was it even my place? Then again, I was locked in a room like a pet, so the rules of what I should and shouldn’t do were tossed out the window.

ASHER

The door banged open, and Vi came running into the house. Her face was drained of all color, and she looked like she was about to pass out.

“What is it? What’s going on?” I put the knife down that I was using to chop vegetables and wrapped Vi in a hug.

“She’s gone,” she cried.

“Who’s gone?”

“Beck. I went over to her apartment, and no one was there.” Vi pulled back and looked up at me, her eyes red from crying. “It looks like she just vanished. Nothing was touched, but her phone was there, and her work hasn’t seen her. She apparently took a day off, but she’s missed a whole shift and didn’t let me know where she was going. She wouldn’t leave her phone behind, she was taken, I know it.”

“Was there any sign of forced entry?”

Vi shook her head. “I’ve called the police, but I don’t think they will take it seriously until she is gone longer. They didn’t say they wouldn’t, but the one officer rolled his eyes at me. It’s him, Asher, it’s Derek. He has Beck, and who knows what he’s planning on doing to her? Just because he hasn’t killed anyone in weeks doesn’t mean he suddenly forgot his vendetta or that he wouldn’t hurt her. I can’t let him hurt her. She’s more than just my best friend. We are sisters.”

I grabbed her shoulders. “I know, and we will find her, but even if Derek does have her, we don’t know what he’s planning. If he sticks to his pattern, then he won’t kill her. Beck is innocent in all of this.”

“He could spiral out of control at any time, and then what,” Vi asked as she marched away to begin her usual pacing.

“You’re right he could, but….” I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. “I just feel in my gut that he won’t hurt her.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“Real answer?”

“Yes.”

“Because she’d already be dead, and he would’ve made a spectacle of her to hurt you which would hurt me. If he has taken her and is keeping her, then as hard as it is to fathom, I don’t think he plans on hurting her. More likely, he is trying to scare us.”

“Well, it’s bloody working,” Vi growled in frustration. “Asher, I know he’s your brother, and you love him, but we need to find a way to stop him from killing anyone else.”

“Vi…I know you’re right….”

“I feel a ‘but’ coming on,” she said, crossing her arms.

“Okay, let me put it to you like this. If roles were reversed and this was your sister, let’s say it was Beck, and she was being a vigilante around town to all those who had wronged her or hurt others. What would you do?”

Vi stopped to stare out the window facing the water. It was late evening, but the sun hadn’t fully set, and the bay reflected hues of pink and orange. I was always happy to see a pink sky at night. It meant the weather would be good tomorrow.

“I’m not sure to be honest. I wouldn’t want her to hurt people, but turning her in would be difficult.” She turned and looked at me, and I nodded.

“Exactly. Derek needs help, not a prison or another hospital where they poke at him like an animal. Vi, I failed my brother. No matter what anyone says, I will never shake the feeling that I could’ve and should’ve done more. He took every punch meant for me. I can’t just throw him to the system again, not after they messed up so badly once already.”

“So, what are you proposing?”

“I don’t know yet. I really don’t, but if Derek has Beck, we will find her and get her back,” I said, walking to her and cupping her face.

“If he does anything to her….”