Chapter 37
Theo
Yesterday morning, I woke up with a moronic idea, then this morning, I woke up with a way to make it happen.
Confronting Trent shifted something inside me. Watching Dante look him in the eye without flinching was a turning point. I was so fucking proud of him. Proud of the way he held his ground and proved that monster no longer had any hold over him. It was beautiful.
It also made me realize that Dante isn’t the only one who’s letting a demon from his past call the shots. If I could stand up for him like that, be fearless in a way I’ve never been before, then maybe I can stop running from Jesse.
Maybe I can stop letting fear keep me small, and stop waiting for Dante or Monica or the police to swoop in and save the day.
I’m done moping. Done hiding in blankets and glancing over my shoulder and praying the next blow never lands. Self-pity doesn’t fix anything—it only drags me lower and pulls the people who love me down with me.
Dante has carried enough weight. He doesn’t need to carry mine, too.
So I’m taking the control back.
The plan is simple but admittedly reckless, and almost certainly going to explode in my face. By ‘almost certainly,’ I mean it is one hundred percent, unequivocally, catastrophically stupid.
But I’m tired in a way that’s bone-deep and soul-weary.
Tired of flinching at every notification, waiting for the next hit, and letting the fear of Jesse’s shadow dictate my life.
If I don’t do this now, I never will. I’ll stay trapped, forever waiting for the other shoe to drop, and if I’m going to worry about shoes, I’d rather be deciding whether my legs look better in combat boots or platform heels.
I’ve spent the last few days putting everything into motion. If Jesse is still obsessed, he’ll follow the breadcrumbs right into my trap. And if he doesn’t… at least I ended this on my terms.
Guilt sits like lead in my stomach the whole drive. I haven’t told Dante a single word of my plan. He’d stop me in a heartbeat—probably throw me over his shoulder, carry me back to bed, and refuse to let me out until I saw reason.
And he’d be right.
This is dangerous. The kind of thing that could end with me hurt, or worse.
But telling him means watching that protective fury ignite in his eyes again, and asking him to stand between me and another monster because he’d never stand aside. He’s already fought enough of my battles.
I pull into the café parking lot, heart slamming so hard I can feel it in my throat. Kayla spots me through the window and waves, her smile bright and easy as I push through the door.
“Theo! I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you!” She leans across the counter, her warmth cutting through the knot in my chest for one brief second.
I cling to it, forcing a smile that feels thin but real enough. “I’ve been staying at my boyfriend’s place across town, so I haven’t swung by as much. Have you missed me?”
“Of course I have!” Kayla chirps. “Your usual?”
“Yes, please,” I sing, blowing her a kiss before dropping into an armchair to wait. My heart hammers against my ribs as I scroll aimlessly through social media without absorbing anything.
Is this really the right decision?
It has to be. If it gives me back even a sliver of peace, it has to be.
I’m so lost in my head that I don’t hear her call my name. A hand lands on my shoulder and I jolt, eyes wide. Kayla yanks her hand back. “Shit, sorry, Theo. I figured you had earbuds in or something.”
“No, it’s not your fault. I was… daydreaming.” She hands me my drink, and I follow her to the counter to pay. I linger a few more minutes, nerves crawling under my skin as I try to summon the courage to leave. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and as I glance down, Dante’s name lights up the screen.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.
He must’ve gotten home earlier than expected. Guilt twists sharp in my gut, because I know my absence is worrying him, and I hate it. I silence the ringer and shove the phone back in my pocket.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper to the empty air, letting the words drift away.
The jolt snaps me out of the paralysis. I force my legs to move, step outside into the chilly fall afternoon, and wrap my coat tighter around myself. I lift the steaming cup to my lips, letting the warmth ghost across my skin.
I walk past my car to the crosswalk, joining the small cluster of people waiting for the light, and it feels like forever before it signals to walk.
The vibrations start up again in my pocket.
I wrap my fingers around the phone and squeeze, as if the pressure could ease some of the ache I’m causing him.
I silence the ringer once more, then switch it to do not disturb.
“I’m so fucking sorry,” I mutter, knuckles whitening around the phone as I step off the curb.
Two blocks later, the greenery of Madison Park comes into view. Even with the cold, the sun casts a warm glow across my skin, and there’s no wind. People mill around, walking dogs or jogging as they take advantage of the mild day. The crowd eases my panic, if only a little.
I tilt the coffee back for the last sip, letting the warmth linger before dropping the empty cup into a trash bin. My destination comes into sight, and like lasers burning across my skin, I feel eyes on me.
I don’t look for them. If I spot him, I’ll bolt.
The bench draws closer. I shove my shaking hands into my pockets, gripping my phone hard as I turn and sink onto the wooden slats. I pull it out and stare blindly at the screen, watching the minutes on the clock tick past in slow, merciless increments.
A twig snaps behind me. My eyes squeeze shut for a heartbeat as a shadow falls across my shoulder. Every cell in my body screams to run, but I force myself to stand, turning slowly with my chin lifted high.
“Hello, Theo.”
Jesse is half-hidden by the dappled shade of the oak tree behind the bench, hands shoved deep in his coat pockets. His smile stretches too wide, lips pulled back in a way that shows his teeth. He’s a wolf, I realize, crawling with predatory intensity that tells me he’s finally found his meal.
He doesn’t come closer.
He just stands there, smiling that hungry, unblinking smile, waiting for me to make the first move.