Chapter 38 – Lily
LILY
Grim
is it healing ok?
I grin at the phone, my heart warming. Aster wants to act like this tough pleasure Dom, but he’s asked me how my leg is ten times since leaving his house this morning. As much as I appreciate his concern, I truly can’t help but mess with him.
Me
no. ambulance otw
Grim
not funny :(
Me
im fine lol relax grim baby
Grim
maybe ill come kiss it make it better
Me
insatiable
Setting the phone on the vanity, I take in my reflection in the bathroom mirror as a towel covers my middle. Cuts and scratches from Nolan are scattered across my skin, but thanks to Aster’s first-aid work, they’ll heal quickly.
With a calming breath, I drop the material covering me, and my eyes fall to my thigh.
I should be mortified. Instead, heat tugs at my core knowing I’m now claimed by him in a way I’ve never been by anyone.
And it scares the hell out of me in the absolute best way.
Using antiseptic once more, I clean the brand he’s left, then wrap it in a bandage to avoid infection.
Back in my room, I dress quickly, pulling on a baby tee paired with low rise denim jeans. Heading out the bedroom door, my foot hits something with a clank, and at my feet, I find another box with a purple satin bow on top.
Was it Aster?
The anonymous caller?
Maybe they’re mad I didn’t answer them last night? But there’s no way I was answering with Aster glued to my side. I trust him, I’m just… not ready to share. I’m still hoping they can get me more answers.
It’s probably just a bottle of ointment from Aster so I don’t get an infection or something.
Although the box is large and square… a bit big for a little tube. I stand before it. We really need better security.
There’s a piece of paper on the lid, and I snatch it as if my touch could trigger a bomb.
What if it’s a bomb?!
With a calming breath, I open the note.
If he’s not going to protect you, I will. XO, A
Well, that doesn’t ease my worry.
I grip the sides with a towel, moving the weighted box to my bed. Definitely too heavy to be ointment. As with the last gift, I grab my dagger, wedging the tip under the lid and flick it off quickly. Short blond hair comes into view, and my brows furrow as I lean in closer. Is it a wig? An animal?
Reaching in, I grip the hair between my fingers and pull out the heavy object. A shriek escapes me at the sight of Nolan’s face, eyes sunken and slightly opaque, blood dried around the severed neck. Gagging, I chuck the head on the bed, and it bounces across my comforter until resting face up.
My hands tremble, and I force my eyes away.
“Oh my god,” I mutter to myself, chills scattering across every surface of my skin.
XO, A.
Did Aster kill again?
I rush to the bathroom and scrub my hands clean. Once I’m done, with shaky fingers, I send a message.
Me
did u leave me a gift?
Aster
my dick in a box?
Me
or a head…
My phone buzzes, and I answer immediately.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Aster asks, muffled chatter in the background.
“I just received another creepy gift,” I say quietly, peeking at it from the door frame of my bathroom. Should I tell Liam too? There would be so much to explain.
“Another?” he repeats, and I realize my slip. “What do you mean, another?” I say nothing. “Where did it come from?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
“How should I know?” he asks over the familiar ding of the diner door.
“Well, you’re very much the ‘touch her and die’ type.”
“I promise”—keys jingle through the line—“it was not me. I’ve been at Dahlia’s all day, writing an article.” My tongue is tied as I stare at the head. “Babe?”
“Yes,” I force out.
“I’ll be there in five.”
The line cuts, and a few minutes later, my other phone rings, Unknown on the caller ID. Tears sting my eyes. I can’t handle this anymore.
With frustrated anger thrumming through me, I answer the call.
“Did you get my gift?” they say, voice distorted and robotic as usual.
“Why would you do this?” I choke out.
“Isn’t it obvious? To protect you. And we both know he more than deserved it.”
My fists clench at my sides, nails imprinting tiny moons into my palms. “I don’t need your protection.”
“It definitely seemed like you did last night.”
“You were there?” Silence fills the line, and rage consumes me. “If you were there, that means you saw what was happening. Yet you did nothing while Aster protected me.”
“I took care of the problem permanently.”
“Yeah, and I never asked you to do that,” I practically shout, tone dripping in frustration as tears well in my eyes. “I don’t need or want your help. Don’t ever call me again!”
I smash the end call button, and the phone rings immediately: Unknown.
I ignore the call.
It rings again.
Ignored.
Rings again.
Ignored.
Rings again.
With a guttural scream, I throw the phone at the wall, and it dents the paint, then falls to the ground with a light thud.
“Whoa, baby, what the hell is going on?” Aster asks, walking into the room. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, placing a hand on my head, trying to rein in the tears from my volcanic level anger.
“Where’s the head?” he asks, and I gesture to the bed, body trembling. Aster’s attention flies to it, face turning to a grimace.
“Is that—”
“Yep.”
“What did you mean, another gift?” he asks, and I sigh. Guess the keeping secrets part of our relationship is officially over.
“I’ve gotten them before… one was before the art auction,” I admit, walking over to my desk. “That’s how I ended up at the Westerfords.”
“What did it say?” Opening the top drawer, I pull out the invitation and hand it to him. “That’s why you were at the party?” I nod. “Why?” I shrug, still so unsure how I fit into all this. “Maybe you being around when Karolyn was murdered wasn’t an accident.”
The caller made it clear to me it wasn’t. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”
He flips it around, finding no more clues than I did the day I got it, and tosses it on the desk. “And the head? Did it come with anything?” I gesture to the note lying on the bed, and he snatches it up.
“I assumed it was you since it says XO, A.”
“Well, I would’ve signed it Grim,” he points out, and while the logical part of my brain knows that, it’s still so difficult to untangle what the hell is happening. “Do you recognize the handwriting?”
I shake my head.
“Fuck!” His frustration echoes around the room. “Is there anything else I should know?” I bite my cheek. “Lily?”
It all tumbles out in a single breath. “They sent me a copy of a Goosebumps book for my birthday and gave me Jude’s schedule once, and I’ve gotten a few anonymous calls.”
His face reddens, eyes flickering with anger, and I realize I may have made a massive mistake in keeping these things from him. “That’s who called you last night? The ‘spam’ call?!”
Biting my lower lip, I nod.
“Who is calling you?”
“If I knew, it wouldn’t be anonymous now, would it?”
He releases a calming breath, walking to me, and takes my chin between his fingers. “Usually I love your sassy mouth, but I need you to be real with me for a second. Who do you think it was?”
I press my lips together. “Well, to be honest, for a while I thought it was you.”
“Me?” His head rears back. “Why?”
“Well, you were stalking me,” I say as if it’s obvious. “Being all mysterious and creepy and shit.”
“I like to think it was endearing,” he interjects, and I roll my eyes.
“I got the invite, and then you were at the party.”
“And the other calls?”
I fold my arms over my chest. “You were never around, so it still could’ve been you.”
He blows out a frustrated breath. “So you’ve had another secret psycho stalker, and you didn’t think it was important to let me know?”
“Aww, are you jealous?” I tease with a pout, desperate for a reprieve from this insane situation. “There’s room enough for the both of you.”
He narrows his eyes. “This isn’t funny. You’re in danger.”
The smile falls off my face. “I know.”
His expression softens, and he runs his hands along my arms. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out.”
Aster’s phone rings, and he pulls it out, answering the call. Seconds pass till his eyes are connecting with mine in surprise. After another minute, he hangs up.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“That was the Solarium. There’s been another Kodak Killer victim.” His gaze trails to the box on the bed. “They were missing their head.”