Chapter Four — Dinner on Saturday
The house smells warm and comforting, filled with the savory scent of stuffed bell peppers baking in the oven.
Alexis moves around the kitchen with practiced motions—chopping, stirring, checking timers—but her mind is miles away.
Every few minutes she glances at her phone on the counter, half-expecting another message from the unknown number.
Two peppers each. One for Brandon. One for Bobby. Two for her.
She tries to focus on the simple rhythm of cooking, but her chest feels tight.
“Hey, babe,” Brandon calls from the hallway, his voice too casual, too light.
“In here,” Alexis replies, not turning around. “Cooking.”
He steps into the kitchen, leaning against the doorway. “Look, we should talk about something.”
Her hand pauses midstir. She hesitates. But she forces herself to answer.
“What’s going on?”
Brandon shifts his weight, eyes darting away. “I’ve been a dirt bag to you. But that changes now.”
That’s it. That’s all he says.
No confession. No explanation. No truth.
He chickens out—completely. He doesn’t have the guts to admit anything.
Alexis lets out a slow breath, her expression unreadable. “Okay. Thanks for realizing your horrid behavior. Dinner’s ready in twenty minutes. I’m calling Cindy real quick.”
She wipes her hands on a towel, grabs her phone, and steps into the living room.
Cindy answers on the first ring. “What’s up?”
“Brandon thinks I’m an idiot,” Alexis says, voice low and sharp. “I need you and me to have a girls’ day. Monday I’m going back to the gym with Bobby and Nico.”
“Oh, I’m in,” Cindy says immediately. “Let me know when the douche nozzle leaves tomorrow and I’ll swing by.”
Alexis cracks a small smile. “Deal.”
Back in the kitchen, the oven timer beeps. She pulls out the tray of peppers, the steam rising in soft curls. They look perfect—bright, colorful, comforting. She sets them on the counter to cool and reaches for a fresh journal she bought earlier that week.
A workout tracker. A new start. A distraction from the chaos.
She flips open the first page, smoothing it with her palm.
Bobby wheels into the kitchen, watching her carefully. “Are you positive you’re okay?”
Alexis looks up, meeting his eyes. “Honestly? I’m not safe now. But I will be. Girls’ day with Cindy after I drop you off at the library tomorrow.”
Bobby nods slowly, still unconvinced.
Sunday Morning
The house is quiet at 7 a.m., the early light spilling through the blinds in soft stripes. Alexis makes her coffee, the familiar routine grounding her. She texts Bobby:
Leaving at 8. Be ready.
A moment later, her phone buzzes again.
Cindy: Be ready at 9:30.
Alexis groans softly. An hour and a half to kill.
She settles onto the couch with her Kindle and scrolls through her Tbr list until she lands on Ours for Tonight by Alenna Scott—a Halloween-themed novella. Something escapist. Something that doesn’t involve real-life betrayal.
She turns the Kindle on.
Her phone dings.
Her stomach drops.
Another unknown number message.
“Did he tell you his dirty secret?”
Her fingers tighten around the phone.
“No, he didn’t,” she types back. “He thinks I’m an idiot.”
The reply is instant.
“Delete our conversation. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Alexis stares at the screen, her pulse thudding in her ears.
The house feels colder. The silence feels heavier. And somewhere deep in her gut, she knows:
This isn’t ending anytime soon.
Chapter Four — Continued: Brandon’s Threat
The house feels strangely quiet after Alexis leaves with Bobby. Too quiet. Brandon stands in the kitchen, staring at the halfempty plates from last night’s dinner. The stuffed peppers sit cold on the counter, untouched by him. He’d barely eaten. His stomach has been in knots for days.
He runs a hand through his hair and exhales shakily.
He told Alexis he’d “change.” He told her he’d been a dirt bag. But he didn’t tell her the truth.
He couldn’t. He wasn’t ready. He was terrified.
He paces the living room, glancing at the clock. 8:17 a.m. Alexis should be dropping Bobby off soon. Cindy will pick her up after. He’ll have the house to himself for a while.
Maybe he can think. Maybe he can figure out what to do.
His phone buzzes.
He freezes.
Slowly, he picks it up.
Unknown number.
His pulse spikes.
He opens the message.
“You had your chance last night. You lied to her face.”
Brandon’s breath catches. His hands start to shake.
Another message comes through instantly.
“You think she’s stupid. She’s not. She deserves the truth.”
He swallows hard, pacing faster now.
How do they know what he said? Were they listening? Were they watching from outside?
He moves to the window and pulls the curtain back just an inch. The street looks normal. A jogger. A dog walker. A car backing out of a driveway.
But normal doesn’t mean safe.
His phone buzzes again.
“You have until 5:00 p.m. today. No more extensions.”
Brandon’s heart slams against his ribs.
He types back with trembling fingers.
“Please. I’ll fix it. Just don’t tell her. I’ll end it with Brianna. I swear.”
The reply is immediate.
“You’re not listening. This isn’t about Brianna anymore.”
Brandon’s blood runs cold.
He stares at the screen, dread pooling in his stomach.
Another message arrives.
“This is about honesty. And consequences.”
He sinks onto the couch, gripping his hair, breathing hard.
He’s trapped. Cornered. Running out of time.
And the worst part?
He has no idea who’s doing this. Or how much they know. Or how close they really are.