Page 260 of Hide and Keep

Speaking of…

Since Arthur’s not in here, I ask Frederick, “What happened to your predecessor?”

He glances at my scar but I don’t so much as flinch. I’m not wearing a hat, and for some reason, I don’t feel the need to go get one. I don’t even touch my eyebrow. I just focus on Frederick, waiting to hear what he has to say.

“Mr. Koch was just in here packing up some of his things. I believe he’s still out front if you’d like to bid him farewell.”

That’s exactly what I’d like to do.

“Did he…” I go over and check several drawers until I find something that’ll work. “He did. He forgot this.” I hold up the mallet. “It was a present and he forgot it.”

“Oh no,” Ever says with zero emotion.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell her before jogging out front. Still recovering, Arthur and Edwin aren’t around, so I don’t worry about being discreet when I call out the pervert’s name.

He’s sitting in the driver’s side of a car that costs more than my parents’ house, the door still open. When he twists in his seat to address me, one of his hands grips the steering wheel. His right hand, the one he used to jerk himself off to Ever.

Propping my arm on the roof of his car, I lean down, invading his personal space to an uncomfortable level for both of us. Ryan only looks a hair better than Arthur did yesterday.

“Ah, Mr. Brantley. Please, please accept my sincerest apologies regarding the—”

His words turn into screams as I bring the mallet down on his knuckles. Once. Twice. Thrice. I raise it for a fourth, but Ryan whips his hand off the steering wheel.

“Fuck you and fuck your apologies, you rapey fuck.” I tap the mallet three times against his forehead, causing him to writhe and beg. “You come anywhere near Ever again and I’ll use this to bash your fucking brains in.” One more tap, then I stand. “We clear?”

He doesn’t answer fast enough, so I smack his cheek with the mallet, much harder than I did his forehead but nothing compared to what I did to his knuckles.

“Are we clear?”

Cradling his hand to his chest, Ryan nods, his face drenched in tears and snot.

“Good. Get the fuck out of here before I change my mind and brain you right now.” I could. Thinking about what he might’ve done to Ever had he made it into her room has me bloodthirsty, and if he doesn’t disappear from my sight soon, I will. People already see me as a monster.

I make myself slam the car door shut and step back to watch Ryan drive away, hoping his car’s a manual. I didn’t even think to check.

I didn’t care.

Honestly, he’s lucky to be driving away at all.

“So you do know where the trash goes?”

Hearing Ever, I turn back to the manor, finding her at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against one of the motorcycle statues, her arms crossed as she stares at me with mild curiosity.

I’m her monster. I’ll do anything for her, including maim any motherfucker that wrongs her…even her father. If it comes to that.

“I figured it out.” A little later than I would’ve liked but I’m just glad Ever did confide in me.

“If you’re still in need of some sustenance…” She grins. “…Chef Frederick said breakfast will be ready soon.”

“I could eat,” I say without specifying what.

Later, when Ever goes out to check on her butterflies, she leaves the conservatory door open after stepping through it.

“I’ll be out here,” I promise when she glances back at me.

Even though I’m no longer worried about her running off, I still prefer to stick close to her.

“You don’t want to come in?”

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