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I FIXED ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR YOU. SHE NEVER LOVED YOU, NOT LIKE I DO. WE ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING TOGETHER.
I hold the plain white piece of paper in my hand, the black block letters stark against the frail sheet. “He did this.” I look up, my eyes stinging and lip quivering. “He killed my mum.”
“Shit,” Bray snarls. “Babe, move away, the police are on the way. Don’t touch the body—her, okay?”
“She’s dead,” I repeat, gazing at her limp body. I’m unable to stop myself from staring at her. The worst bit?
Under all the pain, anger, and sadness I feel washing through me like a tidal wave, there’s a tiny bit of joy that she can no longer hurt me.
I don’t remember the next hour, my ears ring and my world spins because despite what I feel, Meredith died tonight because of that fucking asshole. She might not have been a great mother or even a decent person, but she was a person, and now she’s gone.
The police arrive as I’m sitting in the living room with my hands around a mug of vodka—thanks to Cyrus. I have Asher’s jacket wrapped around me, and the stomping footsteps fill my ears as the ambulance workers, mortuary staff, and police do their jobs. All the while, I sit here, holding Asher’s hand while Bray sits next to me and Cyrus stands behind me, presenting a united front.
But I feel alone, detached.
I hear them discussing the cameras. Asher has already asked his security guy to find out how this was possible and to track her last movements, but I don’t care anymore. It won’t matter. It’s already done. I don’t need to retrace his actions; I need to stop them.
And this is not working. Bodies are starting to appear, which means it won’t be long before he comes for them. I was right; I need to protect them. They think they are protecting me, saving me, and that they can stop him, but I know different. They are so focused on saving me, they aren’t even worried for themselves.
He will never stop. I have to end this. I have to keep them safe, to... to protect my family.
The police ask so many questions my voice goes hoarse. My men start to answer for me and redirect until they eventually say enough is enough and tell them to finish up. Without another look, Bray carries me upstairs, Asher and Cyrus on our heels. This time, Bray takes me right into his room, and as I sit numbly on the bed where he places me, he strips me and puts me in a comfy shirt before tucking me into bed and holding me in his arms. Cyrus slides in on the other side, and Asher lies between my thighs.
They all watch me keenly. For a breakdown? Maybe.
They won’t get one.
I don’t even know if I can cry right now. More than anything, I’m mad. Mad and so fucking cold. That’s what he’s done to me.
“I let my dad know. He’s going to handle everything, if that’s okay?” Cyrus whispers.
I simply nod. I don’t want to plan or attend any more funerals, even my mother’s. I can’t, it will only remind me of the limited time we are living on before he comes for us.
“Just rest, there is nothing to do, and you’re safe.”
And maybe I am, maybe I’m the only one in this fucked up world that is. I’m safe from him, but they aren’t. As I stare at the darkened ceiling, I promise myself there will be no more deaths, so I slowly begin to detach myself from them, cutting them off.
I know what I need to do.
The plan forms in my head overnight, and by sunrise, I’m ready to end this.
Once and for all.
*
I don’t sleep at all, and my eyes burn as I tip my head back and let the water slide across my face and chest. I hear the bathroom door open, and then the glass screen.
“Hey, baby girl—fucking hell!” he cries, reaching in and switching off the shower. I blink my eyes open and turn to him, my lips turned down.
“What the hell?” I ask.
“Baby, the water’s so hot you’re burning your skin.” He gestures at my naked body, and I look down to see my skin is pink.
“I like it warm. I couldn’t feel it,” I explain.
Sighing, he reaches in, pulls me out, and wraps a towel around me before sitting me on the sink and inspecting my exposed skin for burns. I just sit here, staring, not even blinking, and when he’s done, he straightens and rubs my thighs, but I can’t really feel it. “You’re in shock, Blair.”
“No, I’m not. I didn’t even like her.”
