Page 69 of The Torment of Two

Two drops both items onto the table as if they’re riddled with disease before tugging me into his arms. All the drama moments ago is forgotten as something far more sinister greets us.

Dempsey manages to clean off Beauty’s face, though her fur is stained from the sauce. She gets the boot into the backyard where she pitifully yelps at the door as if to plead her case.

By the time Sloane returns, Beauty has stopped complaining to no doubt wreak havoc on some part of their yard.

Sloane sits on the edge of the table and first inspects the flower before picking up the letter. She unfolds it and her eyes dart across the paper as she quickly reads it.

“Hmm.”

“What does it say?” Dempsey demands.

“‘Must be getting pretty serious if you’re showing him off to the family. Tell your boyfriend to keep his dick in his pants. Or else.’” Sloane frowns. “That’s all it says.”

I shudder at the warning. “Or else what?”

Sloane goes into detective mode. “Any jealous ex-boyfriends or people who might want to be with you that you can think of?”

“No,” I say as Dempsey blurts out, “Only the entire Internet.”

I scowl at him. “Not helping.”

“Just stating the obvious,” Dempsey says with a shrug. “You have like a billion followers. It could be anyone.”

Despite my being visible to a million-plus people, I don’t think it’s one of them. Clearly, it’s a local. Someone who knows me and has easy access to me.

“We’ve spent a lot of time together,” Two interjects. “I haven’t seen anyone who stares a little too long or anything. The creepiest thing that happened was when that cop caught us.”

Dempsey tenses. “Caught you doing what?”

“Irrelevant,” Sloane barks out. “The cop’s been cleared. I checked his patrol car driving logs and the vehicle hasn’t been to your school, home, or Hemingford Hall. He may have been creepy as you claim, but he’s not the stalker. Your stalker is staying hidden for a reason.”

“Because he’s a pussy,” Dempsey growls. “If he comes out of hiding, I’m going to kick his ass.”

“You and me both,” Two agrees.

“That means,” Sloane continues, ignoring the spike in testosterone levels, “either they’re small or incapable of carrying out their threats, which could mean a girl you might know could be trying to scare you. Or…”

“Or,” I urge her to continue. “I don’t know of any girls who could have it out for me.”

“And we’re sure this guy didn’t plant it just to freak you out?” Dempsey tosses back, jabbing a finger at Two. “Convenient he was the one to find the note.”

“Fuck all the way off,” Two barks. “Get off my back, man. Your fury is pointed in the wrong direction.”

“Dempsey,” Sloane says with a sigh. “Give Two a break. It’s not him.”

Two shoots Dempsey a smug look that has my brother’s face reddening.

“What is your other thought, Sloane?” I ask, bringing the topic back to where we started. “If it’s not some mean girl. Who then?”

“Someone with a reason to stay under the radar. A person in a position of authority perhaps? A prominent figure? A friend of your father’s?”

The room goes silent as I process those words. Imagining it could be one of Dad’s old guy friends has me cringing. Hard. I think I like the stranger idea better.

“We have to get Dad involved,” Dempsey says softly. “It’s the only way to keep you safe.”

“I actually agree with him,” Two chimes in. “I know you don’t want to, but he might be able to give us better insight into who’s doing this.”

My stomach twists. All my freedom will be gone. Dad will go into protective papa bear mode and I’ll be kept under lock and key. Not literally, but it won’t be good.

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