Page 73 of Pretty Little Fears

Pullingup at the lavish house my blood boils thinking about the money that was used to pay for this ugly fucking mansion.Themoney made off of missing students provided a luxurious lifestyle to those who thought they were above the law.Timefor a reality check.

Thegate guarding his home gives the illusion of safety.Unfortunately, he could never be safe from the darkness that awaits him on the other side of his front door.Thekill list in my head is about to get its second name crossed off.

Hello,Dr.Fitzgerald.

CHAPTER THIRTY

EMMETT

Pullingmy helmet off,Iplace it on the back of my bike while letting the duffle bag drop from my back and down to the floor.Theobsession that pumps through my veins has been joined with vengeance and the combination is incredibly lethal.Anysemblance of sanity or logicIhad before has been replaced with the demand to kill.Toslaughter all of my little obsession’s demons, even ifIhave to battle my own along the way.

Grimmpulls up next to me, removing his helmet and backpack, and dropping it to the cement.Wepark our bikes and collect our bags. “Showtime!”Grimmsings in a low, raspy voice.Ilet out a small huff and my jaw shifts with tension and rage.Onlyone word has played on repeat in my head.

KILL.

Wemake our way towards the gate and the lack of guards shows thatVictorisn’t all that concerned for his safety after all.Eitherthat or like an absolute imbecile, he really assumed no one wouldbe coming for him.Maniaswirls inside my head and chest.Ilaugh, ready to deliver his unexpected not-so-happy ending.

Fora doctor, he’s really fucking stupid.You’dthink all that time spent in school, he must be smarter than to get wrapped up in this business.Beinga medical professional in the human trafficking industry was going to catch up with him eventually, butI’msure the money blinded him as it does for many.Unfortunately, he plucked the wrong flower and disrupted the food chain, alerting a predator to his presence.

Thereare no guards lining the gate, just a simple box where you would enter a code.Isend a message over toEliand thirty seconds later, the gate is inaudibly unlatching and opening in front of me.Hedoesn't respond but he doesn't need to, he did his part.He’llbe ready ifIneed more of his help.

Idon't need any answers fromVictor,Iam simply sending him to hell for the part he played in harmingBlair.Fortouching her.Forknowing how disgustingly wrong it is and still allowing this to happen, not just toBlairbut so many others.Howelse would they have found out the information they shared with all the buyers?Myjaw snaps together as my teeth grind.

Makingour way to his front door, we come across another keypad.Afaint beep sounds as the light flicks green and the door knob twists on its own, swinging the door open.Elimust have noticed the remaining locks and disarmed them.Thisis whyItrust him.Hegoes above and beyond whatIask for and he’s damn good at it.Eliis a fucking genius andI’mgrateful to have him as a friend.

Weswiftly but silently make our way intoVictor’shome.Thedarkness of the night shields our presence and allows us to slink our way through the house while remaining hidden in the shadows.Theoverpriced floorboards don’t squeak under our steps, granting us an easy entry into his room.Withit being the middle of the night, he's soundly asleep.

Wecome up to what must be the primary bedroom.Thedoor is open, allowing me to see the large bed that sits directly in view from the hallway.Thelump of a single body takes up the space.Good,Idon't have to worry about the disturbance of a spouse, which follows with shrieking and crying.Notthat any harm would come to them,Ijust don't feel like having to deal with that.Iwant to get in, kill him, and get out.Mylist is already long enough andIneed to get toBlair.

Stoppingjust before the doorway,Idrop the bag and ruffle through its contents untilIcome across the chloroform.Takingit out with a rag,Idouse the cloth and make my way towards my second victim.He’slying on his stomach with his head facing away from me.Hissubconscious must sense the danger in the room because his eyes shoot open whenIstop at the side of his bed.

Hetries to move, but before he gets the chance,I'mon him.I'mstraddling him before he can register what’s happening and the shock appears in his eyes.Ismack the cloth above his mouth and nose and wrap my other arm around his neck, placing my hand on his forehead to hold his head up, ensuring he’s unable to free himself.Grimmquickly climbs up behind me and straddles him, facing the opposite way, holding down his bucking legs.

Hewrithes and screams behind the rag before losing his fight to the chemicals he breathes in, dropping limp in our grasp.Releasinghim,Iclimb off at the same time asGrimm.Helets out a whistle to get my attention and my eyes meet his, “I'mgonna find the basement so we can set up and bring him down there.”Grimmgrunts out.

Igive a small nod and watch as he collects our bag and retreats from the room.I'mleft in stillness.I'vegrown to hate moments of silence.Everytime, my thoughts break down its door and barge into it.Anyand all thoughts of my little obsession that pervade its emptiness make me feel as ifI'mdrowning.Myown mistakes are the noose around my neck and the realization thatIdidn't keep her safe kicks the stool from under my feet.Mythroat tightens andIfeel likeIcan't breathe.

Ican't breathe.

Fuck, fuck!Fuck!

Ican't breathe.Ican’tFUCKING-

“Yo,Emmett!Snapthe fuck out of it!”Myhead is swinging to the side as the sting on my cheek makes itself known.Grimmcomes into focus, as my thoughts remove their sharpened claws and retreat to their home, in the back of my mind.

“Iget it, man.Ido.Butyou need to keep it the fuck together.Let’sgo give this dumbfuck the hell he deserves.”Hesays, gesturing to an unconsciousVictorsplayed out on his bed.Mybody stiffens as an arm is wrapped around me and tightens.Ishe fucking hugging me?

“Youdon’t.”Icroak, feeling my rough demeanor beginning to crack.Ikeep my hands planted at my sides, not wanting to return the affectionate gesture.Iwant to holdBlair, notGrimm.

Ibegin to pull back from his embrace, when he says, “Ido.Ifthat ever happened toV,I’drip every inch of the world apart to get her back.”

Myeyes narrow in confusion.Grimmhas never been serious about anyone in his entire life.Foras long asI’veknown him, his one true love has been violence and torture.

“V?AsinVerena?Youguys have been friends for ages, what are you talking about?”Iquestion, curious as to where this side of him is coming from.Iknew they were friends, we’ve both knownVerenasince middle school.I’dfigured they’ve hooked up here and there, butGrimmbeing serious about her?Theonly womanI’veseenGrimmdedicated to goes by the nameMaryJane.I’mtaken aback by the sincere look in his eyes as he shakes his head.

“Idon’t know man, it’s complicated.Let’sgo fuck this dude up, please.”Hegroans, heading towards the bed.

Clearingmy throat,Iask, “Didyou find the basement?”

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