Chapter 32
thirty-two
. . .
Felix
The moment Eden mentions going out with Kris. I know it’s time to act.
Kyle will be wherever they are without a doubt. He can’t resist the urge to be with her when I’m not there to keep an eye on him. He thinks he’s so fucking sly.
Eden closes her front door with a wave. I hate what I have to do. She’ll be devastated, but it’s the only way to keep her safe.
I kill time by doing some random shopping.
At seven, I pull into the public parking lot down the street from The Fuzzy Beaver.
What a fucking name? The time stamp says 7:15 p.m. Perfect.
I pay for the whole night and then call the pizza shop.
It’s Monday, and their guarantee is ready in thirty minutes.
Hopping out of the car, I head to the billiard hall, Crazy Eights.
It’s across the street from the pizza joint and a decent place to wait.
Order a beer, pocket the receipt, and make sure people see me.
That’s the plan. I even smile for the cameras.
Will all this ensure a perfect alibi? Of course not, but it’s in the setup and the believability.
I’m just another normal guy when they ask, “What did you do from the time you dropped Eden off at home?”
Normal…such a stupid word. What the hell is normal anyway?
I walk around the bar and slip into a large group watching the tables.
I’ve never belonged anywhere, not really.
Matt is my only friend, and it works because he never digs.
He accepts me for what I show him and tell him and is happy to leave it at that.
I give him the same privacy, and yet we know we have each other’s backs. That’s really all that matters.
My phone alerts me when the pizza is ready. Walking back across the street, I pick it up, then get in my car, taking streets without cameras the whole way home to meet up with Matt.
He’s already engrossed in a multiplayer apocalypse game when I let myself into his apartment.
“You want me to restart this one?”
I shake my head and drop the pizza down on the table.
“No, I have some things to do quick, but I’ll be back.”
He looks at me.
“But you just got here.”
“I know, I didn’t want the pizza to get cold.”
Matt smiles.
“Such a considerate boyfriend,” he teases, and I snort.
“Fucker, even if I was into guys, I wouldn’t date your sorry ass.”
“Ouch, now that’s just mean, man. Get out, I don’t want to see your face anymore,” he says, being extra dramatic and then laughs. “No, I’m not talking to you,” he says into his headset as he refocuses on the game.
Matt can lose entire days when he gets on this thing, which is perfect for my plans.
Smirking, I head over to my loft and grab the tools I need. It normally takes me thirty minutes to get to Eden’s house. Tonight I do it in less than twenty. I already got the notification from the security cameras that she’s left for the evening.
Parking three streets over, I put my toque on, pull up the hood of my jacket, and grab my duffel bag before getting out and turning on the camera jammer. I got this beauty on the black market a year ago, and it works like a charm.
I’ve already inspected this area with my laptop and the very illegal program that allows me to hack into anyone’s home security system.
I don’t like to use it unless necessary since there is a greater risk of being detected, but I really needed to mark down the handful of homes with cameras to avoid.
Keeping an eye out for any neighbors, I march into the night. No one stirs, and I easily slip inside Eden’s house. She can’t stay here. Kyle must have a key or took Kris’, either way she is never spending another night under this roof.
After seeing Kyle jerking off into Eden’s panties, it’s too much of a risk. That fucker has been able to come and go as he pleases without her ever knowing. He can just walk in while she’s asleep and I’m not there or when I’m at work.
But there is no way to prove any of this to Eden without showing her my footage, so…plan B, force her to move out since she won’t come willingly.
Starting on the main level, I remove all my hidden cameras and wiring before going upstairs and doing the same to Eden’s bedroom and the bathroom.
During my walkthrough, I grab items that I’ve marked as important and toss them into my black duffel bag.
I take photos, jewelry, and any other little tokens I know are special to Eden, including the camera I gave her.
It took me forever to figure out how I’ll explain why I have these, and I finally came up with the perfect plan.
I double-check that I have everything and that all cameras are removed. Once satisfied, my next stop is the basement utility room.
I’ve studied how to do this, and the key is not marking the copper wires when I strip the insulation.
That creates a forensic fingerprint, and I can’t afford that.
It takes me less than two minutes to strip the needed section of wire on the furnace supply line, using my special little blade that’s sharp enough to cut metal. Glancing around, I smirk.
There are over a dozen boxes stacked up on the far side of the room. I push them up against the furnace and grab a small table and chair, making it look like someone was sorting boxes, stopped, and forgot to finish the job.
