Page 109 of Property of Chaos

He recoils at my growled words, absorbed into the crowd by his amped-up friends, and ushered toward the school building.

I turn back to Selena to find her lips snarled, murder in her eyes. “Why did you fucking interfere?”

“Are you shitting me?” I cuff the back of her neck and steer her toward the bike.

“Trust this won’t happen again?” Marty calls, fucking too small-dicked to miss an opportunity to assert his authority.

“Fuck off.”

“Where are we going?” Selena jerks in my hold.

I grip tighter into her trap muscles and shove her toward the road. “Home to discuss what the fuck that was.”

“It was me sorting my issues, Chaos.” She weaves and pulls free of my hold. “Next time, just leave me to it.”

I stand in the middle of the laneway, frustrated mom in a minivan gesturing at me from behind the steering wheel as I watch my baby sister stride her ass back into the school, the vice pulling her aside the moment her feet hit the front steps.

When the hell did she turn into such a hellion? And what the fuck was that fight all about?

The minivan honks, the woman behind the wheel shrinking when I turn toward her and slam both hands down on the hood.Not today, bitch.I back up, taking my time before turning for the bike.

Marty leans against the fender of his cruiser, arms folded and a shit-eating grin on his face. “You make it far too easy for me, you know?”

“Jealousy will get you nowhere, asshole.”

Chaos follows you wherever you go.

THIRTY-SEVEN

VANESSA

My legs ache,but I relish the burn as I climb the short embankment beside the river. Marianna stopped by before an open home to walk me through the steps to buy my plane tickets, and Evelyn forwarded the details of the hotel she booked for us last night. The trip is planned and ready, but will I ever be?

I reach the top and pause, hands to my waist as I catch my breath.Fuck, I’m unfit.I need to do this more often. I should start resistance training again.When the anxiety eases.Maybe yoga would be better. The last thing my already overworked body needs is another reason to amp up the heart rate.

He wasn’t there last night. Or the night before that. I haven’t heard Chaos’s bike or seen any sign of Circus since we argued at the cafe. And it hurts.

We weren’t even dating, for fuck’s sake, but my soul doesn’t know the difference.

I miss him.I’m fucked up.To miss my stalker? The guy who strongarmed his way into my life?Love has many forms.The only fucking thing Abraham said that I agree with, although we still refer to vastly different things.

The farmhouse is easier to see from here, wide against the horizon. I knew it was a big place, but the people who built it must have had some serious money. Where did they go? What happened to them to abandon such a grand old lady?

My feet move through the long grass, intent set in stone before I question what I do. Nobody’s there now, but that won’t be the case much longer. I’ve always been curious about the house, but stepping on the property feels wrong, as though I violate somebody’s memory. Their spirit.

Pretty sure that won’t be the only thing being violated here soon.

I climb over the timber fence that lines the driveway and drop my feet to the dirt yard. Up close, it’s evident that the place has been neglected for a long time. Boards split, paint peels, and a film of dust coats everything. I couldn’t confidently say what color the house was originally; its weathered exterior blends into the palette of the surroundings.

The porch steps squeak as I make my way up. To my surprise, the front door is unlocked. Graffiti marks one of the interior walls, and the foyer is breathtaking in its size. A walkway runs around three sides on the second floor—a grand space to view those below. The staircase sweeps in a gentle arc up the left wall, threadbare carpet lining the middle of each riser.

Where was he when he made me the video?A glance at my left and right indicates that the lower floor is all living space. So I go upstairs, testing each room starting from the far left. The first few are small. Nursery size. The middle room, adjacent to the front door below, has bookshelves. What was once likely a grand library.Beautiful.The bedrooms are larger the farther right I go until I reach the last door and realize there’s no more despite the walkway continuing to the front wall of the house.

I soon figure out why.

It has to be the main suite. Spacious, with a window on each side and sconces installed on the far wall indicating where a large bed would go. Sure enough, if I position myself in front of the left window, I can see my house. And if I turn the other way…Bingo.

A shiver runs through me as though I passed through his ghost.

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