The Amendment (Arrangement #2)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

PETER

D espite years of sharing a bed with her, I’d never gotten used to how peaceful my wife looked while she was sleeping. Perhaps it was because I never saw her in such a state while she was awake.

It always amazed me, the sheer quietness of her face—no expression, no stress lines. She was just…existing.

I watched her breathing, her chest rising and falling steadily, as I waited for the text to come from Jim to let me know he was pulling down the driveway.

I had to hope Ainsley would stay asleep through it all, that I’d be able to sneak whatever this was into the room without her noticing.

Maybe I should’ve just told her what was happening, but I knew my wife. I knew she wouldn’t have been okay with the blackmail—because that’s what it was at the end of the day.

I was being blackmailed by a man I once considered my best friend .

Of course, that was before I knew who he was. Before I knew what he’d done.

Before he brought me into his world and ruined my life.

I’d met Jim the week I moved into my college dorm. As my roommate, he was my default friend, and because I had no others, I latched on to him.

I’d never had a good relationship with the men in my life—my dad and older brothers—and I’d had very few friends growing up, so I’m embarrassed to admit how desperately I wanted Jim’s approval.

I thought he was cool.

Three years older, despite being a freshman like I was, he was one of those guys with an effortless swagger and confidence I couldn’t have attempted if I was paid to.

I still have no idea why he let me hang around him back then—maybe more for amusement than anything—but I was so glad he did. I did whatever he asked: wrote his essays, paid for his books, cleaned his side of the dorm.

Anything.

Everything.

Whatever it took to fit in with him.

And in the end, everything was exactly what it took.

I wasn’t supposed to be in the dorm that night. I should’ve been home for fall break, but my parents had been fighting and all I could think about was how badly I wanted to get back to school.

It was the only place I felt safe.

The only place I didn’t feel five years old anymore .

When I walked into our dorm to see the two naked bodies on our floor—Jim on top of a girl I didn’t recognize—I panicked. I’d accidentally seen him having sex before, but it was something we’d mitigated with a sock on the door.

This time, because he wasn’t expecting me, there was no sock.

“Sorry,” I’d said, covering my eyes and trying to shuffle out of the room quickly.

He hadn’t responded and I’d slammed the door, feeling useless. I wasn’t wanted at home, my parents probably hadn’t even noticed I’d left, and now I wasn’t welcome there. I had nowhere to go. Nothing to do.

I walked across the dark quad, feeling miserable and alone, and found an empty bench to sit down on for a while. An hour later, my phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out, spying Jim’s number on my screen.

Was he angry?

Would he yell at me?

Would he laugh it off?

Tease me about wanting to sneak a peek?

I could never tell.

I opened my phone and pressed it to my ear. “Yeah?”

“You can come back now.”

I tried to get a read on his tone, but I couldn’t.

“You sure? No rush on my end.”

“Yeah,” he said simply. “We’re done.” Before I could say anything else, he’d ended the call. I slid it back into my pocket and stood, taking my time as I made my way back to our dorm.

But when I reached it and opened the door, a joke ready on my lips, my smile fell away immediately. Jim was dressed and on the bed, but the girl was still on our floor, still not dressed. It didn’t take long for me to realize she was unconscious.

Or…dead?

No, her chest rose with a shallow breath.

“What the hell, man?” I demanded, pointing to her. Why was he just sitting there? Why didn’t he look worried? I kneeled down next to her, touching her face and trying to ignore her bare body, no matter how hard it was. “Is she okay?”

“Not really,” he said simply, standing from the bed.

“What do you mean?” A chill ran over me as he moved to stand behind me.

“You want a turn?” he asked, laughing dryly.

“What do you mean?” I asked again, feeling vomit rising in my chest.

He leaned down, gripping the back of my neck tight with one hand. “I said, do you want a turn?”

I jerked out of his grasp. “What the fuck are you talking about? What’s wrong with her?”

“Not a thing,” he said, adjusting his pants. “Trust me.” I was going to be sick. “See for yourself.”

“She’s not waking up.”

“Exactly. She won’t know the difference, kid.”

“Is she drunk?”

“What the fuck are you asking questions for?” he asked, angry then. His hand was back on my neck, his grip tighter. “I thought we were cool, Greenburg.”

“We are cool,” I said, staring down at her again. I couldn’t bring myself to move. I’d heard about it, of course. Date raping women. I’d seen the drugs passed around campus, but I had no idea Jim was into that sort of thing.

He was so cool.

He slept with plenty of women.

I couldn’t imagine why he’d need to do this.

“So, then, be cool. I’m offering you a gift. Not many friends I’d let have a girl when I’m done with her.”

I didn’t want to do it—it felt awkward. Wrong too, I guess, but my main concern was of trying to have sex in front of someone. Jim, especially. I worried he’d make fun of me.

