Chapter 6
Sunny
I enter the Delta Nu Sorority house and say hi to the girls eating dinner, grabbing my mail on the way, before I head upstairs and lock my door.
I throw the mail on my desk, then peel away the extra layer I put on my body to hide the blood from the outside world.
No one will ever know I just committed a vicious murder.
Although I was definitely surprised this fucker was completely out of his mind and shot up with drugs. Not that I give a shit what any of them do before they die. They know I’m coming for all of them, and I’m not going to stop until I get my revenge.
I undress completely, tucking it all into a bin where I keep my bloodied clothes, ready to ship off to my family’s private cleaner.
They don’t ask questions because they get paid royally for their effort, and they’re happy with our business, which helps me out loads because I really don’t want to have to get these blood stains out myself.
After getting naked, I pull out my phone and open up my social media to place an update, but the second I begin typing, I notice a peculiar video listed right atop the page.
My brows furrow as the video shows a man talking into a microphone on a stage, with several cameras flashing in his eyes.
His dark brown, luscious hair is combed back neatly, a complete juxtaposition to the many tattoos sprawled across his neck and hand, the rest probably hiding beneath that perfectly steamed suit he’s wearing.
Intrigued, I click the video and listen to what he has to say, but I can’t focus at all on his words, because the sound of his voice is so familiar.
That’s him.
He’s the guy who found me in the woods and carried me back to safety.
My heart skips a beat.
“This press conference was arranged to address a serious concern and threat within our beloved city.”
His name appears in view.
Atreus Foley.
I suck in a breath.
Criminal investigator.
“For years now, our beautiful city has been overrun by drug dealers, violent gang members, and traffickers. They seem to believe they run this place, and that they can just do whatever they want without repercussions.” Cameras flash all around him.
“As you may have seen on the news, several new homicides were reported, which are still under investigation.”
I’m listening to the words coming from his mouth, but nothing really registers except for the way he speaks them so eloquently, the frown on his face so … serious. Haunting.
“I come to you, the public, to ask for any and all information you can give us that will lead us to the offenders of these heinous crimes.”
Heinous crimes? Nonsense. Necessary eradications are more like it.
“Crescent Vale City is fraught with dangerous criminals, and we have all had enough of the harm they cause to our beloved city. They must be stopped.”
More camera flashes ensue as he pauses for a moment.
“Considering the gravity of the situation, I feel like it is my job to inform you all of the truth.” He looks directly into the camera. “There is a killer among us.”
Audible shocks erupt in the crowd, but my focus is entirely on him and those bright, icy eyes.
“We will do everything in our power to find them.”
He’s still staring straight into the camera, and I can’t help but gravitate closer to the screen, enamored by the way he’s almost looking right at … me.
“And bring them to justice.”
Justice.
But what exactly is justice?
The one privileged White men entertain?
Or the one women like me seek?
“Make no mistake, we will no longer be terrorized by these mobs that refuse to obey the law. Enough is enough.”
He pauses again.
“We’re opening up a tip line and advising people to stay away from the docks and the outer parts of the city. If you see something, call us. We are stronger together. United, we will defeat this evil.”
I can practically see the divine judgment dripping off his face, and my nipples instantly harden.
“And renew the fate of our city. Follow the law, and you will be rewarded.”
An immoral smile slowly forms on my lips.
Rewarded?
“The tip that leads to the arrest of the individuals responsible for these murders will yield five thousand dollars. Thank you for your time.”
“Sir, sir, one question please!” The crowd of journalists erupts with requests for more information, but he grabs his papers and walks off the stage and ignores everything else, while I’m still clambering for more.
When he’s gone, my heart is racing in my throat.
I’ve never felt so goddamn excited in my life, fuck.
That man spoke into the microphone with such authority that it almost made me forget I got naked, and it takes me a few seconds to get down from the high and back into reality again.
I swiftly close the social media app I was on and open a browser to search for his name. The first few images that pop up make me stop and stare.
“Atreus Foley …” I mumble.
The name rolls off my tongue so easily, it’s almost a flaw, despite the fact that his chiseled face barely has any.
What a perfect specimen of a man.
So blissfully entwined with the law and righteousness, it’s almost sickeningly delicious.
I’m obsessed.
I download his picture to my phone and let my printer spit it out in real time, then plaster the paper on the wall with tape so I can stare at him all day and night.
The man who pulled me out of the woods when I was at my weakest … is the man who will become my nemesis.
Pure fucking poetry.
I grab my lipstick and rub it all over my lips before I lean in to place a peck on the picture and mark him as mine.
Fuck.
My pussy just throbbed.
“Atreus Foley, you’ve just become my favorite target.”
I grin and walk toward my private bathroom, still caked in blood just so I can wash it all down the drain, along with my guilt.
I wash away my sins under the shower until there’s nothing left but squeaky-clean skin and a blank mind, ready to face another day of pretending I’m fine so I can kill the night away.
There is no room for emotions in this depraved heart of mine. None.
