He shakes his head. “They aren’t coming. This is just about the two of us.”
I nod.
His hardened, cool eyes examine me from head to toe. I’ve never seen Langston so calm and cool. Usually, he has an air about him, a lightness. Not today.
“What happened to your dress?”
“I didn’t think it was appropriate for hunting.”
He chuckles. “We aren’t literally going hunting. That’s not how you catch a monster.”
“How do you catch a monster, then?”
He shrugs. “You’re the hunter. You come up with a plan. I’ll just kill him once you lure him away.”
What he’s not saying is that he’s too close to the man he plans on killing. If he comes up with the plan, he’ll make a mistake because he’s not thinking clearly. He needs me to help him.
“Where is he tonight?” I ask.
“There is some party that he and the stepmonster are having. We won’t be able to kill him until after, maybe not even tonight. Tonight might just be about strategizing how to kill him. It—”
“No. He dies tonight.”
Langston stares at me, really looking at me for the first time in years.
We may hate each other, but we know the depths of each other’s pain. Killing Langston’s father might be one of the few areas we still agree on.
“Tell me what your plan is,” Langston says, his voice firm and yet hauntingly begging me to tell him how to end his pain and suffering.
My wheels start turning.
I know what we have to do, even though I sort of hate it.
“Go borrow Enzo’s most expensive suit,” I say.
Langston frowns. “I’m not wearing a suit. I’m not going to that asshole’s party. I’m not—”
“Do you want to kill your father tonight or not?”
He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “Yes, but—”
“This is the only way he dies tonight. We go to the party; we pretend that we are the perfect couple doing exactly what your stepmonster wants, and then we kill him.”
“There will be too many witnesses.”
“No, there will be too many suspects.”
Langston peers into my eyes. Neither of us blinks. His pain oozes off him, letting me know how desperately he needs this tonight. He can’t wait. We can’t fail.
“We won’t fail,” I say.
His lips thin into tight lines. He gives me a solemn nod and then heads back to Enzo’s house.
I turn and head inside, already pulling the braid down. At least my hair will now turn into soft waves, so the braid wasn’t a complete waste.
I dig through my closet until I find the perfect dress for tonight. A dress that Enzo bought me, just like every other piece of clothing in this closet. I’m so lucky my mother found this job and that Enzo helps me when he can.
I quickly change, apply makeup, fluff my hair and then run out the door just as Langston starts out the house.