Page 36 of Lunar Crest University

LUCA

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, 2023

It was wishful thinking to assume I wouldn’t have to deal with any Javier business until after the trip to England. It would’ve worked out the way I’d hoped in a perfect world, but the world was nowhere near perfect. It was dismal, raw, and goddamn brutal. Fucking annoying in every sense of the word. Which is why I’m not as surprised as I should be when I park across the street from Finley’s apartment and notice someone sneaking around the concrete steps toward the window that allows the creep to see her standing in her kitchen.

She really needs to learn how to close the blinds at night.

Swallowing thickly, my nostrils flare as I watch the bastard cup his hands to the window as he peeks inside. I can’t tell who it is because the sun has already set, casting deep shadows around the small town that is always too quiet for its own good. It’s unnerving that someone can just look through windows out in the open for anyone to see.

The fucker could at least try to be discreet.

But it doesn’t matter anyway—his lifeless, rotting corpse will be stuffed into my trunk in a few minutes.

People watching Finley’s apartment meansIhave to watch Finley’s apartment. Maybe this wasn’t a bad decision after all. Maybe getting involved with her is the best way to protect her. I could keep tabs on her movements as well as Javier’s—make sure they never coincide.

Flinging my door open, I press my tongue against the corner of my mouth as I climb out, closing it quietly behind me. Cracking my neck, I walk across the street toward the oblivioushijo de puta. My hands clench into irritated fists at my sides as I creep up behind him, fighting the urge to snap his neck. No fighting, no words. I could wipe my hands clean of the situation in five seconds, but I need information.

“Do you always spend your Saturdays creeping outside people’s windows?”

The guy flinches, stumbling away from the glass as he whirls around to stare up at me. His dark eyes widen as if he’s just seen a ghost. I don’t recognize him, but he clearly knows who I am. His attempt to flee is halted as I grasp his hoodie, yanking him backward to shove him up against the brick of Finley’s apartment.

“Ah,ah,” I tsk, pressing my arm into his neck. “You didn’t even answer my question.”

“Listen, man, I was just doing what I was told.”

“Which was what?” I growl under my breath, leaning in closer as my jaw ticks.

He blinks slowly, his eyes darting away for a second, undoubtedly thinking of the perfect lie. Another mistake—I know every tell, every sign on someone’s face that indicates they aren’t telling the truth. It’s always in the eyes, and the nervous fucker in front of me is avoiding eye contact like it’s life or death. Even the space between his thick brows twitches.

“Do you know who I am?” I ask.

He nods weakly.

“Then you know that lying to me wouldn’t be very smart, would it?”

The sweat on his forehead glistens in the moonlight as he swallows harshly, nervously staring up at me. The longer I look at him, the angrier I get. Why would Javier sendthisguy to go peeping in windows? He’s practically shitting his pants, and I haven’t even threatened him yet. The least Javier could do was find someone more intimidating to do the job for him, but he’d never be smart enough for that.

They’re all stupid, which is why it’ll be so easy to kill every single one of them.

It’s not like I have a choice. During my time under Javier’s wing, I’d never seen him give up on anything he’d set his sights on. Not once. His ego is too big. He may be a stupid fucker, but he’s a persistent one. The harassment and stalking of Finley won’t cease unless I stop it myself—the only way I know how. It’ll only get worse if I don’t.

So much for that fresh start.

“I think you already know—” he grumbles, pausing as he struggles against my arm still pressed to his neck. “—there’s nothing you can do to stop him. There’ll always be more, no matter how many you kill.”

Oh. There are his balls.

His words make my lips twitch in amusement as I narrow my eyes down at the squirming idiot, my heel digging into the dirt for leverage as I press my elbow deeper into his esophagus.

“Scary.”

“It should be,” he strains breathlessly. “The more people you kill, the more determined he gets. He’ll go after everyone until you have no one left. That’s when he’ll put you out of your misery.”

I grit my teeth. “Whyare you here?”

“Why areyouhere?”

“You must have balls the size of coconuts with the way you keep talking to me.” I click my tongue. “Why don’t I cut them off? Hmm? Fucking feed them to you.”

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