Page 24 of Haunt Me

We arrive at a house that exudes a quaint, old-fashioned aura. With knitted brows, I exchange a knowing glance with Demitri.

“What did you expect? A big, dark, and gloomy mansion that screams illegal?” he remarks. Shaking my head, we exit the car and approach the front door. Demitri knocks, two quick taps followed by one more.

Fucking hell, it feels like I’m in a low-budget spy film. The door creaks open, revealing a short man who appears even smaller from my perspective. Without uttering a word, he steps aside, granting us entry. Inside, the house mirrors the exterior’s old-fashioned charm, and a familiar scent fills the air, reminiscent of the Sunday dinners at my grandparents’ house. The thought elicits an inward cringe.

“Nice to see you again, man. This is my friend Argent, the one I told you about. Argent, this is Aiden,” Demitri introduces, and I extend my hand for him to take.

“Pleasure,” I simply say.

“Jesus, how tall are you?” He exclaimed with a chuckle, his voice echoing through the narrow hallway. “I’m breaking my neck just to look at you.”

“Uh…6’8—anyway, so you said you can help me find what I need?” I quickly changed the subject, my mind focused on the task at hand. I’m here for important reasons not to compare height.

“Ah, yes, follow me.” He quickly heads down the narrow hallway, and Demitri and I follow. The hallway was dimly lit, the soft glow of the tiny blue lights creating an eerie ambiance. Family pictures adorned the walls, their presence bringing a sense of warmth amidst the tension. As we entered the dark room, the scent of electronics and a faint hint of coffee filled the air. The room was filled with rows of computers, their soft hum blending with the sound of typing and clicking. The monitor screens, glowing brightly, dominated one wall, displaying a multitude of information.

This guy must really know what he’s doing.

“Right, I looked up the guy’s name you gave me and this is everything that I found,” he said, his fingers dancing across the keyboard. The files appeared on the screen, each click bringing anticipation. Leaning in closer, I absorbed the details, file after file, a rush of excitement building within me.

Bingo.

It turned out that Zavier had been in romantic relationships with every single victim, their disappearances and subsequent discovery of their lifeless bodies occurring shortly after the breakups. The police had been unable to charge him due to the lack of evidence, and his ability to meticulously cover his tracks. I requested a list of the victims’ names and the states where the crimes had taken place.

Thanking him, I exited the room, and my footsteps echoed in the hallway as I made my way back to the car. Demitri hurriedly followed, the sound of the car door slamming shut adding to the urgency.

“You think he did it, don’t you?” Demitri’s voice broke the silence as we settled into the car.

“No fucking doubt in my mind,” I replied firmly, the conviction evident in my voice.

If I wanted to—and trust me, I do—I could've easily found Zavier and ripped his head from his body, but this is personal now, I want to find out everything this piece of shit has done and torture him for every goddamn thing.

Accelerating, the engine roared to life, propelling us towards the familiar house. The streets blurred past, the adrenaline coursing through my veins. The anticipation of seeing my girl, mixed with the knowledge that she hoped I wouldn’t show up, fueled my determination. The night air rushed through the open windows, a cool breeze brushing against my skin. I still have a date with my girl, and it’s getting late and I sure as hell can’t keep her waiting.

One thing about me—I am a man of my word.

Chapter 15

Starlet

It has been awhile since I had a peaceful night, no work just laying around, watching movies, and eating junk food. I invited Chloe, but she has a hot date, so I’m flying solo tonight. Just as I get comfortable on the couch with my soft, cozy blanket, a sharp knock on the door has me bolting up and I realize it must be the pizza delivery. Letting out a breath, I throw the blanket off me, feeling the cool air against my skin, and head to the door.

Opening the door, I crane my neck and see—wouldn’t you know it, it’s Argent, and he’s holding my pizza in his hands, not missing themischievous smirk playing on his lips, which makes me roll my eyes.

“Guess they hire anybody these days,” I say with sass lacing my voice.

“Ha-ha, very funny,” he says, his voice echoing through the hallway, walking past me, and placing the box on the kitchen counter.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, closing the door and turning towards him. “And don’t tell me you killed the pizza delivery guy.”

“I did tell you that I’ll be here—here I am,” he says with a smile playing on his lips, leaning against the counter. The faint scent of his cologne reaches my nose, a mix of musk and cedarwood.

“And no, lucky for him, I’m not in the killing mood tonight.” Rolling my eyes, I make my way to where he’s leaning, and I take out a warm, cheesy slice of pizza and place it on a plate. Turning around, I hold out the plate to him, feeling the warmth radiating from the crust. He furrows his brows, his eyes scanning my face.

“You might as well eat something—I’m not eating this entire pizza by myself,” I tell him, looking up at himthrough my lashes. Another smile pulls at the corner of his mouth and he slowly takes the plate from my hands.

“Thank you, although I have no doubt that you could polish that whole thing without my help.”

I try to hide the smile that forms on my face but fail miserably, feeling a warmth spreading through my cheeks.

---