Page 114 of Three for a Girl

Chad saw the monster locked in Romeo’s eyes, it pressed forward awaiting its cue.

“I’ll let you.”

Romeo pulled him by the throat and covered Chad’s mouth with his own. The moan that left Romeo was close to a growl, and Chad’s knees weakened.

He pulled away panting, “But I don’t know how to get him here.”

“I can help you with that.”

Chapter Eighteen

Romeo had told him if it wasn’t to happen that night, there would be another. Chad’s stomach squirmed at the thought of waiting night after night for the opportunity to present itself.

Ithadto happen that night.

The whole day he’d run through the evidence on the wall, inwardly churning it over and over before speaking it aloud, convincing himself he was right about Carter, but the TV and radio sung his praises.

He wasn’t only a local hero, but a national one, saving Marcy from death’s door.

Many times that day he’d shook his head, told Romeo he must’ve got it wrong, but Romeo stood in front of him, pressed his palm to Chad’s stomach and asked about his gut feeling towards Carter.

It hadn’t changed despite every news station congratulating the doctor.

The wind blew refreshing air at him for a change. He’d been blessed, not only with the shade of the trees, but the cooling temperature. The long due break to the heatwave was fast approaching, and brought an army of grey clouds. They blocked out the sun, casting a great shadow on the countryside, staining it in darkness.

Carter finished his shift at 5:00, and Romeo had dropped Chad off an hour earlier than necessary. He waited, hidden in the tree line. He had a good view of the road that led to Crafts Way, the tucked away community of the rich, and could see the cars approaching from a distance.

Each time a car passed that wasn’t Carter’s, he slunk back and fought off a fresh wave of uncertainty. The what ifs swirled in his mind, gathering momentum.

What would happen if he was wrong?

Chad rested against the tree, before cursing and springing forward. He did his best to check his suit for marks, picturing Romeo’s unimpressed face.

He’d ironed the creases out of Chad’s shirt, jacket and pants, adamant Chad had to look his best for his confrontation with Carter. Chad could still picture the glee in Romeo’s face as he helped Chad get ready, perfecting his mask.

He had fixed Chad’s tie into position, smoothed his collar, and brushed his jacket with his hands. Chad had fixated on Romeo’s chin, until he’d been tilted upwards to meet Romeo’s eyes.

“It’s okay to be nervous.”

The lump in Chad’s throat didn’t budge no matter how hard he tried to swallow. “What if I’m wrong?”

“I won’t do anything until you give me the go ahead.”

“It’s like throwing a dog a bone and expecting it not to eat it.”

Romeo’s dimples pinched with his snort. “And if you threw Toby a bone and yelled at him to leave it, would he have done?”

“Yeah, but he was a good boy.”

“I can be a good boy, too.” Romeo wrapped his arms around Chad’s back and slid his hands down, cupping Chad’s ass. “Not that I want to be right now.”

Chad shook his head. “No more distractions.”

Romeo had turned him towards the mirror and rested his chin on Chad’s shoulder. His arms secured around Chad’s chest, keeping him together when he was so close to falling apart.

“But you look so … handsome.”

They were Romeo’s words, but Chad had been thinking them, not about himself, but Romeo’s face next to his, beaming at the mirror. How could someone look so breathtakingly alive when fantasizing about murder?

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