“Alison, Mako… they know what it’s like to love a monster. It’s much easier to love each other, don’t you think?”
Hot breaths puff from his nose as his rage boils over.
“The only thing I’ll be stained with is your blood, Ryan. Somehow, I don’t think they’ll mind that too much.”
Nineteen
Mako
THE SUNDAY NEWS IS on. Same old stories. Murders, kidnappings, and more depressing shit with a little dabble of inspo to keep from completely depressing the viewer.
I’m not paying a lick of attention to it. I’ve been agonizing over my case, and all I’ve accomplished is giving myself a massive fucking headache. Tomorrow, I’ll be meeting with Benedict Davis, revisiting the murder he witnessed. This is the fourth time I’ve spoken with him, and each time his story changes. He’s inconsistent and if it wasn’t for the fact that he knows certain details civilians don’t have access to, I’d chalk him up to be a liar and drop him.
Even without Benedict Davis and his shoddy story, we’re getting closer. Finding the Ghost Killer is just outside of my grasp, so close I can feel it.
My phone buzzes on the armrest next to me and startling me from gazing sightlessly into the T.V. screen. Not only am I going to be bald, but now I’m going to need bifocals by forty. I glance at it and see a number I haven’t seen pop up on my phone in months.
SERENA: I miss you, baby. It’s been awhile since you’ve visited me. Come over? I’m wearing your favorite outfit. ;)
I sigh. My favorite outfit on her was nothing. Preferably with her face stuffed in the mattress and ass high in the air. Serena always tried to wow me with frilly, lacy lingerie. I never cared for any of it when all I wanted was a quick fuck and to leave.
For some reason, she thought the lingerie would get me to stay, rather than developing some sort of personality.
It never did.
I delete the text, and then her number, and stuff the phone in my back pocket. Serena barely held onto my attention in the first place, she has zero chance of getting even a sliver of it now.
Not when a particular woman is occup
ying my brain space. I knew from the moment I met River that she was going to ruin me. I just hadn’t realized it would also feel like damnation.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket again, indicating an incoming call. With a frustrated growl, I fish the phone out of my pocket and answer before looking to see who it is.
“Yeah?” I grunt.
“Hey…” a familiar, hesitant voice filters through.
“Hey, Ali,” I greet with a sigh. I don’t mind hearing from her, but I already know what this conversation is going to center around.
“Have you heard from River?” she asks.
“No. Should I have?”
Silence.
“Ali?” I push. When she still doesn’t answer right away, fear circulates through my system and a pit forms in my stomach. Automatically, I fear the worst. It’s a feeling I’ve become quite acquainted with, though we’re definitely not on friendly fucking terms.
“I think you should talk to her,” she says finally. I don’t need to see her to know she’s biting her nails. It’s a habit Ryan beat her constantly for, before sending her to a nail salon to get acrylics.
“Is she okay, Ali? What happened?” I ask impatiently, my tone darkening. I sit up straight and shut off the news.
“N-nothing. Well… she’s okay. She’s not hurt or anything,” she rushes, stumbling over her words. My brow plummets. My anxiety switches gears. Something is going on—I just have no idea what.
“Did something happen?” I ask slowly, growing aggravated by her lack of explanation. My hand is gripping my hair, on the verge of yanking out the strands.
She sighs with frustration. “Yes, but I think you should talk to her, Mako. Okay? That’s all I’m saying.”
“Okay,” I answer right as my finger taps the red button. My impatience has crested. Being nice is the last thing on my mind when it’s too busy imagining all my nightmares coming to life. My mind whirls, considering the ramifications if I just show up at Ryan’s house. It’s late. He’ll probably freak, but I can use the excuse for needing to work on the case. I’m meeting with his witness tomorrow, and I haven’t gotten the chance to talk to Ryan about it in a few days.