Page 52 of Carnival Stalker

The knife flashes again, and I scream.

The woman leans in close, her breath hot against my ear. “You know, Phoenix took my heart and ripped it to shreds. So, it’s only fair to do the same to you.”

Understanding hits me like a ton of bricks, and I shake my head desperately. “No, please.”

But she just smiles a cruel, cold smile. “Oh, it will be so very painful. Just like how it felt when he left me.”

Tears stream down my cheeks as I realize the full extent of her plan. She’s going to make me suffer, make me feel the agony of a broken heart. And I’m completely powerless to stop it.

30

PHOENIX

Iclench my fists, my knuckles turning white as Ty's Mustang growls to a stop five hundred meters from the warehouse. Rage courses through my veins at the thought of Veronica laying her hands on Tilly—my Tilly. I take a few deep breaths, attempting to steady my frayed nerves.

"You ready for this?" Ty's gruff voice breaks the tense silence. I give him a curt nod, my jaw clenched.

We exit the vehicle, the gravel crunching beneath our boots. My gaze sweeps over the dilapidated building, sizing up our target. Thanks to my hack into Veronica's systems, I know she has no more than two goons with her. Still, I refuse to underestimate her—that jealous bitch is unhinged and desperate.

"Remember, we do this clean and quiet," I mutter to Ty as we approach the side entrance. "No casualties except for Veronica, but I want her to suffer."

Ty grunts in acknowledgment, his massive frameradiating a barely contained violence. With deft movements, I override the electronic lock and open the door, wincing at the rusty creak piercing the stillness.

We move like shadows, our footsteps muffled on the concrete floor. The stale air reeks of mildew and disuse. Rounding a corner, I pause, straining my ears. A muffled whimper, unmistakably Tilly's, has my heart thundering against my ribs.

Fury lends me speed as I race down the corridor, Ty hot on my heels. I burst through a doorway and come to a halt, the scene before me igniting a primal rage so acute.

Tilly sits bound to a chair, her beautiful face marred by tears and smeared makeup. A trickle of blood oozes from gashes on her arm and chest—wounds inflicted by that sadistic bitch, no doubt.

Veronica stands before her, a wicked blade glinting in her grasp as she taunts my sweet Tilly.

I level the gun at Veronica, fury etching harsh lines across my face. "Step away from her. Now."

Veronica's eyes widen in shock as her eyes flick up, darting between the barrel aimed at her heart and my face twisted in rage. "Phoenix? How did you?—?"

"Shut up," I snarl, inching closer with the glock unwavering in my grip. "You're going to pay for what you've done."

Tilly whimpers from the chair, her gaze pleading with me. The sight of her bound and bleeding ignites a searing heat in my core—the instinct to protect her, to destroy anyone who dares harm her.

"I-I was just teaching the little slut a lesson," Veronicastammers, that cruel smirk attempting to twist her lips. "She needs to learn her place and understand she can never truly have you."

A feral growl rumbles from my chest as I close the distance between us. The muzzle kisses Veronica's forehead, her eyes squeezed shut in fear.

"You're the one who needs to learn, you psychotic bitch."

My finger caresses the trigger, itching to squeeze and paint these walls crimson with her blood. So easy to end the torment, the jealousy, her obsession that's plagued me since I was a kid.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Veronica's sugary voice breaks the tense tableau, dripping with unhinged delight. Tilly and I are intimately connected right now. If I die, she dies, and I've got a dead man's switch set up. No one can disarm it except me—not even you."

My eyes narrow, raking over Veronica's smug expression. I sense her gaze flick to the underside of Tilly's chair, and my heart plummets like a stone in my chest. Straps with blinking red lights confirm my worst fear.

"She's bluffing," Ty murmurs, eyes scanning the situation. "It's a fucking bluff, Phoenix."

But I can't shake the niggling doubt. It's a risk, a gamble I'm not sure I can take. Veronica's tech skills are formidable—the thought of her gaining access to my systems sends a chill down my spine. And if she has rigged Tilly with explosives...

"Phoenix, listen to me." Veronica's tone softens, her eyes gleaming with malicious pleasure. "If you want yourprecious Tilly to live, you'll lower that gun and let me walk out of here. Otherwise, we all die, and your obsession ends in a bloody mess."

I curse inwardly, my fingers tightening on the gun. I'm trapped in a predicament of her design—move against her, and I risk Tilly's life. I glance at Ty, whose face is etched with the same tormented indecision.

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