Page 127 of Between Regrets and Promises

I nearly choke on the thick air that fills the room. Does he really have it in him to kill me? From what I’ve seen already, I think he might. I don’t doubt he’ll follow through with his threats, just as I didn’t doubt Weston. I have no reason to believe otherwise, not after he’s hit and cut me. I’m losing blood and hope.

“Your boyfriend must think I’m stupid as fuck.” Dalton snickers, pacing in front of me, turning up the volume on the police scanner. “If he makes a call about you missing, I’ll hear it, and he’ll regret it. I’m not a fucking idiot like he thinks.”

I try to swallow down the lump in my throat that’s quickly replaced with bile.

“No,” I whisper, but my response only pleases him more. “No one thinks you’re an idiot.”

I nod as he twirls the knife between his fingers. “Do I scare you, Sophie?”

No matter what answer I give, it won’t be good enough. It’s a loaded question because if I say yes, he’ll continue his sick, torturous game, and if I say no, he’ll change tactics until Iamscared. After living with Weston and being pushed to my limits emotionally and physically, I never thought I’d feel fear like this again. When he died, I thought it was over, and I’d be safe.

The way my body trembles should be enough for Dalton, but it’s not.

“Fucking answer me!” he screams, then slaps me across the face.

I wince but hold back from crying out. “Yes. You do,” I admit. “I thought I knew you. I thought we were friends,” I say with tears streaming down my cheeks because it’s the truth. I believed his whole damn story.

“And that was your downfall. Your issue is you trust too easily. You’re nothing more than a little lamb who so willingly followed a tiger into the jungle,” he mocks with a roar of laughter.

A chill runs up my spine when he smiles. I don't recognize him with that crazed look in his eyes.

“You know…” He takes a step closer before pacing in front of me. “My brother loved you so damn much. So. Damn. Much. A month before he was murdered, he told me he was planning to propose. When I helped my parents clean out his house, I found the engagement ring. He talked about how you saved him. Little did he know, you’d be the reason for his death.”

“You’re lying,” I say between gritted teeth. I don’t believe a fucking word he says about Weston, especially that.

He’s in his element with a large ass knife tightly gripped in his hand and a gun behind him. “I have no reason to lie. Weston spoke so highly of you. Helovedyou. And you pretended to love him back so you could use him for his house.”

My emotions begin to spill over. “That’snottrue.”

“He told me how he felt sorry for you because of your roommate situation and mentioned how you sucked dick like a champ. So he let you move in, though it seems you had an ulterior motive.” He narrows his eyes before rushing over and kicking me in my stomach with all his strength. My body and my arms feel as if they may break off as I slam against the hard floor. Although my throat is dry and everything hurts, I let out a terrifying scream. Dalton stands over me with his arms crossed over his chest, laughing.

“I’m gonna get more satisfaction ending you than I did Dacia.”

His words course through me like venom. “What?”

“I wonder if you’ll scream the same way she did, or if it’ll take longer before you stop breathing.” He speaks as though he’s talking about the weather.

“No,” I whisper, forcing my eyes closed, wanting to disappear as he bends down closer to my face.

“She was getting in my way of getting to you and asking too many questions. I didn’t need her warning you about me, so I did what I had to do.” He gives me a wide grin. “Glad you reminded me. I need to get her body out of my trunk.” He purses his lips, then continues. “In fact, I can burn all your bodies together. Hers. Yours. And Mason’s. Hope none of his little friends get in my way, though, or I’ll have more bodies than can fit in my trunk. Hmm…maybe I’ll leave you all in here while I torch the whole fucking house.” I’m not sure if he realizes he’s thinking aloud, but it’s terrifying.

“You’re a monster,” I spit out, but he smirks. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has weapons hidden all over this place, considering the way he talks about taking out anyone who tries to stop him.

My gut twists as I think about my friends. I hope he’s only trying to scare me, but I have a feeling he’s telling the truth about Dacia. I haven’t heard from her in weeks.

This can’t be happening.

“Thank you.” He’s amused. “Want to know how I killed her? It’s a lovely story.”

I keep my mouth shut as he stands over me. Swiftly, he brings his foot back and kicks my stomach with his boot, knocking the breath out of me. Pain shoots through my body as he kicks me again, and I’m scared he’ll break one of my ribs. After he’s worn himself out, and the pain becomes my new normal, he stands over me with the cell phone and takes pictures. My dress is bunched up to my waist, and I’m regretting wearing it since I’m exposed, and he has access to any part of me he wants.

“Wonder what your boyfriend is gonna think about these? Want to smile for the camera?” He continues to take more as I lay in agony.

Dalton forcefully grabs me and yanks the chair upright. I keep my head slumped, hoping this is over soon, but beating me to a pulp won’t be enough for him. Dalton grabs a fistful of my hair and jerks my head back, making me gasp as the pain.

“Dacia was smarter than you. I don’t think she ever trusted me and purposely forced herself between us, but unfortunately for her, she couldn’t stay out of my goddamn way. So when you invited us to dinner, she told me I needed to explain to you who I was because she’d figured out that my name wasn’t Caleb.” He shakes his head. “She threatened to tell you if I didn’t. That was the bitch’s first mistake. Don’teverthreaten me,” he spits out. “It never ends well.” He flashes a satisfied grin. “For the other person, that is.”

Dacia, protective Dacia. She was always so intelligent and observant. I cry for her. I cry for her mother, who already lostone child. I cry because I will have the same fate as her by the same man.

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