Page 30 of Bleed for Me

“I’m coming to you. Where are you?”

He sniffled again. “Aunt Lucille’s and Uncle Baron’s, where the fuck do you think?”

My throat constricted, fear snaking through me and causing my grip to tighten on the steering wheel. “J-Just stay there, okay? I’m on my way.” He muttered something under his breath but it was drowned out by his crying. I hung up and dialed my father.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Nothing! I tried again. The same empty response. Next, I dialed my stepmom. She didn’t answer either. Panic surged through me, even more potent than before. I jammed my foot against the gas, not giving a fuck how fast I was going or if some asshole cop decided to turn their lights on. I wasn’t going to stop. Not until I found out that my family was okay.

Within thirty minutes, I was pulling into the two-story home that my parents owned. I prayed that they were tucked away in bed, perfectly safe and content. Somehow, deep down, I knew that wasn’t the case, and it ate away at me. Parking the car, I jumped out of the vehicle, leaving it idling. Plants lined the walkway on either side; it was something my stepmom enjoyed doing in her spare time. She used to gush about how much it brought the yard together, and I agreed.

I shoved through the front door, immediately spotting Jordan in the living room. The mere sight of him had my body going rigid. He was covered in blood. It was on his face, his shirt, his hands, every fucking where. His eyes glistened with tears, guilt gnawing away at him.

“I didn’t know what I was doing.” He breathed, moving toward me. I looked over him skeptically, taking a step back asagony flooded through me. He didn’t have to say it. I already knew. “My head’s fucked up, Val. It’s been fucked up.”

I swallowed thickly, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. “You killed them.” It was a statement. One I already knew the answer to.

“Forgive me,” he whispered, so quietly I could barely make out the words.

I stumbled backwards, my stomach twisting in knots. Dead. He killed them. He killed my pregnant stepmom and my father—my own flesh and blood. ‘His’ own flesh and blood. My knees weakened, and I didn’t bother to stop the fall as they landed on the hard wood with a thud, pain shooting through my limbs from the impact, but it barely registered.

“Val, it wasn’t me…something is wrong with me. You have to believe it.” Desperation laced through his words, but I didn’t care.

“Something is wrong with you,” I agreed. “You’re a fucking monster. My parents let you into their home and you murdered them like it was nothing.” My eyes were hard as they met his from across the room. “There is no forgiveness for you. Not from me.” On shaky legs, I rose again. “You are dead to me, Jordan. Don’t call me again. I hope you die just as painful a death as you put them through, you sadistic little bitch,” I growled, not even recognizing my own voice. Anger blew through my veins, warming the inside of my body until rage was the only thing I felt.

He choked on another cry, his body bending as he hyperventilated. He acted as if my words had the same effect as a punch. God, I wished I could punch him. But he was a minor, and my degree was important to me.

“Val—” He started again, but I was already turning for the door.

I slipped out into the night, letting the door close behind me before I lifted my phone to my ear after dialing the police.

Maybe if I’d forgiven him that night, things would have been different. Maybe we wouldn’t be where we were now. But at the time, how could I have even considered it? Even now, I still haven’t forgiven him. I’d always wanted a sibling—someone to take care of and do things with. My parents were so excited to have a little girl.Hetook that from me. He took that fromthem.

I turned off my vehicle and stepped out onto the cement. My mind was a mess as I made my way up the front steps of my porch. If there was one good thing that came from this, it was the new path I’d found myself on. Before he killed my parents, I partied every weekend, drank until I blacked out, hooked up with random girls, went to strip clubs. One of my favorites had been Club Euphoria. A sex club in Redwood about an hour away. It was one of the classier ones, but still just as sinful.

Slipping into my house, I flicked on the light and kicked my shoes off near the door. The place was eerily silent as expected. I bought this house within the year of graduating. My father’s business became my own, and it paid well. I’d almost turned the offer down, even thought about selling the company. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. It felt wrong to work without him by my side when it was all we’d ever talked about, but it also felt wrong to give it away when it was something he worked so hard for.

I made my way into the kitchen and fixed myself a glass of water. Even though it had no taste, it was bitter. What Ireallywanted was some rum, something to drown out my encounter with Jordan today, something to help me forget. But it wasn’t like I kept a bottle on standby—not anymore.

I made my way back to the living room and sat in the recliner, propping my feet up. I grabbed the remote off the armrest andturned on the TV. My stomach turned as my mind replayed that night over and over again in my head on repeat.

I knew that the only way I’d heal from this completely was if I forgave him, but I wasn’t ready. It was the worst night of my life. Plus, it had been so long now that Jordan had fallen even further from the person he once was. He was someone I didn’t even recognize now. Forgiveness was probably too late.

My mind flashed to Rosalie. How she stood there, terrified of the man I used to call my cousin. Despite her fear, she stood up to him. I’d read through her file. She was in college to become a psychologist. She knew what people like him could be capable of if given the right motivation. I needed to keep her as far away from him as possible before he tainted her—just like he tainted everything. His friends were no better, and Archer has already developed an interest for the girl. That could only mean one thing.

She was doomed.

NINE

ROSALIE

Iheld up one of the bright, yellow pieces of paper, pressing it against the wall while I retrieved a piece of tape and secured it there. Taking a step back, I admired my handy work. My hands trembled as yesterday’s service invaded my mind. Jordan and Valentine werecousins—which meant that Jordan had killed his parents. He had been so heartless about it, too. My chest tightened, remembering Valentine’s hurt expression which he quickly tried to hide.

I couldn’t imagine going through something like that. When I thought Gentry killed Daisy, all I felt was resentment and hatred, but he’d been a horrible person anyways, so even if he hadn’t been the one to kill her, he was still the reason she was dead, and my feelings weren’t misplaced.

Sighing, I hung up a few more flyers before a hand landed on my shoulder, sending fear snaking through me. I jolted, whirling around to face the person who had chosen to invade my personal space.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Ryder said sheepishly, holding his hands up in surrender with a charming smile etchedinto his features. He was cute in a skater-boy kind of way but wasn’t really my type.

I blew out a sigh of relief. “It’s okay.” I forced a small smile of my own.

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