31. Veronica
CHAPTER 31
Veronica
I’m pretty sure he lied.
The things I have in my apartment are a mess from looking for my vibrator. I know that it shouldn’t matter that he took it and hid it. I can easily buy a new one, but it’s the fact he is being a little shit about it.
My couch is flipped upside down with a massive slash in the flimsy fabric. I don’t know how he would have gotten it in there in the first place, but I had to check. Of course, it wasn’t in there. So now, the bottom of my couch is ruined because of him.
I’ve taken out every single drawer in my kitchen. When I saw that it wasn’t in any of them, I removed the drawers to double-check because maybe he shoved it behind them. The only possession of mine I didn’t destroy was my mattress. I paid good money for that.
Coming back for him wasn’t supposed to be this hard. Leo was supposed to see me and remember all his love for me. Then, we were supposed to live our lives together. But now that he is majorly pissed off at me and out for revenge, those emotions are getting in the way of the most important one.
How am I supposed to make him forget about this revenge?
I pace back and forth between my bedroom and the living room. My fingers pinch my lower lip while I attempt to think of how to show him that I’ve changed. Well, sort of changed.
I feel bad for what I did to him and told him this, yet he doesn’t believe me. Halting my steps, I drop my hand from my mouth when a light bulb turns on in my head.
“I never apologized,” I mutter to myself.
Of course! Leo heard me tell him how I felt about leaving him the way I did, but I never said sorry. Maybe if I apologize and truly show him how sincere I am with it, he will drop this hatred and be with me again.
It’s a good enough plan to try. If this fails, I don’t know what else I could do.
Kidnapping is the last resort. I make him unconscious, then take him somewhere deserted where he can have time to come to his senses. But if I do that, I’ll need someone’s help. That someone, most likely Slater, and I don’t want to owe him a favor.
But like I said, it is a last resort option.
A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. Sighing, I head over and open the door to find Leo standing there. He is wearing black jeans and a long-sleeved thermal. Why does he have to look so good in all black?
“You knocked.” I point out the obvious. “You didn’t want to use the key?”
“Figured I’d be somewhat nice.” His eyes slide down my pajama-covered body, and he smirks. “You could have been indecent.”
“Yeah, like that would have stopped you,” I bite. “What do you want?”
His eyes glance over my shoulder, taking in the messy scene behind me. “No luck?”
I don’t bother looking back into my space. I know the state it’s in. “No, because I think you lied to me.”
“You were always smart, Vee.” The praise and nickname make bumps grow all over my skin.
“So it’s in your apartment, then?” I look at him before glancing over his shoulder to his closed door.
“I never said that.”
Annoyance festers up inside of me. “Well, I don’t know where else it could be.”
Leo hums, shifting on his feet. “What a shame.”
I give up because he’s made it clear he won’t be telling me where he hid it. “Why are you all dressed up?”
“I have a date tonight,” he responds casually.
“A date?” The blood in my body boils.
I can feel it wrapping around my bones, rising to a heat that bubbles to the almost unbearable point—my skin emits heat like a fever. I’m surprised flames aren’t spouting out of me.
“Mhm.”
“With?” My annoyance turns quickly into irritation.
“Rachel. I owe her for giving me a key to your apartment.” Leo doesn’t hide the smirk growing on his face.
“You… that’s how you got a key?” I can’t help but laugh. “You whored yourself out for a chance to get in my apartment?”
“It wasn’t hard. She was already showing an interest.”
Breathe, Veronica. You’re allowing him to get under your skin.
“Try to have fun, then.” I grip the edge of the door and begin to close it. “Hope you don’t die of boredom.”
He chuckles, then says, “You have fun today.”
I stop the door from completely shutting. “With what?”
“Tonight is Chloe’s bachelorette party. She mentioned that all you girls would find outfits for the night.” Shit. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
“No.” The word comes out harsh. Breathing in deeply, I attempt to relax myself. “I’ve been distracted.”
“I’m honored to be that distraction.” He smirks. “Go get dressed, Veronica. Don’t leave my sister waiting.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
Leo takes a leisurely step in my direction. His head tilts to the side. “Go. Get. Dressed. Or do I have to do it for you?”
