Page 18 of Little Horrors & Deceptions

His words hit home, cutting through the red haze of my anger. Images flashed through my head—our carefully laid plans, the years of work, the vengeance still to come. All of it hanging by a thread, threatened by my impulsive desire for Jade.

“You need to be careful,” Derek continued, his warm brown eyes fixed on mine. “Don't let jealousy screw this up for you.” I turned away, unable to meet his gaze. He was right, damn him.

I snatched my keys from the bowl by the door, the metal cool against my palm. The familiar weight grounded me, pulling me back from the edge. I glanced at my watch, the seconds ticking away relentlessly.

“I know,” I repeated, my voice steadier now. ‘I'll be back later.” I could feel Derek's gaze on me as I moved toward the door. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to choke on. I paused, my hand on the doorknob, waiting.

“You want a hand?” Derek's voice was quiet, but I knew he would offer. He always had my back. I turned to him, catching the worried expression on his face. For a moment, I considered it. Derek had always been there, ready to dive into the darkness with me. But this…?

I paused, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

“Nah, you're too squeamish for what I have planned.” Derek's expression crinkled, a mix of worry and morbid curiosity playing across his features. I couldn't help but let out a wicked chuckle.

“Don't wait up,” I added, my tone low and dangerous.

I turned away, not waiting for Derek's response. The thrill of the hunt was already coursing through my veins, drowning out everything else. Tonight, I'd make sure the Croix family knew to never threaten what wasmineagain.

Chapter 12

Olivia Bennett

Johnathan’s fingers flew over the keyboard, his brow furrowed in concentration. The soft glow of the laptop screen illuminated his face in the dimly lit living room. I shifted on the couch, my nerves buzzing with anticipation. After we went over our undercover files together this morning we decided our next move should be to bug Liam’s apartment to see if we could catch any information.

“Alright, the bug’s ready to go,” Johnathan said, looking up at me. “You sure you’re up for this, Oli?”

I nodded, my jaw set with determination. “I'm the only one who can get into Liam’s apartment without raising suspicion.”

Johnathan’s eyes softened with concern. “Just be careful, okay?”

“I know,” I replied. “But we need this evidence. We gotta have something to give to Clemens or he’ll pull us back.”

He handed me the tiny recording bug, no bigger than my thumbnail, it was perfectly round. “Remember, find a spot nearwhere he spends most of his time. Probably the living room, but don’t get to close to the TV.”

I slipped the device into my pocket, “Got it. I’ll head up now before my shift starts.” I slipped on my shoes quickly and grabbed my keys.

“If anything seems off—”

I cut him off. “I know, I know, abort mission.” I said as I walked out of the house. I made it to my car and hurried over to the haunted house. I didn’t see Liams car in the parking lot. Thank fuck. I parked and went inside. A few scare actors were running through their routine, but they would be easy to slip by. I assumed Derek was with Liam because he would normally be here by now. I made my way up the steps. The hallway was eerily quiet. I made it to the door and pulled out my lockpick set, my hands steady as I worked the tumblers. A soft click, and I was in.

I moved silently, scanning for the perfect hiding spot. Everything seemed to open, and then my eyes landed on the vintage Ouija board hanging on the wall behind the couch. It was a canvas style painting. I had an idea. I moved to the side of the couch and carefully took it down. I slipped the bug between the canvas and the wood, pushing on it a few times to make sure it wasn’t going anywhere before I placed the painting back on the wall ensuring it was perfectly straight before I readied to leave. I had been in and out in less than five minutes. Relief washed over me as I locked the door behind me. I’d crossed a line, but there was no going back now. Whatever Liam might be hiding, we’d find out soon enough.

Oh, Liam was definitely pissed off. I stole glances at him throughout the day, each one met with cold indifference. The air crackled with unspoken words, charged and ready to ignite with the slightest provocation.

We’d been playing this game of emotional chicken since the night he’d escorted me home, our conversations as dead as the props surrounding us. I couldn’t fathom what had caused the shift, but it ate at me, clawing away like sharp, insistent nails.

It had been a few days since I bugged his house, but Johnthan hadn’t caught anything out of the ordinary yet. I adjusted a skeleton's posture, its grin mocking me in the dim light. Footsteps echoed, and I knew without looking that Liam had returned.

“Looks good,” he said, though his tone matched the chill of the room.

“Thanks,” I muttered.

Liam moved past me, brushing against my arm. Sparks of energy zapped through my skin from the contact, unwanted yet undeniable. Our eyes met for a heartbeat, his gaze piercing through me. He looked away first, the message clear: keep your distance.

“Need help with that?” I asked, my voice betraying a hint of desperation to break through to him.

“No,” he replied curtly, already focused on a stack of boxes labeled “DO NOT TOUCH.” I noticed his knuckles were wrapped and scabby, as if he had been in a fist fight recently.

“What happened to your hands?” I asked, trying to make conversation, but he just met my gaze, his jaw ticking before he moved the boxes and turned away from me.

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