Chapter Eight
My sigh was loud as I approached the front door of my house. The police had spent a couple of hours watching the CCTV from the bookshop, gathering evidence to reprimand Brandon. When they’d asked me about Moth, I’d explained that he was a friend I’d managed to text before my phone ran out of battery. Their disapproving glares had shrunk me down to the size of a teeny tiny human. Yes, I should’ve rung them, even if it had been a drop call. And yet, I didn’t.
Another sigh escaped me, quickly turning to a gasp when I reached for the door. It was slightly ajar, open just a fraction. Shit. Who the fuck was in my house?
Taking out my phone, I swore. Still no battery as I wasn’t clever enough to leave a charger at the shop. I’d called the police on the main line, but completely forgotten that I still needed to boost my phone.
The policeman had followed me home, just to make sure that Brandon hadn’t somehow managed to find my new address. Why had I insisted that all looked okay and sent them on their way?
Pushing the door, I braced myself and stepped inside. Fuck it, I was exhausted after having basically no sleep and a shock that had jolted me back fifteen years. If I was going to get killed today, I was kinda ready.
The house was a two bedroomed detached property with a drive and small garage on the side. I rarely put the car in the garage, except when it was icy. I was too lazy for all that.
The stairs were on the left and the door to the front room on the right. The kitchen was at the end of the hallway, the glass door closed.
Holding my hand to my chest, I peeked around into the front room. “Fuck!”
“Sorry!” Holding her hands up in front of her, Ceecee, my oldest friend in the world, came towards me. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Throwing my keys on the hanger and shoving my coat on the hook, I joined her in the front room, my heart still pounding. “We haven’t spoken in ten years, a little warning would’ve been nice.”
Wringing her hands in front of her, Ceecee shook her head slowly. “You messaged me this morning. I came straight over.”
“I sent a key in case of emergency, but I expected you to let me know you were coming, at least.” Going closer to her, I hovered, not sure how I should greet the friend I’d sworn to protect all those years ago.
“I panicked.” Running a hand over her pristine chestnut ombre hair, she turned to look out of the window. “When you said that Jay–”
“He goes by Moth now.” I stepped away from my old friend and went to the cabinet at the back of the room, opening the door and pulling out a photo album.
Going to the dining table, I sat down and started to go through the photos, my breath held until I flipped onto the page.
“What are you doing?” Ceecee came over and looked over my shoulder. “Oh, my.”
I balled my hand and pressed it against my mouth as I studied Jay’s face. Fuck, it was him alright. I’d only gone and had the hottest fucking kiss of my life with the man who’d sworn vengeance on me. And who I’d despised since the moment he’d bumped into me at school, sending me flying so hard, my skirt had flown up and over my head when I’d landed. I’d never lived that day down, and my own revenge had been callous.
“They really did look alike,” Ceecee whispered, “Didn’t they?”
I glanced up at her as a wave of hot anger washed over my skin. Her eyes brimmed with tears and she swiped at her cheek as one fell. Swallowing down the multitude of resentment that had festered over the years, I turned back to the picture. The teacher had asked the boys whether they’d prefer to be apart or together in the school photo. The twins, Jay and Jack, had often tricked authorities, pretending to be one another. It had almost been impossible to tell the difference between the two.
Ceecee and I were two rows down, sitting next to one another, oblivious to what was going to happen just five days later. It had been that day, while walking off the pitch where the photo had just been taken, that Jack pushed Jay, who had bumped straight into me. The cameraman had actually taken an action shot of us as we left, capturing my most embarrassing moment. Luckily, he’d had the decency to delete the shot right away.
“I’ve missed you.” Ceecee put a hand on my shoulder. “I never understood why we couldn’t remain friends.”
Shoving up from my seat, I spun to face her, the anger bursting from me. “You know exactly why,” I spat, “I got that letter from him ten years ago, saying that he’d returned. It had been five years of wondering where they’d gone and then another ten of waiting for him to turn up. For so long, I’ve been holding onto the guilt of my actions. You, on the other hand, got on with your life, as if nothing had happened.”