“I’m not a doll. I am more than capable of dressing myself.”
“You are my doll.” The back of his finger brushes against my cheek. “My doll that I can do whatever I want with.”
My heart rate skyrockets. I try to control my breathing but fail. Closing my eyes, I focus on anything but the words he speaks. Or his touch on my skin. Dammit! He has my brain short-circuiting.
“Now, be an obedient doll and get pretty for me.” His voice is demanding yet seductive. I feel him press his lips to my forehead before he says, “I saw a cop car circling the apartment building. Better be careful when you leave.”
My eyes snap open. The moment I take a breath, Leo drops his hand from my face and walks away. Not letting me say anything.
When I left my apartment, scared out of my mind that I’d run into the police, I was relieved to see not a single cop car in the parking lot. Leo had my heart racing in my chest, but maybe that’s what he meant to do. Get me all worked up and panicked that the cops could be looking for me.
After realizing I was in the clear, I left to meet with Chloe.
Now, I’m sipping on a glass of champagne. My second, to be exact. I realized that being around this group of women, I would need something to calm my anger. Without the alcohol, there would be nothing stopping me from killing them.
Every last one of them.
Being surrounded by women who have one brain cell reminds me of why I hate being around people. It reminds me how I don’t particularly appreciate having friends. They all laugh too loud, with high-pitched noises coming from each of them as they converse and joke.
We have been shopping for outfits for tonight's activities for about an hour—an hour too long. I didn’t think we’d spend much time here, but the girls are getting carried away. Sylvia, the one I can’t stand the most, is in charge of all the events today.
She planned the whole party, not considering that Chloe is pregnant. Sylvia chose to have the bachelorette party at a club. When she told Chloe, I didn’t miss the defeat in my friend’s eyes. Chloe is pregnant, exhausted, and hasn’t been feeling well. The last place she wants to be is in a crowded nightclub.
Sylvia didn’t see the change in Chloe’s features. She only cared about herself and whether or not she would be having fun tonight. Chloe, being a people-pleaser, agreed that the night would be fun.
Chloe plops down beside me on the rose-colored couch. I’ve already chosen my dress for the night. A skimpy black number that barely covers my ass. There weren’t many other options in this store. I paid for the first dress I tried on. It’s not like I plan on staying long.
Chloe sighs, resting her hands on her belly. With the champagne flute against my lips, I glance over at her. “You should have told her you didn’t want the party to be at a club.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.” I lower the flute and turn my body towards her. “Besides your wedding day, this is your night. We could have kicked Myles out of the house and had a girl’s night in.”
A soft smile forms on her mouth. “I should have asked you to be my Maid of Honor sooner. Then you could have planned all of this.”
Relaxing on the couch, I watch her friends skim the clothing racks. “I don’t plan. But I know well enough not to put my needs before the bride’s.” I peek over at her. “If you aren’t having fun tonight, don’t feel the need to stay.”
“I promise I’ll leave if I’m not having fun.”
Feeling better, I finish my champagne while we watch the other’s shop.
Dinner needs to be over.
She took us to a nice restaurant. It’s probably the only wise decision Sylvia made for the night. The food is delicious, the wine is crisp, and the vibe of the whole place is calming—outside of our table, that is. Again, the women I’m accompanied by are in their own little bubble.
They haven’t paid attention to Chloe for more than a minute. She sits beside me silently, watching angrily as her friends ignore her. We had conversations occasionally, but the annoying sound of their laughter overpowered them.
“So, Camille .” My body stiffens at the sound of Sylvia’s voice. The hold on my fork tightens as I look at her across the table. “How did you get so lucky to be Chloe’s Maid of Honor?”
“I’m not a self-centered bitch.” Chloe was mid-swallow when I spoke the truth. She coughs, catching her breath. I furrow my brows, placing a hand on her arm. “Are you okay?”
“Mhm.” She hums with a nod—a smile fighting its way off her face.
“What did you call me?” Sylvia questions in a nasty tone. Because she only cares about herself. Not her friend, who was choking.
Sitting forward, I gently place the fork at the edge of my pasta bowl. “You heard me. Or do your ears block out any hateful things said about you?”
