Page 37 of Sloth
“I’ve never killed anyone before,” I admit. “But he hurt someone I care about. I needed to ensure he didn’t do it again.”
“Hey, I ain’t lookin’ to hear your rap sheet; I’m here to make this…” He waves his hand over the mess I’ve made, “... go away.”
“And you can do that?” I check, feeling the heavy weight in my stomach lift.
“I’m a fuckin’ magician, I can make anything happen.” He laughs, taking the phone outta his pocket and quickly typing out a message.
“This the guy who killed your brother?” he asks once he’s slipped it back in his pocket.
“No. I don’t think so.” I can’t rule him out; it is a coincidence that he’s here in town, but I don’t think he was here for Matthew. My suspicions are much more sinister, which is why I had to end him.
I jump when Noah’s phone rings, and he smirks at me darkly before stepping outside to answer it. I look down at the scum who thought it was okay to assault his own little girl. I read the letters he’d been sending her over the past year, all of them begging her to visit him here so he can make amends; telling her he’s a reformed man.
There is no redemption for what this sick fucker did, and there was nothing reformed about the shit I found on his phone.
“Didn’t you say you had food to pick up? Doloris closes in half an hour,” Noah informs me when he returns to the room.
“Yeah, but aren’t ya gonna need?—”
“Help’s on the way, get outta here.” He gestures with his head to the door.
“And what about payment?” I ask, having no idea what it’s gonna cost to get rid of something like this.
“Garrett says this one's on him. He had Zayne look up this guy's history while I was on my way over; figures you did his town a favour.”
“Ya serious?” I stare at him in shock.
“Boss has kids of his own; pieces of shit like this don’t get a warm welcome in Fork River.” He heads back out to his truck, and I follow him.
“So this is a no-strings kinda thing?” I check because the last thing I want is to be in Carson's pocket.
“Jesus Christ, will you just go eat? I got this.” He lifts a chainsaw from the truck bed and rolls his eyes, heading back into the cabin and shaking his head impatiently.
“Thanks,” I call out, not knowing what else to say, and when I hear him start the thing up and see the blood splatter against the window, I quickly jump back in my truck and bail.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ERIN
ONE MONTH LATER
“How the hell are you still in those jeans?” I look at Liza with envy when she turns up looking all glamorous and slim.
“I’m still working out; we don’t all have a hot guy taking care of us,” she points out, taking one of the cookies I made off the rack and breaking into it.
“You may be working out, but you eat like a damn horse, it's not fair?”
“Everyone's body is different,” she answers with a smug smile on her face. I realize that it’s wrong of me to make judgments. Just because I can’t look at food without gaining ten pounds doesn’t mean she should, too.
“You wait, Liza Kendrick, one of these days you're gonna wake up looking like you've swallowed a beach ball, and I will have no sympathy for you.”
“My little one just isn’t ready to show itself, yet.” She pats her still flat stomach and laughs, reminding me how nice it is to be going through this with someone I’m close to.
“Maybe I should join the gym?” I look down at the little podge I’ve acquired over the past few days and pout.
“Don’t you dare. I love seeing this cute little tummy poking out.” Luke makes me jump when he comes up behind me, sliding his hands around my middle and stroking his palm over it.
“Yuck. The pair of you are disgusting.” Liza rolls her eyes. “Just because I’m the only one who knows about the two of you doesn’t mean you get to flaunt it.” She smirks as she goes to help herself to another cookie, and I quickly swipe her hand away.