“You gonna do it or no?”

“I’m… I’m okay.” I started to stand up, but he placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me.

“Nah, you’re not. ’Cause the way I see it, you’re either gonna fuck her or you’re gonna snitch.”

“I won’t snitch,” I swore. “You know me better than that.”

“Then you know your other option, don’t ya? Look, it ain’t about knowin’ ya, kid. You gotta prove it.” He lifted his foot to her leg, nudging her forcefully with his toes. “See? She’s not waking up.” He paused. “And when you’re done, you can do me a favor and help me get rid of her.”

Something about the way he’d said those words, the look in his eye, said he’d get rid of me, too, if I didn’t do exactly as he’d said. And so, I did.

No more arguing.

I proved it.

I tried not to think about him watching me as I did it.

When it was over, we dressed her and took her to the woods. Jim told me to leave him there with her and I’d never been so grateful to get away.

I remembered watching him get back in the truck after what felt like a lifetime later. He was calm. Surprisingly calm. He put the truck into drive without a word. It was then that I noticed the blood on his hands. It was dark, so I couldn’t be sure that was what it was, but somehow, I knew.

I didn’t know she was going to die.

Not really.

I don’t know what I thought about why he wanted to be alone with her, or what he’d meant by get rid of her, but that wasn’t it. The rest of the ride back to our dorm was filled with silence. I felt sick to my stomach. Terrified of my roommate.

When we finally parked, he turned to look at me with a wicked grin and said something I’ve never forgotten.

“There’s nothing like it, Greenburg. Watchin’ ’em go. Watchin’ the lights go out. You’re their god in that moment. It’s a high unlike any other.”

I don’t remember if I said anything then…

Maybe I just stared at him. Maybe I nodded.

All I remember is the way he stared at me. The way he smelled—of blood and sweat and sex.

The way I knew everything was going to change.

From that night on, I didn’t ask any questions. I did everything he told me to because I was terrified, but eventually, because it became fun, just like he said it would.

I liked the power that came with it. Liked knowing I was in control of everything.

Finally, I understood the confidence Jim had. Maybe some of it had even rubbed off on me, too.

Meeting Jim Slater was the best and worst thing that had ever happened to me and, even now, I wasn’t sure I could honestly say I would change a thing. I wanted to be the kind of person who would take it all back, given the chance, but I wasn’t. Try as I might, I couldn’t lie to myself about that.

My phone buzzed in my palm, bringing me back to the present. I glanced down at the screen, reading over the short text, and sliding from the bed.

I eased out of the room carefully, down the hall, then down the stairs and toward the garage. I snuck out the side door, cautious not to let it slam as I jogged toward the driveway where I could see the gray truck coming to a stop.

“Sup?” he said, when the door opened. As usual, he was casual and carefree. As if we weren’t meeting up in the middle of the night to stash god knows what in my secret murder room.

“Did you bring it?”

“Yep.” He slammed the driver’s door shut and moved around to the back, rubbing his hands together as if he were cold.

“Shh,” I warned. “Keep it down. Please. I don’t want my wife or kids to hear us.”

He looked up at me, a sly grin on his lips. “They’ve got you on a tight leash, don’t they, Greenburg?”

“It’s not like that.”

He chuckled, but didn’t look convinced. “If you say so. Seems like someone needs to be put in their place.” His wink caused my stomach to churn .

At the back of the truck, he tossed back a black tarp.

“What is it you’re wanting me to keep for you anyway?”

“Like I told you, it’s better if you don’t know.” He may as well have patted me on the head. With a sharp tug, he pulled out a large duffel bag, tossing it over one shoulder and walking toward the garage without needing directions.

It had probably been a mistake to let Jim build the room in the first place, truth be told. I knew that when I’d done it. But there was no one else I’d trust to build it. I needed someone who wouldn’t ask too many questions, who’d make sure not to mention it to Ainsley or anyone else. Jim was the guy for the job, as much as I’d hated it. I had to make sure my family was protected from my secrets, even if it meant relying on a man I wasn’t sure I could rely on at all.

When Beckman and I started the firm—Beckman providing the capital and my expertise providing the framework—it had been a no-brainer to bring Jim on. He ran one of the biggest contracting firms in the city, and I knew he’d be a great partner. Despite his flaws, Jim knew how to get things done. He made friends with everyone and could always get a discount or adjust a timeline without issue. I worried I’d made a deal with the devil back then, but truth be told, our partnership had been completely cordial.

When Ainsley and I’d gotten married and I stepped out of all the habits Jim had taught me, he’d accepted it without qualms. He trusted me by then, as much as he’d ever trusted anyone. Though I still had reservations about being involved with him, even professionally, I’d thought it was better to keep him close.

