Page 96 of Fanatic

“Hey!” Edna cried as she scurried across the street.

“What do you want?” I demanded, with no intention of playing her bullshit games.

“You signed a rental agreement. You’re not allowed to sublet,” Edna hissed.

“What the fuck are you on about?” Jesus, did her poison never stop?

“I’ve filed a complaint against you! I’ll have you out of that house!”

“Whatever. Just piss off, will you!” I replied and turned my back on her.

“You’re going to be kicked out. You and that whore of yours. And whoever that person is, I’ve reported him for walking naked in front of the windows,” Edna hissed.

Edna’s words stopped me mid-stride. At first, it was the whore, but Edna’s following comments landed.

“Are you telling me there’s somebody living in my home?” I snapped.

“Don’t act innocent!” Edna snarled.

“Seriously, you’ve seen someone inside?”

“Yes! And I’ll have you all thrown out!” Edna howled triumphantly.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I shouted, and Edna stepped back, looking shocked. “A woman was slaughtered in that house, and someone’s been living there, and it ain’t me and Willow. Did you even call the police, or was your poison so fucking deep, you just went after us? You’ve probably been watching the murderer, and you called to complain we sublet?”

The astonishment I was feeling couldn’t be faked. This woman was beyond fucked up. I’d not known anyone with such bitter hate.

“What are you talking about? Don’t try to wriggle out of this,” Edna hissed.

“Jinx, call the cops, nine-one-one it. I’m going to check this out. And stay out. We’ve no idea who’s inside,” I said, pulling my gun.

Edna shrieked and raced across the road, yelling I was going to shoot her. I was sorely fucking tempted to. I’d be doing mankind a favour. What a fuckin poisonous bitch. Who the hell knows there’s been a murder and yet calls the realtor when theysee somebody on a property who shouldn’t be present? That cunt, apparently.

I opened the front door and slipped inside. The police tape had been broken. The police had released the house to us, but Willow and I hadn’t returned since April’s body was found.

Instantly, I knew I was not alone. Silently, I moved from room to room, clearing the downstairs. I spotted a bike covered over in the rear. What the hell? That wasn’t Grey’s because Grey was now at Chance’s house. I’d had a bad feeling and got Jinx to pick it up and move it. Several things were out of place. The glaringly obvious was the arrangement of the furniture. The layout had been changed.

Cautiously, I crept towards the stairs, keeping my head on a swivel. The wise thing to do was leave, but I couldn’t. Someone was here, and I didn’t want the asshole escaping.

There was a scuffle from upstairs, and I slowly began walking up, keeping my back to the wall and gun extended. On reaching the landing, I heard another noise, and it came from Willow’s bedroom. I’d leave, except there wasn’t a smell, which hopefully didn’t mean a second dead body. Fuck. I cleared each room as I headed towards Willow’s room, and as I snapped my head round the door, I spotted a shadow.

“I’m armed!”

“Who gives a shit? So am I!” a voice retorted, and I stiffened. Because it came from behind. Something hit me hard, and it was lights out.

I didn’t know how long I was unconscious—it wasn’t more than a few minutes. But I woke tied to a chair, and I gingerly tested the restraints. They were semi-tight, but there was wriggle room. Unexpectedly, something fell from the ropes and into my palm. A small knife. What the fuck?

“Wake up!” a voice ordered, and I blinked as water was thrown in my face. I opened my eyes and focused and stared in disbelief at the person in front of me.

“You?” I exclaimed incredulously.

“Me!” he cried. Vampire’s flabby, pasty, white body danced in dirty tighty-whiteys, and I barely swallowed bile.

“Where’s my girl?” Vampire snapped.

“Your what?”

“April! Where is she? Nobody sucked my dick like her!” Vampire shouted.

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