Her jaw drops, and the other women sit around the table, following suit.
“How dare you say that to her!” Becca gasps beside me.
I shrug. “Sorry. I’m allergic to lying.”
“Wow,” Sylvia huffs, tossing the cloth napkin on the table. “What a great choice you made, Chloe. And your poor brother has to walk down with… that?”
I bite my tongue. Keeping my lips glued together because if I open them, I won’t hesitate to inform her that Chloe’s “poor brother” has fucked me in ways she can only imagine. In ways that she wants him to fuck her. That would send this bitch over the edge, but I hold back.
For Chloe’s sake.
“It was a great choice.” Chloe smiles casually. “Setting her up with my brother was also a great choice. And I don’t only mean pairing them up to walk together at the wedding.”
It takes a moment for the subtle news to pass through their thick skulls, but all eyes shoot daggers at me when it does.
And I welcome the hatred.
Not only do they know now that Leo and I are something, but they know that Chloe would never have given them a chance to be with him.
Chloe scoots her chair back, standing from the table. “Shall we move on to the next event of the night?”
I rise from my seat, following her as she walks from the table. But then, she stops and glances over her shoulder.
“And Sylvia, since you planned all of this, I assume you’ll take care of the bill?”
When I look back at the table, Sylvia’s jaw is tight. But she nods.
I’ve never felt more proud of someone than I do for Chloe.
Clubs aren’t my scene. It’s why I never went to any when I was a teenager.
Not only are they crowded with people to the point it’s bodies against bodies, it’s fucking loud. As soon as we stepped into the building, I was overstimulated. Sylvia and her followers went to the bar while Chloe and I took in the scene.
When I peered over at her, I could see the discomfort etched on her face. I nudge her arm, gaining her attention. “Call Myles and have him come pick you up.”
She nods, getting her phone out of her purse. It only took a couple of rings for him to answer. “Hey. Can you come get me?” he says something on the other end that I can’t hear over the noise. “Yeah. It’s the new nightclub downtown.” She pauses. “Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
Hanging up, she tucks her phone back into her purse. “Are you coming with me?”
I shake my head. “I’ll be okay.”
Plus, there is something I need to do before I leave this shithole.
“Text me if you change your mind. Or call Leo. He will come get you,” she suggests.
She doesn’t know he is on a date. He won’t come to get me, regardless. If he knew I was uncomfortable, he’d make me stay. This is all the more reason I need to talk with him and apologize.
“Do you want me to wait outside with you?” I offer.
“No, it’s okay. Knowing Myles, he will risk getting a speeding ticket to get here.”
“Okay. Stay close to the door until he gets here. Don’t wander off,” I tell her because God forbid she walks away and something happens to her.
She dismisses herself, leaving me standing in the chaos alone. Scanning my eyes through the club, I glimpse at the girls at the bar. They have drinks in their hands and are slowly trying to make their way to the dance floor.
Sylvia, however, heads in a different direction.
Toward the bathrooms.
Grinning to myself, I push through bodies to get to her when hands touch my hips, stopping me from continuing.
Twisting around, I’m met with a drunk man. His eyes are bloodshot; sweat drips from his forehead from the heat filling the club.
“Dance with me,” he shouts over the music.
“No,” I shout back, turning to get away, but his grip strengthens.
“Come on, sweetheart!” His smirk makes bile rise in my throat. “I’ll show you a good time.”
In a swift movement, my knee meets his groin. He releases me and bends over in pain. “I told you no.”
Walking away from him, I rush to the bathroom, hoping Sylvia is still there. When I push through the door, she stands before the mirror, applying her lipstick. Her hand stops, and her eyes meet my reflection.
“Oh. It’s you.” Her voice filled with disgust.
“The one and only.” I bow, to which she snickers.
“What do you want? To call me more names?” She caps the lipstick, dropping it into her clutch.
“Nah.” I make my way towards where she is, standing to her left from behind.
We are the same height, making what I’m about to do pretty easy. Lifting my hand, it dives into her straight hair. The strands are secure in my grasp when I clench my hand into a fist. Without a second thought, I shove her roughly forward.
