Page 31 of Beautiful Scars

But he is.

“Aww, you're making me think maybe all this isn't for me. Where's that little friend of yours, huh? I was kinda hopin' he'd be here by now.” Garrett's voice is low, hostile. “You should've known I'd be back. You're mine Sunny."

I can’t think. I can’t think.

My breath shudders out of me, too fast, too uneven. My fingers dig into the banister so hard I swear my nails are going to start to pull off. I can’t move. My feet feel like they’ve been cemented to the floor. My throat won’t work. I need to scream. I need to—

He takes another step up.

A whimper claws its way out of my chest before I can stop it.

Chapter Sixteen

Levi

Thisisit.

I've set things in motion tonight that can't be undone. Sometime tonight Zack will understand the true definition oftotally fucked. It’s taken me weeks of planning and waiting for just the right opportunity to get here. It took forever to find people I could trust, people who know how to keep their mouths shut to help me. Zack has no idea what's coming for him, but by the time it's over and the shock of it wears off, he'll know he messed with the wrong person. Good luck putting the blame where it belongs though. As far as anyone knows I'm with Sunny tonight—have been and will be all night.

Normally, I'd never do anything that would involve Sunny, even as an alibi, in something like this. But it just happened to be unavoidably convenient this one time. And it benefits her too. A little something extra to make her night even better. It's a gift she'd never ask for, but I know she'll like. She might not ever know that I was the one responsible for getting Zack out of her life, and that's okay. At least she won't have to worry about the asshole bothering her anymore.

He thinks he's won. I've made a point of letting him think that. Hell, I've let everyone think it. Not my fault he's stupid enough to underestimate me.

Even after what happened in the parking lot that day, it was so easy for him to believe I was afraid of him. It made this plan so much easier. It made him confident. So confident that he quit locking his car doors. So confident he actually started falling for his own bullshit and believing he's untouchable. He doesn't think anyone would dare do anything to fuck with him. What an idiot.

The drugs were easy to get and even easier to stash. I planted them in his car earlier. Tucked them down into the shitty, smelly gym bag he tosses into his backseat after every practice. It was only a few pills, some weed, a bundle of small baggies and a small digital scale. Not enough to get him any big boy time, but more than enough to make sure everything he cares about is taken away from him.Ifsomeone were to find it.

And they will.

I called earlier and left a message with the cop who was kind enough to give me his card that afternoon at Sunny's. Tipped him off about the party at Ryan's tonight. Told him that I was really worried about Zack, and how deep into drugs he was getting lately. Took less than a five minute phone call, and some fake concern to make sure Zack’s car gets searched. It’ll be a controlled bust. Zack won’t have a clue who set him up. He’ll just know that his future’s gone to hell. Those football scholarships he’s been banking on? Gone. His reputation? Destroyed.

I glance at my phone. 7:00 p.m. Everything’s in place, and I’ve got just enough time to get home, clean up, and pick up Sunny. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve planned something special tonight. We're getting out of this town, for the whole night. I'm taking her over to Riverside for dinner. I've got a hotel room, and flowers, and it's going to be perfect. Her birthday, her night. She has no clue.

The phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and look at the screen.Sunny.

I stare at her name for a second and I can't help but smile. I should answer, but I’m too wired, too amped up. I’m still riding the high from everything I've done tonight—from knowing Zack’s about to get what’s coming to him. I’ll call her back in a little while. Right now, I need a few minutes to myself to enjoy this. It feels good to let this side of myself out to play for a change.

I watch the phone buzz until it stops.One missed call. I slide it back into my pocket, shaking off the small pang of guilt that creeps in. It’s not like I’m ignoring her on purpose, and she didn't leave a message or anything. I need a minute to myself to cool down is all. This night’s about her, and I want to be all-in when I see her. No distractions.

The truck engine roars to life as I pull away from Zack’s neighborhood, and the adrenaline still pours through me. The streets are quiet, the world moving slower than my mind. Everything feels like it’s falling perfectly into place. Zack is going to wake up tomorrow with his life in ruins, and I’ll be with Sunny, showing her she’s the only thing that matters to me.

The phone buzzes again.Sunny.Again.

I glance at the screen, my hand hovering over it. My thumb twitches toward the button, and something shifts in the back of my mind. Maybe I should answer.No.I need to settle down. I'm still too caught up in the rush of what's coming. I'll call her back when I get home, once I've had a chance to cool off a bit. She deserves more from me. I don’t want her to hear the edge in my voice. I don’t want to drag any of this into our night.

The phone stops buzzing again, and I turn up the radio, drowning out the nagging feeling that's starting to creep in. I ignore thepingfrom my pocketthat tells me I have a voicemail waiting. It’s nothing. I crank the radio, drowning out that small voice in the back of my head telling me I'm making a mistake.She's fine.She's fine. And soon, everything's going to be perfect.

I turn onto my street twenty minutes later, pulling into the driveway. The house is dark. Which is weird. The porch light's on a timer. Mom insisted on it. Said it made her feel safer. I kill the engine and grab my phone, finally feeling calm enough to call Sunny back, but something stops me. It’s too quiet. Too still.

Something's wrong.

The hair on the back of my neck prickles as I step out of the truck. My boots crunch on the gravel, but the sounds seems too loud, too sharp tonight. This all feels... wrong. By the time I reach the door, my heart is pounding and every muscle in my body is tense. I push open the door, and step inside. The darkness swallows me as I stand there, listening.

“Mom?”

Nothing. No noise but the hollow echo of my voice on the tile.

I step further inside, the door clicking shut behind me. My hand slides over the light switch, but when I flick it on, nothing happens. The power’s out. My stomach twists and a thin sheen of sweat coats my skin. I close my eyes and open them slowly allowing them to adjust to the darkness.

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