The final piece…to make sure it sparks and arcs properly as soon as the furnace turns on, I use a single small square of silver tape to secure the wires to the dry cardboard. It won’t light right away. It can take an hour or more, but it will catch and light the house up like a candle.
Closing the door, I jog upstairs, grab my bag, and get the hell out of the house. As soon as I’m in the car, I take a deep breath.
It’s done. No going back. This is for Eden, and I’ll do anything to keep her safe.
I pull away from the curb and race back to my side of town using the backroads that have no cameras.
Matt is right where I left him when I open the door and peek inside his apartment. I slip in, take off my jacket and boots, and then slowly sit down in the other gaming chair. Matt doesn’t notice me.
Unbelievable. Good thing for him that I’m not here to kill him.
I wait twenty minutes before I say anything.
“Are you ever going to let me play?”
He jumps like I shot him and almost falls off his chair. He blinks rapidly and looks at me.
“When the fuck did you get back?”
Poor Matt seems genuinely confused. God bless him.
“Fuck, man, are you blind? I’ve been sitting here for an hour,” I say with fake annoyance.
“You have?”
“Yes. I was only gone fifteen minutes. I could’ve robbed you blind.”
Matt runs his hand through his hair.
“Shit…totally zoned out. Sorry. Here you can be me for a bit. I’m starving.”
I open the lid on the pizza box and point like I’m emphasizing how utterly oblivious he is.
“You already ate the entire pizza. I only got one slice.”
“And? Snooze you lose. Besides, it’s a lot of work saving the world from zombies.”
I roll my eyes at the ridiculous notion.
“Whatever.”
I play as Matt while he hunts for snacks, but my phone is open to the glowing blue dot showing Eden safely at the club. Phase one complete.
When the clock hits eleven, I yawn.
“Dude, you’re not really tired, are ya?” Matt looks at me with disgust.
“Eh! Give me a break. It was a really long weekend with Eden,” I say with a sly smile.
Matt picks up on the little sexual innuendo and laughs.
“About time. I’m surprised your dick still knows how to work. Did you have to give it a kickstart?”
He moves his hand like he’s jerking off.
Shaking my head, I peel myself out of the gaming chair and stretch my back.
“No, I didn’t. My dick is doing better than yours,” I jab back. “How is your swollen, oozing, and unusable cock, these days?”
“Fuck off, man…that last ladder bar just doesn’t want to heal.”
He shifts around on the chair as if the reminder of the piercing is enough to make him uncomfortable.
I snort. “You already have six. Why must you have seven?”
Matt looks at me like I’m stupid.
“Because it’s the number seven. That’s my lucky number. I was born July seventh. I thought that was obvious.”
“This is the third time you’ve tried, and at this rate, you’ll end up with a worse infection, and the doctor will have to cut it off. How lucky will you feel when you’re cockless and spending the rest of your life fantasizing about the days when you used to have sex?” I smirk.
“You say some of the cruelest shit to me,” Matt says, staring down at his track pants.
“Just remove it, let it heal, and put a tattoo of something lucky instead. Just don’t ask me to tattoo your dick, we’re not that good of friends.”
I actually will if he really wants me to, but I’m not telling him that. Matt’s eyes dart up to me.
“That’s a fucking brilliant idea.”
He tosses his headset aside, gets up, and grabs his sketchpad.
“See you tomorrow, man,” I say, yawning again, but Matt is already drawing as I slip out.
Alibi solidified. Now for the final phase.
The parking lot is only a five-minute walk to The Fuzzy Beaver. I toss the pass on the dash and climb out, more than ready to see my girl.
It’s a shame really that I have no one to appreciate the thought and effort I put into this plan.
Most people don’t think things through, and that’s when you get caught.
It doesn’t matter if you are sneaking out to meet friends, spray painting a public park, murdering someone, or committing arson.
If you can’t see all the possibilities and potential dangers, then you have no business trying to pull it off. Your ass will land in jail.
That’s where I’m different.
I’m not like my father who grabbed a gun and went storming across town, screaming and yelling.
If I do a job, then I fucking do it right.
Despite the minus thirty-five temperature, the line up to the new bar is long. But I came prepared for that as well. I walk up to the bouncer working the door and lean in casually.
“Don’t say anything. I don’t need everyone going crazy. I’m the streamer ZeeBeast. I’ve got a grand in cash for you, if you let me in, and I’ll make sure to give this place a huge shoutout the next time I’m live.”
