Page 86 of The Villain

When they separated, Tera came here to build a life. Evie went out to end others.

The only common denominator is her.

And I’m hers.

“I’ll hold your knives for you, baby.”

I need her. I need to see her.

Tera is keeping her hidden. Fuck, just like she hides things about me. She really doesn’t give a shit that I’ve killed people. Because I target the rapists and pedophiles that get away with it. I was a continuation of what Evie already showed her.

How the fuck did Tera get involved? I can’t picture Evie letting her help with any of that. It would put her in danger. A question for another time.

I still haven’t found an address. The number leading to Van Leppard is disconnected. Since Tera has been in touch with her, I know that’s bullshit.

I open up my regular computer and open my log files for Tera’s laptop. Her playlists.

I enter every band name from the eighties that I can find in the laptop algorithm and lean back to wait as it searches.

It takes ten minutes.

The irony.

Duran Queen.

Jesus, Tera.

She lives in a shitty apartment complex on the bad side of town that makes me sweat thinking of her sleeping there. It’s the same one Tera used to live in. She’s not staying there another night that’s for damn sure.

No more computer bullshit, I’m bringing her home whether she likes it or not.

19. Darkness at the Heart

South

I’m laid out on the wood floor staring at the stains on the ceiling. I feel weird. Like I’m a puzzle piece that just got jammed into the wrong spot and everything around me is either too tight or too loose. A shower didn’t help. Brushing my teeth and letting my hair down didn’t fix it. Putting on comfy pajamas and lying here like a lump isn’t fixing it.

It’s almost two in the morning and he hasn’t come yet. How well does Tera have me hidden? He said he was closer than I thought. Maybe he was exaggerating.

A heavy knock comes and I look at the door in surprise.

Maybe he wasn’t exaggerating. Holy shit.

My heart slams against my chest as a smile creeps across my face. He won.

“Evie,” Shade calls in a husky tone that makes me shiver. “Let me in.”

I take my time getting off the floor and doublecheck where my phone is. It’s plugged in by my backpack. I hurry to grab it and the charger, putting them in the barren cabinet under the bathroom sink in the worst hiding job I’ve ever done. Oh, well. It’s not like I care if I win this one anymore. I want my picture.

I’m just getting back to the door to hear him say, “I’ll break it down, baby. I know you’re in there.”

I’m tempted to let him. This is my last night here and it’s not like the shady landlord would sue me over it. He doesn’t even know my name.

Nah. I have better games to play.

I slide the chain before I unlock the three useless locks. I crack the door and peer out, taking in the empty hallway behind him. I kind of expected Tera to be with him in a panic.

He’s alone and in his pajamas. The one with dragonballs over the pants and a Kanji on the left breast of his orange tank top. Not my favorite but it’s in the top ten. His hair is a mess and he somehow looks even more exhausted than he did earlier tonight. He’s in house slippers for fuck’s sake.

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