“Jay threatened you when he was thirteen,” she said meekly, “I’m sure he wasn’t still holding onto that at eighteen, despite the letter to say he’d returned.” Waving her hand, she swallowed hard. “I know you wanted to cut contact with me in case they linked us, but when nothing happened, I assumed we were safe.”
“Yeah, well,” I muttered, stepping out from behind the chair and going to the window, “Jay knows where I work. And he remembers where my parents live. I… I might have just ignited his old vow.”
Staring out of the window, I searched every area of my neighbours’ garden, just like I did when looking for evidence of Brandon. Now, though, there were two men to fear.
“How?” Ceecee came to stand beside me, her forehead creased. “What happened?”
Rubbing my forehead, I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want to go into it, but I unknowingly provoked him. I messaged you because I panicked. I just wanted you to be on alert, just in case anything happens.”
“We can’t live like this.” She crossed her arms over her chest, bunching her designer jacket. “Maybe we should come clean.”
I frowned at her, too tired to question her intellect. It had been so long since we’d promised to keep our distance, I’d forgotten her quirky way of thinking. “You know the consequences of that.”
Her throat bobbed and she nodded, the tears coming back to sit in her eyes. I hadn’t allowed myself to get emotional about the past in forever. I wasn’t about to start letting it all come back, not when I had to now fend off two enemies. Fuck, what was it with me and men?
“So…” Ceecee took my hand, holding it loosely in hers. “…our promise remains? If he dares to show that he’s threatening, call the police right away. And you can talk to me,” she said, ducking her gaze, “we can create fake profiles and speak that way. I miss you.”
Smiling softly, I squeezed her hand. “We’ll see. You better go now, just in case.”
Her arms came around me in a tight hug before she backed away, smiling sadly and disappearing from the room. When the front door clicked behind her, I rushed to lock it. Fucking hell, she had almost given me a heart attack when she’d snuck in without shutting the door. I had never imagined she would actually use the emergency key I’d sent her. It had all become too real.
My muscles ached where I’d been stuck in the same position, hiding all night. Tears slipped into my eyes as I trudged upstairs and went to my room at the back of the house. It was a smaller room, but being away from the road gave me a slightly better sense of security. Although my house was CCTVed from top to bottom, there was always a part of me that lived on the edge, wondering if Brandon would get in. Not that it mattered now, too much shit was following me from the past. Maybe it was time I just put them all out of their misery.
Climbing into bed, I snuggled up and closed my eyes, ready to disappear into oblivion, if only for a while. Except, when the darkness blocked out my view, Jay’s face swum into my mind’s eye. No, I had to sleep. I was exhausted and needed to forget about everything. The memory of his lips on mine sent heat unfurling through my body. Fuck me, talk about psychotic bitch. Who was turned on by their enemy?
Tossing and turning, I tried to block out his face. It didn’t work, so I sat up and got my phone, searching his name on social media. Nothing came up, not one thing. I was about to switch off when an article named his brother.
Thirteen-year-old boy killed in abandoned house fire.
Leaning my head back against the headboard, I closed my eyes, allowing the tears to flow down my cheeks. For so long, I’d been able to successfully block out my involvement with Jack Baker’s death, but now that it was here, in my face again, it was impossible to forget. Brandon had been a good distraction from my dark past. Hell, even his stalking had kept my mind from wandering.
Moth had mentioned fires and me causing them. Had he meant literally? Did he know more than I’d realised?
I had to do something. Anything.
Opening my phone screen again, I found my messages to Moth. The last one had been when I’d told him that Brandon was at the shop. He hadn’t replied, but he’d clearly read it… and come to my rescue. Why would he do that if he still had a vendetta against me?
My heartbeat skipped as I frowned. And why would he press his hard cock against my hip when he was threatening me? As well as kissing me for at least a minute before pulling away?
I’d read many romances, over all genres and times, and in most of them, the heroine stayed well away from the unhinged MC… unless she was turned on by the dark. Except, this was real life.
So why was I now contemplating making another mistake?
I’m sorry. I typed the message and pressed send before I could change my mind.
Fuck.
I mean, for what happened… I tried to clarify.