I’m not ZeeBeast, but we do look a lot alike, enough that anyone who doesn’t know us in real life won’t question it. The bouncer looks me up and down and smiles.
“Shit, I’ve seen you.”
“Shh.” I glance at the long line of people. “Fans get nuts. I just want a drink in peace at the cool new spot in town.”
“Didn’t even know you were local.”
I smirk, neither confirming nor denying the claim.
He nods and opens the door. I subtly slip him the money as I pass. As soon as I’m in, I grab a half-drunk, discarded glass on a table to look like I’ve been here awhile and go on the hunt. Eden isn’t hard to find, at least not with Kyle sniffing around her heels like a bloodhound.
I don’t go over. Instead, I park myself as far away as possible, in a deeply shadowed corner, and watch.
Eden smiles and laughs. But each minute that she doesn’t need me is like death by a thousand cuts to my heart. I check the time and continue to wait.
Kris grabs Eden’s hand and helps her out onto the dance floor.
She looks fucking adorable as she tries to wiggle to the music.
Her movements are still stiff, like she’s not sure about putting all her weight on her ankle yet.
I smirk at the attempted twerking with her girlfriends.
She looks stunning in sexy black leggings and a pink-and-grey patchwork dress over top.
The dress feels almost symbolic just for me.
All my life, I was torn into pieces. Beaten, starved, tortured, made to hide my true self.
That is until Eden stepped into The Needle Queen and without even knowing it, she began to stitch me back together.
Now my heart that used to be in tatters is held together by her and only her. Eden is my thread. My lifeline. Mine.
Kyle watches her from the bar, and my nostrils flare as he gulps down his drink and makes his move.
I almost crush the glass in my hand when he dares to press himself up behind her and put his hands on her hips.
Luckily for him, she moves away and glares.
He laughs it off, and the dancing continues.
Pulling out my phone, I check the time: 11:49 p.m. Five more minutes, and I’ll make my move.
“Hi.”
I jerk back and look at the girl who just walked up.
“I’m not interested.”
Her face falls.
“My girlfriend is on the dance floor.”
“Then why aren’t you out there?”
Bold.
I cock my brow at her, irritation flaring hot.
“Because I’m not feeling well.”
“Oh.” She looks over her shoulder as if she can pick Eden out. “That’s too bad.”
“Not for me.”
She screws up her face at the insult but doesn’t seem to know if I mean the dancing or her. I mean her.
With a huff, she walks away, and I focus on Eden once more the girl already forgotten.
When her energy starts to wane, I know that she needs me. I slip from my hiding spot, sticking to the wall and shadows until I’m at the front entrance.
Pulling back my hood, I unlock my phone and call Eden.
Eden reaches into the front of her dress like it’s a magical pocket and pulls out her phone. For a heartbeat, I wonder if she won’t answer, but she does and my pulse races faster.
“Hey,” she yells, pressing her hand to her other ear.
“Hey back,” I yell as well. “Where are you? I’m here, but I don’t see you,” I say, craning my neck.
I watch her from the periphery of my vision while looking in the opposite direction. Eden glances over, sees me, and her face lights up. She sticks her hand in the air and waves it back and forth. I look over and smile.
“I see you now. Stay there. I’m coming to you.”
I waste no time weaving through the crowd to get to Eden. The whole way, I can feel Kyle’s glare, but he isn’t worth my attention.
As soon as my arms slip around her waist, the wild fury that’s been burning in me for hours simmers.
Tilting her chin, I kiss her deeply, making sure that Kyle gets to watch the entire show.
It’s not a hardship kissing my Pretty Thing, but his jealousy is the cherry on top of an already sweet sundae.
“What are you doing here,” Kris asks, ruining our moment.
“My night ended early, and I thought I’d swing by. Eden said it was fine for me to come, is it not?”
Kris presses her lips together and then smiles. “No, that’s totally fine.”
Perfect.
I lean in close to Eden’s ear and whisper, “I’m going to grab a pop. Do you want anything? A slippery nipple, screaming orgasm, or sex on the beach perhaps?”
She laughs and blushes, warming me from head to toe.
“Sure, I’ll have one now that you’re here.”
Her words mean more than she can ever understand. She feels safe with me, and that is pure gold to my soul. I kiss her cheek and head to the bar.
Eden is not leaving my sight for the rest of the night. She said it herself…she needs me.