She cries out when her face meets the mirror. The glass shattering to ruins on impact. Tugging her back, my body fills with joy as I see the blood dripping down her face. Tears fall from her eyes as she continues to cry.
“If you pull this shit again and try to make Chloe’s wedding day about you, I will make you regret it. Do you understand?” Her head nods frantically in my hand. “And if you tell her about this, I’ll ensure your face is unrecognizable.”
Sylvia whimpers, her lips parting as she whispers, “Okay.”
I release her and step back. “Good. I’m glad we could see eye to eye.”
Walking down the sidewalk, I can’t stop smiling. Adrenaline runs through my veins after hurting Sylvia. There is no doubt my threat will stick. She turned into a scared little girl once I smashed her face into the mirror. But I had to get my point across.
The air is cool tonight, sending chills over my exposed skin. I should have ordered a car. I would have gotten home quicker, but I needed to walk this off. Plus, it’s eleven at night, and there is no one else on this part of the street but me.
That is until I hear footsteps behind me.
I peek over my shoulder to see a man in the distance. In an attempt not to draw attention, I continue at a leisurely pace. The sound of his steps grows closer, and I remain calm even as he is right behind me.
A hand yanks my hair, pulling me back, and I wince at the pain as he walks us into a small space between two buildings.
The next thing I know, my body is being pushed up against a brick wall, my back to my attacker’s front. He presses his body hard against mine to ensure I can’t get away.
“Wanna dance with me now?” This fucker.
What a piece of shit. Couldn’t take no for an answer, so he had to follow me? This is not happening tonight.
With the limited space, I rear my head back forcefully. My skull meets his nose. He groans, stepping back to hold his broken nose. When I turn, he is clutching his nose while blood spills out.
“You fucking bitch!” he curses, removing his hand and wrapping it around my neck. His blood is warm against my skin, and that only heats the blood inside me. “Walking around in this skimpy dress, flaunting yourself only to deny me a dance? You women take and take whenever you want without any repercussions. Now it’s my turn to take what I want.”
His free hand lifts the hem of my dress, revealing the laced underwear I wore strictly for Leo. Was I hoping he might be waiting for me in my apartment when I got home? Yes. He did tell me to get pretty for him.
The sound of the guy unbuckling his belt hits my ears, causing my stomach to coil at the thought of what he has planned for me.
This poor man. He has no idea who he is dealing with.
My hands are down at my sides, and I have enough room to move them. This guy isn’t even focused on my movements as I reach into my purse.
He also doesn’t notice when I bring out my pocket knife. I flip it open, and just as he whips his tiny dick out of his jeans, I drive the knife into the side of his neck.
He freezes, scared eyes meeting my vicious ones. “You fucked with the wrong girl.”
The man stumbles back, his bloodied hand pressing against his neck to try and stop the bleeding. It’s not long until he drops to his knees, no doubt getting too dizzy to stand. Losing a lot of blood will do that to you.
He falls from his knees to his back, gurgling on his blood. It must be terrifying for him. Staring up at a woman he thought he would take advantage of, now looking like a lunatic.
But that is what I am.
I straddle his hips, careful not to let his dick touch me. Clasping the handle of the knife in both hands, I raise it above my head and plunge it into his chest.
Repeatedly.
His blood sprays from his body, coating mine. I can’t stop even after the light fades from his eyes; I continue stabbing him. A deranged laugh leaves me as I choose new spots to send my knife.
Therapeutic.
That’s how this feels.
I haven’t gotten violent since I left the asylum. Not when I wanted to get rid of Francesca in California. Not when I wanted to slice Aiden’s throat in the elevator.
I held myself back.
Tonight, though, I’m on a roll—first Sylvia, now this sick man.
I run out of breath, and my arms become sore from the constant movement. Dropping them to my side, I sit here, appreciating my masterpiece before getting off him.
When I stand, I glance over my body, which is covered in his blood. From my thighs up to my face.
There is no way I’m calling for a car now. I’ll walk home.
Slipping my heels off and carrying them in my hands, that’s what I do.
Except when I sneak into the complex without being seen, I don’t end up at my apartment door.