Cringing, I chucked my phone onto the bed and pressed a pillow against my face. I wasn’t a thirteen year old girl anymore, I was a full grown woman who needed to take control of my life.
The phone pinged and I scooped it up, almost dropping it in my haste.
And what happened, Sunshine?
His name, Moth, burned into my eyes and I tried to still the shake of my hand. Wait, what did he mean? I had been apologising for what happened back then, but he didn’t know that. I’d assumed that he’d relate my apology to me kissing him. Shit, I was confused.
The kiss.
I typed again, going to add more and then pausing. No, I had to keep the conversation simple and sweet. That way, I could feel out his threat… or past threat, anyway.
Moth replied quickly. Is that all you can think about?
He was answering my messages with a question, not letting on anything. I was playing with fire, and ironically, I’d learnt to stop doing that.
No. I think about the day I found you on the bridge. I think about going to that bridge myself, especially now that I know who you are…
There was a pause in his reply and I sucked in a sob. I wasn’t trying to play with his mind, it was the truth… surely he would relate. Maybe I could somehow stop him from being my archenemy, so I could go about my day with one less stalker problem.
The phone buzzed and my stomach flipped. You can’t do that. You said it yourself, you can’t cause that pain to those who love you.
That familiar angry heat fired in my chest. My brother did it. Why is it okay for him to escape the shit and not me?”
I blinked away the tears that hovered in my eyes. What was I doing? This was the old me, from years ago. The one who had a woe is me complex and blamed everything on everyone else. I was an adult now.
The phone rang and I jumped, holding my breath as Moth’s name came up on the screen.
“Hello?” I said, my voice shaky as I answered.
His deep purred reply sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re clever, aren’t you?”
Clearing my throat, I leant back against the headboard and stared at the white ceiling. The tiredness tugged at me, trying to pull me away from the rabbit hole I was about to dive into.
“What do you mean?” I replied, “And please be straight with me, I’m not awake enough to play games.”
He chuckled, the dark sound slipping into my ear. “You’re using the threat of suicide to make me feel sorry for you. It’s like you think I care.”
“No, I…” Fuck, he was right. I was manipulating him, trying to get a reaction… and I’d come away from that type of behaviour, so why was I suddenly doing it again?
“I can hear the wheels turning inside your mind.” He breathed heavily down the line. “And you’re only just realising now how much of a bitch you’ve been. Your whole life.”
A snort of hilarity flew from me. “You can talk, Mr Threaten a thirteen-year-old girl and then hide your identity fifteen years later. You’re just as bad as Brandon.”
The hitch of his breath was the only sound that came from him for at least thirty seconds. I’d almost convinced myself that he’d gone.
“What happened to you?” he asked. “To warrant you killing my brother?”
My whole being froze from the ice that dripped from his words.
“Because, you see, Sunshine, I know what you did… hence my threat.” His laugh was eerie and I almost hung up the phone.
Coughing, I folded my spare hand in my bed covers and squeezed them tightly. I didn’t know what to say or how to get myself off his vendetta list. I could’ve told him the truth, but I wasn’t about to go down that road. The past was the past and it was best left there.
“If you’re going to kill me,” I whispered, “please do it soon. I’m tired. So so tired, of being afraid that someone will hurt me.”
The tears were running now, but I didn’t care if he heard. I was done. Yes, maybe I had tried to manipulate him by talking about suicide, however, it wasn’t far from the truth. My brother had escaped, why couldn’t I?
His breathing became heavy again. “Is that a confession?”
“No.” Shaking my head, I sniffed and rubbed my nose. “That day is… complicated.”
“Complicated?” he spat. “In what way, exactly?”
“Dude.” I heard someone in the background. “You should stop talking to her. Now.”
“Don’t go!” I pleaded. “I just need to know if you’re coming for me.”
His strained chuckle came again and I curled in on myself. Fuck, I thought Brandon was scary, but Moth? He was on a whole nother level.
“Oh, I’m coming for you,” he mocked, the threat sending the wrong signals across my body, “even if it’s to find out about that complicated day. You know,” he went on, “the day that ruined my life so badly, I almost jumped off a bridge.”