Page 38 of The Unravelings

“He broke into the fucking house,” JJ grumbles, forcing my gaze to his as Hux curses under his breath. “He waltzed right through the door because we never lock it. Imagine what he could do with that knowledge.”

“And you?” I whip my gaze to Waffles, who nibbles on his paw while staring at me with innocent eyes.

“It seems he was tempted with steak,” JJ scoffs, rolling his eyes.

“You’re too spoiled.” My eyes narrow at the dog, who sneezes and then moves to his water dish again, effectively dismissing us.

Rude.

“So, what are you going to do about it?” I ask, retaking my seat and reclaiming my grapes.

Deep breaths, Mack. Nothing to get too worked up about. It’s all bullshit. We’ll figure it out. Just breathe.

Besides, our revenge should be epic.

“Nothing,” Hux says pointedly, giving me a look.

“Nothing?” I nearly choke on the grape sliding down my throat. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? That asshole kidnaps you, tortures you, and we’re supposed to sit back and not do anything about it?” I huff. “Franco would give us the green light to take those bitches out. I got Wilder; you two get the big guy. We’ll strap them to the beams in the basement and teach them a lesson.” I raise a brow to encourage their nods, but they stare at me like I’m delusional.

Okay, maybe I am. If we got Wilder and Malic in the basement, bad things would happen in town.

“You know we can’t incite anything on campus,” JJ states, matter-of-factly. “This entire venture was to create neutral territory for us all to live in peace. Us. Them. The other families that have moved into Syndicate Row. We must maintain a peaceful environment for everyone. Including Malic Monroe and Jackson Wilder.”

“Except fight nights.” I grin, cracking my knuckles and plotting my revenge. On everyone. Oliver. Wilder. Malic. They’re all on my damn shit list. If only I could hack into their school records or some shit and get them expelled. That would be fun. Maybe I could flirt my way into the admin building and do a little recon myself.

“Yeah. Except those nights. Call them out, then. Get your revenge in the ring. Leave war the fuck out of it.” Hux gives me a pointed look like I’m a kid who got caught sneaking out. Fucker. “There’s already enough bloodshed with the fucking bodies piling up at our doorsteps, and we have no idea who is behind it.”

“He started it,” I grunt, grabbing a few grapes.

“Yeah, well. I’m fucking ending it before it can lead to anything stupid. Now, how about that body?” Hux dismisses me, turning his back and focusing on JJ.

“Right,” JJ says, typing a few things on his laptop. “A report was submitted this morning. A body was found in a field near the middle of town. A woman, this time. Local. Mabel Evans. Greenwood U Alumni. I’ve been checking surveillance cameras all morning, but there’s nothing there.” He shakes his head. “It’s all been looped over and expertly concealed. Whoever is doing this covers their bases carefully.”

“Same MO?” Hux asks, leaning on the counter with a heavy sigh.

“Missing heart, kidneys, and a liver. Even her eyeballs were taken this time.” JJ wrinkles his nose as he reads off the report. “She graduated from here two years ago with a degree in business. Had a volleyball scholarship and maintained her grades. Participated in volunteer work and donated to the blood drive every year.” JJ’s eyes scan the words as he reads them aloud. “It also states that…” JJ’s face twists with concern. “That her womb was taken as well, and her body shows signs of pregnancy.”

“Eyeballs?” I balk. “Why the hell… You know what? I don’t want to know,” I grumble, putting my grapes back into the bag as my stomach turns.

Ruined my fucking grapes for the day, assholes.

“Corneal transplants are a thing. Even entire eyeballs have been transplanted with success in experimental environments,” JJ so helpfully adds with the cock of his head.

Know-it-all.

“Wonderful. There goes my appetite.” I shove the grapes into the fridge and toss it shut. “Now, onto bigger things.”

“Bigger than a kidnapping and a body with missing organs that fits the crime that’s been happening almost every damn week for the past year?” Hux raises a brow.

No. But I don’t dare utter that word.

“Uh, yeah,” I huff, tossing my arms again. “Someone destroyed the fucking treehouse, and I want to know who. You got cameras there?” I dig out my phone and toss it on the counter, displaying the wreckage someone left behind. They didn’t spare a single one of Olivia’s things.

It’s all gone. Every trace of her. Like someone is trying to erase the remnants we have of her in our lives.

“Cameras in the woods?” JJ levels me with a stupid look.

“You got cameras at the graveyard. Why not the fucking woods?” I growl.