Now, I had to wonder how long he’d been waiting to hold what he knew about my past over my head. Maybe that was all he was ever trying to do—gather as much dirt on everyone around him as he could. To control them. To control everything.

Was this all happening because he needed a place to store something? Or was this the perfect opportunity to draw me back into his world?

Honestly, I was scared to find out.

He pushed open the door and we walked toward the wall. When we’d reached it, he stepped back, allowing me to shove the shelf down a smidge and press the bricks that would open the hidden door.

When it opened, I smelled the familiar, musty scent. It had been too long since I’d been in the room. Something about it set my skin on fire, my body tingling with excitement.

When Jim walked into it, the excitement disappeared.

It felt wrong to have him there.

In the space I’d reserved only for myself and the most special of my victims.

He looked around, letting out a whistle. “I forgot how nice this place was.”

“You can put that over here,” I said, pointing to the corner farthest from where I’d once hidden my bag. The left side of the room was mostly bare, just a small tarp wadded up in the corner, a hose, and the drain.

He placed the bag on the ground next to the tarp, looking around with a long, drawn-out inhale .

“How long do you need me to keep it?”

“A few days,” he said. “A week, maybe two. I’ll let you know when I’m ready to pick it up.”

“And you’re not going to tell me what’s in it?” I could always just open it when he left.

“Nope. And I’d suggest you don’t look in it.” He stalked past me, then turned around and stared in my direction, his face cloaked in shadows. “Curiosity killed the cat, ’n all.”

I nodded. “I won’t touch it. Just…let me know when you’re ready for it.”

“Will do.” He pulled the truck keys from his pocket and twirled them around his finger, still not moving.

“And you’re going to keep all of this quiet, right?”

“All this?” He seemed confused. “The room, you mean?”

“Mhm.”

“Relax, Peter. Your secrets have always been safe with me.” His hand gripped my shoulder suddenly, making me flinch. “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” His eyes drilled into mine, my skin crawling. “Same as before.”

Suddenly, I was flashing back to that night.

Stupid.

Vulnerable.

Weak.

With Jim, I’d always be the Peter from that night.

Visions flashed through my head—the blood, the woods where we’d buried her, the way he’d laughed afterward.

I was terrified, but also intrigued…

I’d wanted to be him .

In some sick way, I guess I still did.

“We should probably go. I don’t want Ainsley to wake up.”

He released my shoulder with a stiff nod. “Understood.” With that, he backed away slowly, the sole of his boot sliding against the concrete floor.

Once we’d made it out of the room and I’d secured it closed, he crossed the garage, reaching for the door with one final wave over his head. “Thanks again, Greenburg.”

“You bet,” I said, as if this were an everyday favor.

When he shut the door, I waited silently, listening for the truck to start up. Once it had, once I’d heard it backing down the long drive, I breathed a sigh of relief.

There. That’s done.

When I opened the door to go back inside, Ainsley was standing in the hallway, her arms crossed in front of her chest. My body tensed as I tried to come up with a lie.

How long had she been standing there?

What had she heard?

What had she seen?

What did she know?

“Hey,” I said. “Sorry, did I wake you?”

“What were you doing?”

“I, um, sorry…” I scratched the back of my neck.

Lie.

Lie better than this, Peter.

“One of our contractors is heading out of town for a project, and I had to give him a few forms before he left.”

“Why didn’t you just email them?”

She didn’t believe me. I didn’t blame her.

“He’s old school. Still uses a flip phone. But, seriously, one of the best.” I moved to walk past her, hoping to end the line of questioning, but she wasn’t done. I knew she wasn’t even before she spoke again.

“Why did he come by in the middle of the night, then? Why not this evening? Why didn’t you tell me he was coming? We said no more lies, no more secrets, and—”

I cut her off, gripping her shoulders gently. “Ains, breathe. No more secrets. I’m not lying. I had no idea he was coming. I woke up because my phone was buzzing and he asked me for the forms. He was supposed to come by in the morning, but he decided to head out late tonight instead. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think it was a big enough deal to wake you up about.”

She stared at me skeptically, so I leaned forward, pressing my lips to hers. “Want me to prove it? I’ll call him if you want me to.”

As much as Ainsley knew me, there were a few things I knew well about her. Well enough to bet my life on. Like the fact that she’d never admit to anyone else—well, anyone aside from Glennon—that we had issues or that she felt she couldn’t trust me.

“No, it’s fine,” she said with a huff, pulling out of my arms and walking back to our bedroom without another word.

I didn’t want to lie to her anymore, but I had no choice. This was Jim’s fault. I was trying to be who she wanted, but I had to do this to protect her. To protect us all.

Once the favor was done, things would go back to normal.

No, they’d go forward to being perfect.