Page 175 of Under the Bed

A real, loving father wouldn’t have been deterred by it. A man who cared about his daughter would’ve kept calling. He would have shown up at her apartment.

Instead, my father changed his number. Hired a man to stalk me. Sent Kaleb’s psychiatrist over to my place. All in the name of having the upper hand over us. A reason to finally get rid of me. Something to justify it.

“No cameras. No editor or PA?” I ask, fishing for information. “Only you.”

“Correct.” He chuckles, smiling. The idiot. “I’m a one-man show. It’ll be just the two of you and me. Oh, and the smell of the money advertisers will throw my way after this.”

Good. When we burn down his office later, no one will be there to protect the materials he’s dug up on us.

“You can’t tell anyone we’re here, either. My father included. I want him to think we tried to escape.” I cross my arms over my chest. “These are our terms. Take it or leave it.”

“Sure, sure.” He inches closer, and Kaleb yanks him right back. “Your father threatened to kill me if I went public or blackmailed him for more money.” A nervous laugh. “I haven’t said a word to anyone about this, about you two. Your secret will stay safe with me in exchange for this exclusive.”

“Great,” is what I’m saying. What I actually mean is,Finish him, Kaleb.

Crew is clueless. His grin widens.

A moment later, that grin disappears into the wall.

Kaleb is so fucking sexy, so fucking hot when he bashes Crew’s face in.

“Why”—bam—“stop”—crunch—“please”—smash, smash, smash—“ow.”

Blood splashes on the wall. Brain matter drips down Crew’s temple.

My stepbrother doesn’t relent.

Why should he?

He’s having fun.

Crunching and smashing sounds echo inside the small bathroom at a steady pace. As loud and insistent as the beats of my heart.

Eventually, Mr. Sleuth stops fighting. Releases his final breath.

My cheeks are hot, heart fluttering.

I want Kaleb. I need him inside me. No man, woman, or porn video could ever compare to this.

This raw savageness. My unapologetic murderer. My own personal vigilante.

The best thing to have ever happened to me.

I’m breathing hard, as turned on as I’ve ever been, as I watch him lean over to grab Crew’s phone and take the laptop out of his bag.

My nipples are pulled tight at the sight of him smashing them beneath his foot, turning them into nothing.

“Security office, then home?” I’m heady with desire, batting my eyelashes at him.

“Sounds like a plan, little sister.” He opens the door for me, his other gloved hand skimming my cheek. “I hope you know I’m nowhere near done with you tonight.”

I reach for the bulge in his jeans, biting my bottom lip at how hard he is. How he jerks in my hand. “Please, don’t ever be done with me. Ever.”

29

SHILOH

“You did so well.”

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