I roll the towel around my head and step out, but I pause in the middle of my room when I notice the letter on the stack of papers that I put on my desk when I came in after I brought them up from downstairs … A letter I don’t recognize and which doesn’t have a sender.
Strange.
I rip it open and take out the handwritten note.
I’ve taken care of the body for you.
My fingers tighten against the paper as my nostrils begin to flare.
Who sent this to me? Was it Xavier, Orion, or someone else entirely?
And what the fuck did they do with the body?
My heart rate shoots up.
Someone watched me kill again.
And not just that … the guy I murdered was suspiciously intoxicated.
Did this person drug him?
I immediately throw a glance at my window, wondering if they’re still looking, but there’s nothing out there. Still, someone knew I was there and had the gall to help me without asking me if I wanted any help.
The paper crumples in my hand.
I’m going to find out exactly who the fuck sent this and make them answer for it.
Orion
The next day
While I’m doodling in my notebook during lunch break, my eyes can’t help but find the black-and-green-haired beauty marching through the hallways.
Every interaction I’ve had with her has ended in heartache so far.
Even though I’ve gone as far as to offer her my life on a silver platter, it’s still not enough.
What must a man like me do to get the attention of such a divine creature?
I sigh out loud and focus on my writing, but the words just won’t come today.
“You seem awfully gloomy today,” my half brother Atlas says.
It’s bad enough that I have to deal with his brother Apollo every day, but now this Torres has joined the ranks here at Spine Ridge too. Absolutely abysmal.
“Thanks,” I reply, smiling.
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“I think it is,” I say.
He makes a face. “Okay. It won’t help you get the girl, though.”
I lower my pen and stare him down. “And what do you know about getting the girl?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “At least I’m trying.”
I snort. Here he goes again with his relationship advice. “How?”
“Talk to her. Strike up a conversation.”
“I tried,” I reply. “She doesn’t want to speak to me.”
“Have you tried being interested in her hobbies?”
I raise a brow. “She likes to kill, and I offered myself up.”
He nearly chokes on his sandwich. “What?”
I roll my eyes and pick up my pen again. “Just pretend you didn’t hear me.”
I pick up my drink and pull a flask from my bag, pouring in the contents, then mix it all up. I don’t care that he’s still looking at me.
“Okay, well, we gotta do something about this situation.”
“How so?”
“You’re drinking in public and in broad daylight.”
I take a sip of my spiked drink, the heat calming me down. “And?”
“What if you get drunk?”
I take another sip. “That’s the intent.”
He grimaces. “Why?”
I look away, sarcasm lacing my voice. “Because life is boring and every day on this earth is hell.”
“You’re drowning your problems,” he says, bursting right through my bubble.
“Better than to pretend they don’t exist.” I take another swig.
He sucks in a breath through his nostrils and glances at a table on the far end of the room, where a group of students with the most extravagant outfits and hairstyles has gathered, including Melody King.
I can see why he hasn’t stopped staring in her general direction.
She looks absolutely ethereal in that light, flowy dress …
delicate … soft like a feather. And oh, so damn breakable.
“I’m just saying,” he mutters. “I think I know a thing or two about pining.”
Melody’s eyes veer toward a guy who’s playing a guitar a few feet away, River Landon, and I can’t help but notice the way she has this dreamy look in her eyes.
“Guess we’re both stuck in the same loop.” I take another swig of my drink, then get up from my seat.
“Where are you going?” Atlas asks.
I’ve mustered up enough courage now. Time to prove to myself that I can do this. “To do something about ‘this situation.’” I make air quotes with my fingers. “See you in another life.”
“So dramatic,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“That’s what I strive for,” I say, winking before I stroll away in my salmon khakis.
I pull open my notebook and take out the one page I kept hidden in the back, the one I’ve been carrying for so long it makes my heart drop at the thought of someone reading it. But I must try. I simply must.
I hover through the hallways until I finally find Sunny stomping toward her girl group, pausing only to show everyone something on her phone. The group engages in a talk, laughter filling the air, and I inch closer in the hopes that she and her posse won’t notice my presence.
I park myself not far from her on a small bench in the hallway and open my notebook, so I can scribble away. My pen is eager to write the words that flow from my mind onto the page, ink bleeding into the page, but the moment my eyes lift to look at my muse, her dark eyes connect with mine.
Oh fuck.
“Why is that guy looking at you like that?” one of her girls, Vivian, mutters.
My eyes widen, and I swiftly tuck away the pen.
“Oh my God, is that Orion Navarro?” Delilah asks.
“In the flesh,” I reply, trying to appear aloof.
“Flesh … hmmmm…” Another girl eyes me up and down, and I feel like I have to spray myself down with disinfectant. I know I’m chiseled and my slutty body is known among these halls, but this feast is only for certain eyes, not hers.
Sunny scowls and marches up to me, looking at me like I just stabbed her in the back in public.
I don’t think I’m getting out of this one alive.
And maybe that’s a good thing.