Violence is just one of many purging methods that can be replaced by more peaceful ones, such as a bike ride.
Or a ruthless fuck with Cecily.
But I sure as hell got off on it when I punished those lowlifes and left them bleeding on their apartment floor.
However, it feels like too little compared to what they dared to do to Cecily—or worse, what they planned.
Something still sits wrong with me, though. The fact that Jonah wasn’t the one who put them up to it.
But that doesn’t make sense. Jonah is the only one who knows about his courting ways with Cecily.
Unless the slimy fuck put on a disguise. The three losers were probably drunk or high, and the club was dark, so they could’ve mistaken some details.
As Ilya pulls the car out and drives down the road, I fetch my phone and ask for security footage from the club last night.
The reply is almost immediate.
I scroll to the time the three fuckers went into the club, jumping around like monkeys on crack. Soon after, they slip into a corner near the bathroom. The only hint of their companion is a glimpse of his black shirt.
That must be the guy who promised them drugs. I watch more and more of the footage, but there’s no sign of him near them, not even at the bar, where he would be watching his handiwork from.
It’s impossible to locate him in a busy club when all I have is that he was wearing a black shirt.
Could it be Jonah? I’m about to call my guy back in London, but I get distracted by a text.
Cecily:Morning. Thanks for these *sparkling heart emoji*
I spend a full minute of intense staring at the sparkling heart but still can’t find an explanation for it. One thing’s for sure, I like it, and it caught me completely by fucking surprise since it’s the first time she’s sent one.
Then I notice that she attached a picture of a box of waffles I had delivered to her apartment earlier.
Cecily:How did you know I love waffles?
It’s in her stupid journal. I think they’re her comfort food whenever she wants to feel better. I thought she might need a pick-me-up after last night.
While she didn’t have any sleep paralysis, she shivered while she slept in my arms and tears clung to her lids. That’s part of the reason why I couldn’t bring myself to leave until she fell into quality sleep.
Jeremy:I know everything about you.
I’m about to tuck away my phone, expecting her to be too busy preparing for school, but her reply comes immediately.
Cecily:Is that how you managed to find me at the club? You had Ilya watch me, didn’t you? Wait a minute. Was Ilya doing the job for you all those weeks when you disappeared?
This little fox is too smart for her own good.
Jeremy:He was there in case you needed protection.
Cecily:More like, he was a pseudo-stalker. Seriously, the one I need protection from the most is you.
Jeremy:Too bad no one can protect you from me.
Cecily:Don’t be so sure. I can stand up for myself.
I’m beginning to see that, considering everything she’s demanded and how she put her foot down last night, and I’m not sure if I like that side of her.
Fuck it. I do. Just not when she’s using it to get away from me.
Jeremy:You can stand up to me all you like, but there are nonnegotiable things, such as your safety.