Page 116 of Hunted By Valentine

Butit’s the woman standing back at the entrance that truly captures my attention. Her curvy figure is wrapped in a smart, tight black outfit, her elegance almost out of place in this sea of grief.

Long, straight black hair cascades down her shoulders, the lower half dyed a striking blood-red, matching her lipstick and nails. Even from this distance, her gray eyes pierce through me, making my heart race with a strange blend of curiosity and unease.

“Who is she?” I ask Nick under my breath, nodding toward the mysterious woman.

“Never seen her before,” he replies gruffly, his attention never leaving her.

My mind races with questions, but now isn’t the time for answers. The priest’s voice drones on, offering words of comfort that bounce off my numb heart. My gaze remains locked on the enigmatic stranger, unable to shake the feeling that she holds the key to something important.

As the ceremony comes to a close, I force myself to look away from her, acknowledging the finality of my loss. The wind howls through the bare trees just outside, echoing the emptiness within me.

Finished, the priest looks expectantly at me and Nick. I have no idea what he just said, or what he wants from me. But instead of finding out, I turn my back on him and walk over to the unknown woman.

“Who are you?” I ask, my voice gruffer than I intended as I address the intruder.

“I’m Eve Mortis,” she replies calmly, her lips curving into a small smile. “And you must be Jack Knight.”

It’s not surprising that she knows who I am. “Correct,” I say, hesitating for a moment. “What brought you here? You don’t seem like one of Ruby’s friends.” I don’t tell her that I know my sister had none.

“Actually,” Eve begins slowly, her gaze flickering to the twin caskets before returning to me, “I was Valentine’s psychiatrist. I’m here to say goodbye and to pay my respects.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Anger courses through my veins, my hands curling into fists at my sides. “You were his psychiatrist? And you couldn’t stop him from destroying my sister’s life?”

“Jack, grief can manifest itself in many ways,” she says, her tone measured. “Right now, it seems like you’re projecting your anger onto me. It’s understandable, but misplaced.”

“Understandable?” I spit out, seething. “My sister is dead because of him, and you didn’t do anything to prevent it!”

“Valentine was a highly complex individual, and I did my best to help him navigate his struggles,” she explains, her voice never wavering. “But ultimately, his actions were his own. Not everything can be controlled, and placing blame on others won’t bring her back.”

“Is that what you tell yourself to sleep at night?” I snap, my vision blurring with unshed tears. “You’re just as guilty as he was.”

“I understand that you’re in pain right now, but I assure you, I did everything in my power to help Valentine,” she says gently. “Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we can’t save everyone.”

Her words echo in my head, the truth of them cutting through my anger like a knife. I take a deep breath, trying to regain my composure. But as I look into her eyes, I know that my quest for vengeance is far from over.

This woman may hold the key to understanding Valentine’s darkness, and ultimately, finding some semblance of closure for Ruby’s death.

“Fine,” I say grudgingly, my voice thick with emotion. “But don’t think this is the end of it.”

“Perhaps not,” she agrees, her gaze steady and unwavering. “But for now, let us mourn the ones we’ve lost.”

With a sharp nod, I turn back around to watch Nick, Carolina, and the priest talk amongst themselves. Good. It’s what they do best, and no one wants to hear what I have to say, anyway. Especially not today.

A part of me still wants to throw Valentine’s casket into a ditch, but Carolina’s insistence stopped me. She argued that doing so would be an insult to Ruby, who died trying to save him.

As I stand there, staring at the resting place of my sister and the man who tore apart our lives, my mind drifts back to the conversation with Eve Mortis.

Hercalm demeanor and measured words still haunt me. I can’t shake the feeling that she knows more about Valentine’s darkness than she lets on. Perhaps, if I dig deeper, I’ll find the answers I seek to help me make sense of this tragedy.

As I look up, I realize she’s gone. With a heavy sigh, I force myself to turn away from the mausoleum, ignoring Carolina’s and Nick’s pleas for me to stay with them. Every step feels like a betrayal, yet I know I have no choice. If I am ever to find justice for Ruby, I must leave her behind, at least for now.

Outside, I see Eve walk away in the distance, her pace brisk, and her head downturned as she looks at her phone. I keep a cautious distance as I follow Eve through the winding streets, my senses on high alert. Her graceful stride stands out against the backdrop of the bustling city, but I remain unseen, a silent shadow in pursuit.

My mind races with possibilities for making her pay. If it hadn’t been for her, if she had done her job properly, Valentine would never have entered Ruby’s life, and she’d still be alive. As I stalk her, my hatred for Eve grows stronger, a dark fire consuming me from within.

Eventually, she arrives at a building that exudes professionalism. The sign above the entrance reads ‘Mortis Psychotherapy and Behavioral Clinic.’ So this is where she works, I think, the bitter taste of irony lingering on my tongue.

As I watch her disappear inside, I can’t stop thinking about how fitting it is that someone connected to Valentine’s twisted world would specialize in unraveling the minds of others.

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