Page 24 of Sinful Little Lies

Her limp body moves easily for me as I carry her from the apartment and down the steps to where the car is. Jaden is the first one to jump out of the backseat and speak to me.

“What the hell is going on, Grimm? Is that Verena? Is she okay?” He steps away from the door to make room for us. I bend down into the car, being extremely careful with my movements.

“Just drive!” I order. Jaden sits in the driver’s seat and peels out, bringing us back to the house.

It’s beena few days since I found Verena unconscious in Leo’s apartment. I’ve spent the last seventy-two hours relentlessly catering to her. We called in the RSB doctor, Dr. Josiah.

He said Verena suffered a minor concussion and needed plenty of rest. Headaches were going to follow and so would some confusion, disorientation, and some slight irritation about the fact that she’ll be stuck by my side until further notice. Dr. Josiah ran blood tests on Verena, checking for pregnancy and diseases. They all came up negative, but he did find something strange in her blood.

In addition to being knocked-out cold, she was drugged. Leo had poisoned her with Strychnine, a substance used to render patients unconscious. A little goes a long way and there was about two milligrams injected into her system. An amount lethal enough to end her life. I know he’s in the medical field and I totally didn’t expect more from his dumbass, but did he really think he’d never get caught?

I’m going tolovedelivering this reality check.

Dr. Josiah is positive that Verena will make a full recovery, but there’s no guarantee she’ll be able to recollect that trauma. He said the physical abuse was evident and we shouldn’t rule out sexual abuse. “I can perform a SAFE exam, but that’s up to Miss. Losado if she wants to go through with it. Ask her about it when she wakes up. If she chooses to do so, let me know within forty-eight hours.” Dr. Josiah informed me.

My words get stuck in my throat at the possibility that Leo took advantage of V while she was unconscious and drugged. I want nothing more than to hurt him the same way he hurt her, or worse. The pure anger and rage that floods through my veins threaten to overtake my mind. He’ll get what’s coming to him. I’ll make sure of it. Not a single inch of his body will be left untouched by the time I’m finished with him.

Justice will be hers. It’ll be my life’s mission until my dying day.

Aspen, Verena’s roommate, blew up her phone when Verena went radio silent for the last few days. I informed her about what had happened as far as her concussion, but demanded she keep it under wraps. V doesn’t want anyone in her business, especially when it comes to Leo and his habit of taking his frustrations out on her physically. No one knew except for me, I’m sure. She would want to keep it that way and I am nothing if not the one who fulfills her every wish.

Emmett has been a bit quiet, too. I’m not sure if he’s been tied up in between Blair’s legs or if Verena’s situation traumatized him. But for all that we’ve done together, you’d think it’d be just another day at Blackwood for him.

Eli has been a huge help. He’s stepped up in a way so out of his character, I’d kiss him if he wasn’t such a detached soul. Every moment I haven’t been able to be by V’s side, he agreedto remain with her when I needed to be elsewhere and alert me when she finally woke up.

Every free moment I have is dedicated to crafting the perfect hell for when I takedown Leo. His days are numbered.

I’m coming for him.

14

GRIMM

Standing outside the automatic doors,I watch as nurses, doctors, and technicians weave between each other, floating from room to room. They are completely oblivious to the danger standing just outside their door. Luckily for them, I’m here for one dipshit, and one dipshit only.

My fists clench and unclench at my sides, my jaw grinding. I take a step forward and my eyes narrow, tunnel-vision taking over. The smell of nitrile gloves and antiseptic fill the hospital as I make my way through.

My boots are silent against the tiled floors. A rag doused in chloroform sits snugly in my back pocket. Heads turn in my direction, looking at me warily. My 6’6” frame usually draws the eyes of others anyway, paired with the promise of death that gleams in my eyes.

Except everyone here is too busy to give a fuck about my reasoning for being here. There’s only one person who should be afraid of me right now, and as my eyes lock on the back of his head, I watch his spine stiffen. He slowly turns to look at me from over his shoulder. My steps don’t falter as we lock eyes and I continue straight toward him.

His head snaps forward as he walks in the opposite direction. He can try to avoid me all he wants, but it’s not happening. I’m here for vengeance. I’m here for V, my little monster.

Leo continues to push his little legs to bring him to the safety of his office, but I make long strides and catch up, the predator ready and hungry to pounce on its prey.

He slides into his office and attempts to shut the door, but I’m faster and shove my foot between the door and its frame. My right hand catches the door, aiding my foot, and I make eye contact with Leo. A sinister grin spreads across my face.Oh, I cannot wait to fuck him up.

I push him inside and slam the door, locking it, before I turn to face Leo. He puffs out his chest and puts on his best tough guy act when addressing me. “What do you want, man? Give it up, Grimmothy. You don’t think I see the way you look at her? As good as youthinkyou are at hiding your true feelings, you fucking suck at it. There’s plenty of puss for you at Blackwood. Do you have to relentlessly go after Verena? Yeah, I hear things. People talk. But you know what? She doesn’t want you. I can offer her everything she needs in life. She’s happy. We’re happy. Move on and get out of her life.”

“Alright, first of all, fuck you. That’s not my name. Secondly, you offer her nothing but misery and pain. You think no one knows about what you’ve done to her? I’ve seen the bruises, Leo. She calledmefor help because you made her your fucking punching bag. You’re done. From this moment on, you’ll wish I gave you the privilege of a quick death,” I say, my tone low and menacing.

“Now are you going to walk out of this building without causing a scene or do I need to kill you right here, right now, hm?” My eyebrows raise, the skin on my forehead wrinkling. Leo sighs and picks up his briefcase. He walks out of his office and through the front doors of the building, towards my car. Hereaches for the backdoor, but I stop him and open the passenger seat.

He thinks I’m a fucking idiot. That I don’t expect him to retaliate after I practically kidnapped him. Yeah, right. Like I’d take my chances.

Once he’s seated, I grab his briefcase and move it to the backseat. Now behind him, I rip the chloroform cloth out of my back pocket and wrap my arm around the head of the seat, covering his mouth and nose. Within a few seconds, he’s knocked out cold. “How doyoulike being drugged, dipshit? Not so fun, is it?” I scoff and shut the passenger side door.

Twenty minutes later,we arrive at Blackwood Cemetery and I grab all my necessities from the car, including Leo. Hoisted over my shoulder, I carry him to join a good old friend of mine. Braxton, the Pumpkin King.

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