Page 48 of Tormented By Regret

My enemy.

My eyes drifted to my reflection in the window. I hateful grimace lined my mouth as I stared at the happy couple who were completely oblivious to the knowledge that a killer was on their trail. Hunting was starting to become my new favorite thing to do.

The neon lights of the bar flickered against the night as I watched Whisper with Lee.

I waited until Lee got up and was out of sight, and then I pulled out my phone, dialing her number.

It rang twice before she answered, her voice cautious. “Hello?”

“Hello, Whisper,” I greeted her, my voice low and calculated, holding just enough menace to keep her on edge.

There’s a pause on the other end, then a shaky breath. “Who is this?”

“You don’t need to know my name. But I know yours. I know everything about you.”

A hint of panic creeps into her voice and I can see it in her eyes as they dart around the room. Her breath catches in her throat, and I can practically feel her pulse quicken through the phone. Good. Fear is a powerful motivator, and right now, she’s ripe for the picking.

“What do you want?” she manages to choke out, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I paid a visit to your dear mother today,” I say casually, relishing the way her breath catches in her throat.

“What?” Her voice trembles. “Why would you?—”

“Your mother is a very beautiful woman. It’s sad to see how she’s not quite there in the eyes. She was very eager to tell me her secrets. It seems she thinks of herself as a raven. And here I thought I was the crazy one.”

“How dare you?” I could make out Whisper’s anger, but I quieted her down instantly.

“Shh,” I interrupt, my tone ice cold.

“Listen carefully, Whisper. If you want your precious mother to stay safe, you’ll do exactly as I say.”

The silence hung heavy between us, thick with fear. I could almost taste her terror through the phone. It was intoxicating.

“Do you understand?” I press, my voice a mere whisper now, a deadly promise lingering in the air.

“Yes,” she whispers back, her voice barely audible.

“Good,” I say, a cruel smile curling my lips. “Because if you so much as breathe a word of our little conversation to anyone, I’ll make sure your mother suffers. Do we have an understanding?”

She hesitates, then nods, forgetting momentarily that I supposedly can’t see her. “Yes,” she finally says, her voice small and defeated.

“Excellent,” I purr, reveling in her fear. “Now, let’s talk about what comes next.”

“I’m an old friend of Lee’s,” I tell her, letting the words hang in the air. “And it seems he owes me something. Something he hasn’t been able to repay.”

There was a pregnant pause on the other end of the line, and I can almost hear the gears turning in her mind. I watched through the glass as she glanced over to Lee who was now standing at the bar ordering their drinks.

“What does that have to do with me?” she asked, her voice uncertain but defensive.

I let out a low chuckle, relishing the fear that dances in her eyes. “Everything, Princess. You see, Lee’s debt has come due, and you’re the lucky one who’s going to settle it.”

There’s a flicker of realization in her gaze, as she comes to an understanding of the dire situation she’s found herself in. She’s just a pawn in this twisted game of mine, a sacrificial lamb offered up to settle an old score.

“Lee… he’ll never let you get away with this,” she manages to choke out, her voice laced with defiance.

I smiled, touching the glass as I outlined her face. Amusement filled my tone. “Oh, my dear Whisper, you truly have no idea, do you? Lee will be nothing but a distant memory soon enough. And you, Princess, you’ll be the one to bring about his demise.”

“Stop calling me that,” she says through gritted teeth and I find her so very interesting in that moment.

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