Page 11 of Oliver

What is it about her that calls to my beast? Who the fuck knows? But I meant what I said. I’m not about to back off. Not even for sweet little Penny.

Penny

With a headache brewing, I step out of the closet and glance around. He’s gone, thankfully because I’m not in the mood for another round.

How is Oliver mixed up in this? Is he simply defending his dad or is there something more?

I have no clue beyond realizing my sister was into some dark web shit that is disturbing to say the least.

In addition to her affair with Ken fucking Goodlow, she was flirting with and potentially fucking a half dozen others, if her messages are to be believed.

Does that include Oliver, the skeevy asshole? How did I not know my sister was spiraling into such a deep, dark world?

With a groan, I acknowledge it had everything to do with my own selfish reasons. I should have been paying attention but I ignored the signs. She was agitated and snippy, not her normal behavior.

I can’t go back, but I thought I could control the now, which is why I was on my quest. I was determined to do what I didn’t before, protect my sister, even if it was just in the form of avenging her death.

Now, here I am, embroiled in something I wish I hadn’t started because not only am I questioning Dixie’s life before she died, but I don’t know who is gunning for me and it’s a really precarious place to be.

Shaking my head from my macabre thoughts, I head toward the parking lot, taking in the banners announcing the upcoming graduation. The smiling faces of my peers remind me that once upon a time, I would’ve been hanging with my so-called friends as Queen Bitch.

Now as I look over the familiar faces who won’t meet my gaze, I see just how shitty I was. Sabrina brought me down but before my inglorious fall, I was no better. I could claim that I got what I deserved and therefore served my time. But is it true?

Serenity Bowen, who’s staring at me with her hand halfway to her mouth might disagree. Is there any penance worthy of convincing Jensen to seduce her into the nearest bathroom where we proceeded to strip her of her clothes and shove her into the hall naked?

Yeah, probably not.

I thought I came to terms with my cruel ass behavior. Apparently, I was lying to myself.

When the bell overhead rings, I flinch. This was a bust. Fuck me.

But as I blink against the sunshine and glance back at the building, I concede, this isn’t over. In fact, it’s just begun.

Chapter 3

It’s only a lie if you believe it.

Penny

If I had thought this through, I wouldn’t be standing on Oliver’s porch, pounding on his front door. Especially after my altercation with Mr. G yesterday but I’ve been stewing since last night and the fucker won’t return my calls.

Mr. Goodlow is still at the school. I did at least check that before I came over.

I wouldn’t be here at all except for Maeve dropping a bombshell on me after I came home yesterday.

As soon as I came through the door, I went straight to my room and opened my laptop.

After avoiding the news articles about my sister’s death and the Lucky Charm killer because I suspected whatever I found would haunt me, I knew I had to do this if I wanted answers. Much like everything else, I had little choice.

Skipping the first few articles because I didn’t want to read anything related to my sister, I went back a few years before clicking on the one with a picture of a victim. She looked nothing like Dixie with her pale blue eyes and dark hair. Still, I continued clicking, going down a rabbit hole that only ratcheted the headache pinching my neck.

What I found led me to believe that there was no rhyme or reason to the Lucky Charm’s victims beyond that most were living on the streets which was not the case for Dixie.

What was the connection? Mr. G and their affair or something more? I’m not stupid, I know decapitating her was a link to the Lucky Charm killer, but I also believe there's more to the story.

Why would Oliver be involved otherwise? He couldn't be the damn infamous serial killer because he was too young. Either he was covering for his dad who is, or it wasn't the Lucky Charm killer at all.

If it’s not, did someone stage her death? Every article I found stated how the victims were found headless. It’s possible whoever did this was hoping to cover their tracks by leading the cops in the wrong direction.

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