I have to rinse the towel out twice, but finally, I’m able to scrub it all away. I close my eyes and place my hand over the scarf covering the cut. How long will it bleed for? How …
The sound of laughter has me jumping to my feet. I turn off the bathroom lights, then run into my bedroom. I turn those lights off as well, then go over to the windows and see their flashlights. One stands at the back of the car by the trunk, and the other gets into the passenger seat.
Cole is the one at the trunk. I can feel it. Probably putting his bag and evidence away. He shuts the trunk and then the light hangs down by his side. A shiver runs up my spine. Even though I can’t see his eyes, I know he’s watching me. I’m also very aware that I’m standing in front of my window with nothing but my bra and underwear on. I get a feeling he can still see me even though my room is dark.
His light shuts off, covering them in nothing but darkness, and then I hear his car door open and close. The headlights come on as the engine roars to life. And then it takes off, driving back down the way it came.
I run back into my bathroom, put on the same blood-stained clothes I was wearing, and then grab a new pair of jeans and t-shirt and leave my room. Making my way down to the kitchen, I go into the pantry and grab a trash bag. Then I rush to the garage.
Flipping on the light, I see the white Escalade SUV, a yellow Hummer, a white Jag, and red BMW in the six-car garage. I ignore them all and start opening the cabinets along the wall until I find what I’m looking for.
Then I turn the lights off and head out the back door, knowing what I need to do.
CHAPTER THREE
COLE
Standing in my shower, I take deep breaths as the water washes away any remains of the man who we killed earlier. And although I should be happy, I’m not.
He was right. I’m not God. I shouldn’t get to choose who lives and who dies, but I do anyway. He deserved to die for his sins. As far as mine? I should have died. Everyone in this town feels that way. I wish I could answer the questions they are too afraid to ask me. Because they fear me. My rage. I’ve had it for as long as I can remember. But over time, it has just gotten worse, and I’m growing tired of holding it back. I found comfort in letting it free and allowing it to take over me. But then when it leaves me, I’m cold all over again. Nothing but emptiness.
I hang my head and let it hit the white tiled wall with a thud as the water runs over my head and back. I fist my cracked knuckles and enjoy the tightness in my joints. The pull of my broken skin. It’s the only reminder that I’m still alive. The only way that I know what I did was right.
Jeff deserved to die!
We didn’t have time to sit back and wait for it to happen. And pray that it was a slow and painful death. Although we did take his life too fast, if you ask me. I would have drawn it out longer if we had not been interrupted tonight.
Austin Lowes. She’s gonna be a fucking problem. But once I figure out what my options are with her, I plan to take care of her.
I turn off the water and open the glass door, picking my towel up off the floor and drying off. Wrapping it around my hips, I make my way into my room and grab a pair of sweatpants out of my closet. Noticing the clock on my nightstand, I see it’s almost 3:00 a.m. Kellan, Bennett, and Shane all had places to go and women to fuck after our get-together in the cemetery. Deke and I, however, went back to the clubhouse afterward. We had some things to discuss regarding Jeff and what we wanted to do next. He never once questioned the fact that I hadn’t wiped the blood off. He knew better than to ask.
Once dressed in my sweatpants, I grab my phone off my nightstand and see I have a message. I frown. The number is not saved as one of my contacts.
Opening it up, I notice it’s a video. And I just received it a few minutes ago. I press play.
It’s dark, so I squint to make out the image. I hear a match being lit followed by flames. The person holding the phone takes a step back from the burning object.