Page 43 of The Dire Reaction

“What exactly does that mean?” Dani asks. Her small hands are squeezing her cup hard enough that her knuckles are white, but her face is neutral as she stares at Angela.

Angela unleashes a long sigh and sits forward, taking another long drink.

She’s going to be hammered in no time at this rate.

“Alexander had a thing for petite blonds. A bad thing, bordering on obsession.”

“I don’t understand. His wife was neither petite or blond.” I remember Claire’s mom.

“You do realize he never loved his wife?” She shakes her head, her cheeks beginning to show the effects of the alcohol with a flushed hue. “Probably the only reason she survived,” she mumbles. “He had this place he’d take his girls. He called them ‘prizes’ like he earned them at a fair.” She empties her coffee cup and gestures to me for a refill.

“How about some more coffee?” I offer, taking her cup. I take her shrug as acceptance and fill her mug back up before handing it back. She gives it a half frown before putting it onto the table next to her. “What did he do with his ‘prizes’?” I almost don’t want to ask the question.

Angela’s face pinches, her eyes squint closed. “Tortured and killed them.” The sentence tumbles from her lips as if it pains her to say it.

I can hear Dani’s sharp inhale like her lips are against my ear. Her heartbeat doubles in speed as does my own.

“How do you know?” This calls for another shot. The burning swallow does little to dull the words.

She opens her brown eyes, now brimming with unshed tears. “Because I was one of them.”

My head hurts. Squeezing my temples does nothing to relieve the sudden ache behind them. “I don’t understand. How is this possible? Why isn’t he in jail?”

“He would only take girls who didn’t know him already. I just…woke up there. He always kept three. Sometimes, when one disappeared, another would take her place.”

“How did you get away?” Dani asks, pushing her own blond hair behind her ear.

“A mistake. He never slipped up, but he did that night. I got in a lucky hit, then ran out into the night. When someone found me, I was naked in a dumpster and nearly frozen to death.”

I’m still confused. “Why didn’t you say anything? About him?”

Angela laughs, but it has no humor in it. “I didn’t even know his name. I ran that night for miles in any direction I could. I didn’t find out until weeks later when I saw his picture in the newspaper. He went out that night searching for me and had a stroke in the streets.” She twirls the cup on the table, making a soft grinding sound that fills the silence.

“I wish I had killed him that night,” she says, still staring at the cup. “When I spoke to the police, they fucking laughed at me. Didn’t believe a word I said.” When she raises her eyes, her lips press into a thin line. “So, I made it my goal in life to watch over him, to make sure he never hurts anyone else.”

“Didn’t they do a, well, an exam on you when you were found?” Dani chews on her lip as she asks.

Angela shakes her head. “They asked about doing a rape kit, but he never did that. He always finished himself once his hands were nice and bloody.” She shivers, her eyes unfocusing for a moment as she stares at her hands.

“Why are you telling me this now? What changed?” My head is reeling. I’ve been harboring a monster for all these years.

“He woke up. He killed Becky. And now he’s gone. I wanted to make sure you knew in case he came back here.”

“Oh! Becky? I liked her. She was very sweet.” Dani’s lip pouts as her eyes drop.

I hate that my cock twitches seeing it jut out. Damned thing has a mind of its own.

“Since he isn’t here, where do you think he went?” I’m starting to think I need to dig my guns out of the safe and make sure they’re handy.

“I bet he went back to his building. If it had been discovered, it would have been all over the news. So, wherever it is, it’s probably still usable for him.” She shivers and stands up, walking to the door. “You have a good spot out here. I’d suggest staying out of town if you can. The dogs are getting braver, attacking people in the streets. Shit hit the fan today.”

“Are you sure you’re okay to drive?” I ask as she’s heading out the door. She’s had two coffee mugs of whiskey.

“I hope like hell I wreck and die on the way back. I never thought I’d see a day like this. I might head back this way if town gets too crazy. Be safe.” Her tires spin just as fast in reverse as they do when she’s buzzing down the driveway back to the main road.

I feel like a hurricane just went through. Dani works her way into my arms, and we just hold each other while we piece together everything that Angela dumped on us.

“Do you really think it’s that bad in town?” she asks against my chest. I can hear the hesitancy in her voice.

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