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Chapter 19
Dex
Beepbeepbeepbeep!
I was tempted to fling my phone across the room. The incessant ringing of my alarm was already setting the tone for a shit day.
Fuck today. Fuck everyone.
Fuck her.
I was still reeling from my encounter with Harlow last night, the rage reaching a boiling point as soon as I heard her say Finn’s name. I didn’t like how she made me feel. I fucking hated it even. And I hated even more that she wanted her fucking ex-boyfriend’s phone number from me.
Well they could both just fuck off.
I flung the sheets off my body, jumping out of bed as I grabbed some sweatpants and a loose tee. I needed to get to the gym and let off some steam. I had a huge shift later and Richard was pissed at me that I had lost our business venture with Finn so I had to tread carefully.
The sun flooded the room as I pulled back the curtains and clambered past the window, a grunt letting loose as I ran a hand over my eyes.
As I grabbed the door handle, I briefly hesitated. Would I run into her? Was she home?
I shook my head, angry thoughts encouraging me to keep moving as I pulled open the door and stepped out.
The apartment was quiet and I couldn’t hear any sounds so I could only assume she was either still asleep or not home.
I headed into the bathroom, immediately flicking on the tap so I could splash some water on my face and hair. I threaded my fingers through the longer hair on top of my head, poorly trying to style it as I forced myself to wake up. I was going to desperately need a cup of coffee or some pre-workout.
The gym was thankfully in the same building but I liked to use their showers as it saved me from having to go back to the apartment. I had to head straight out after to run some errands before my shift so I grabbed some essentials to shove in my bag.
I reached into the shower to grab my shampoo when something caught my eye on the ground. Immediately I paused, confused as I bent down to look at the spot near the basin.
What the fuck?
A spot of blood was splashed against the cream tiles – small and so close to the grout that I almost missed it. But now that I spotted it, it stood out like a sore thumb.
I hadn’t shaved in days and I certainly didn’t recall nicking myself. That obviously only left Harlow, but from memory she used to do laser hair removal and very rarely had to shave, if ever. I remembered her telling me about maintenance periods once a year and that she was happy to never need a razor again.
Leaning against the basin, I looked around as I tried to piece the puzzle together. The bin next to the basin and bath drew me in. Now that I was looking, I found it.
More red.
“What the fuck...” I muttered out loud this time as I leaned down to look.
Our general garbage filled it about half way but on top was some discarded toilet paper which was stained red with blood.
I tried to ignore the panic starting to build as rationally I searched for reasons as to why there would be blood and toilet paper from someone who didn’t need to shave.
An uncomfortable niggling feeling pulled at me and I had the urge to look further. I couldn’t explain why – just that something was telling me to look.
Carefully, I peeled back some of the discarded paper, staring down at the contents.
My heart skipped a beat or two as I spotted the disposable razor. Yet it wasn’t the razor that concerned me.
It was the blood on the blades.
I paced back and forth in my room for a good 5 minutes as I tried to decide what to do.
My first instinct was to smash down the door to Harlow’s bedroom and demand answers, but that probably wasn’t the best idea.
The second instinct was to knock on the door... and demand answers.
Ignoring it?
Not a fucking option.
I ripped open my door and stomped across the apartment until I reached Harlow’s door. It was quiet still and I turned to take a quick look at the front door. Her keys and shoes were missing so I could only guess she wasn’t home.
That should have been enough to deter me. But I’m Dex fucking Spencer, so no. I wasn’t done yet.
Her door opened slowly as I opened it and peaked inside, making sure she was in fact gone. My eyes trailed over her messy empty bed and sighed in relief, and disappointment, that she wasn’t here.
The floor was scattered in random papers and I couldn’t help but notice the items from the garden were pushed to the wall under the window. Curiously I approached, frowning as I shifted through the dirty paperwork and jacket. But one piece of paper caught my attention, the handwriting messy and bold.
I TOLD YOU I WOULDN’T PLAY NICE. YOU LET HIM TOUCH YOU. YOU LET HIM TAKE WHAT’S MINE. HE’LL PAY. SO WILL YOU.
What the fuck? Who the hell was sending her stuff like that?
More feelings of concern and panic started to fill me. Things just weren’t adding up.
I tried to ignore the guilt I felt. Obviously something was going on in Harlow’s life, and I was being a jerk. No – an asshole.
I knew about her dad’s company. It was in the papers and I had brushed it off but between that and her job, I should have been a better roommate.
A friend.
As the minutes ticked past, my curiosity grew into obsession and I started tugging, pulling and unfolding everything in sight. I could feel it in my gut that there was more.
I grew angry as nothing turned up and I sat on the floor against the wall, shoving my hands in my face.
“What the fuck are you doing, Dex? You’re fucking losing it.”
My eyes became unfocused as I retracted into my mind, thinking about the blood in the bathroom. Nothing was adding up. But still, I couldn’t shake the feeling there was more.
An object under the edge of the bed caught my attention and I leaned forward, pulling it out from the dark hole. My eyebrows creased as I held the rope in my hands. It wasn’t just any normal rope – it was heavy duty shit, designed to really tie down something.
