Page 24 of Wicked Mistletoe

My phone vibrates on the nightstand, and the sudden noise makes me jump.Jesus Christ.

Frowning, I scoot to the side and pick it up. My eyes narrow at the screen. 6 AM, and a message from an unknown number. What the hell? This isn’t my secured line for contacting Stacey, but I haven’t given this number out to anyone. So who could be texting me at this ungodly hour?

Curiosity piqued, I unlock the phone to read the message.

Unknown

Meet me at the address below. 8PM. Don’t be late, amorina, or else…

An address follows the cryptic line, and despite the ominous “or else,” I’m already smiling, warmth spreading through me like sunshine after a storm. It’s Rafael. I quickly save his number and text him back.

I don’t remember giving you my number. Stalker much?

My smile fades as realization hits me. If anyone’s the stalker here, it’s me. Sure, I didn’t have to track him down or anything, but my entire mission is to monitor his every move. My heart squeezes when I remember my call with Stacey.

It’s only been a few days, but she’s getting impatient with my lack of intel. Another girl was taken last night. I pointed out that Rafael was with me, so there’s no way it could have been him. Her response?Look up the term ‘accomplices’, sweetheart.

My phone vibrates with another message.

Rafael

Is it stalking if I’m simply taking what’s mine? Don’t be late tonight Emilia.

My heart does a little stutter-step as I remember his proposal. “He’s lost his damn mind,” I murmur to myself. Who proposes after just two days of reconnecting? I’m no longer the Emilia he once knew.

I bite my lip slightly at that bitter truth and scroll up our chat to study the address he sent. My blood turns to ice, lips parting as recognition slams into me.No. No fucking way. It’sthatplace. The place of my nightmares.Why would he want to meet me there?What sick game is he playing?

I blink hard, sure I’ve misread. But no, the same cursed address is staring back at me.

What is he thinking? What’s he thinking?

There’s absolutely no way in hell I’m setting foot in that place again.

No chance.

Not for anyone—not even Rafael.

My fingers dig into the steering wheel, knuckles white as I peer at the dark road ahead of me with trepidation. No streetlights. Not since two blocks back. Yep. Even they were too scared to venture further…

“This is insane,” I mutter.

When I went to the car rental service to rent this Corolla, I told myself it was just more practical having my own wheels while I’m in the city. No point wasting money on taxis, right? But it was a lie.

Deep down, I knew. Knew exactly where this Corolla would end up taking me.

I swallow hard, fighting the urge to turn tail and flee. Eyes fixed on the stretch of pitch-black road, pierced only by my headlights, my mind goes into a frenzy.Seriously, what am I doing here?

I swore I’d never come back to this godforsaken place. We all did, six years ago when it happened, didn’t we? I’m terrified, of not just what I’ll find, but of how I’ll react. Of the memories that threaten to drown me.

What am I doing? What am I doing? What am I doing?

Lana, in all her infinite wisdom, had once suggested revisiting the scene might be ‘cathartic’, and I’d nearly thrown my coffee in her face. So, why the hell am I heading there right now?

Because Rafael asked you to. No,commanded.

Because even though he might be a criminal now, even though he might now be one of the monsters that nearly destroyed me years ago, some stupid, naïve part of me still trusts him.I trust him.

“Stupid. Stupid. Stupid,” I chant, pressing down on the gas. Then some kind of weird miracle happens. As I round the corner onto that fateful street, the lights suddenly flicker to life, almost blinding me. I squint until my eyes adjust to the new flood of light, and damn it, at least now I can see where the hell I’m going beyond my windscreen. Doesn’t make me feel much better, though.

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