Page 59 of Depraved Truths

“We need to deal with Dalton. We have everything we need from him. He has to pay for everything he’s done. It’s time he pays for his sins,” Tessa replies with a harsh whisper.

Breathe, Allie. Breathe. This is Tessa.You didn’t wake up in the middle of aJohn Wickmovie.

“What do you mean by ‘deal with Dalton’?” I ask, a sick feeling curling in my stomach.

Tess turns to face me. “Alls—”

“No. No more secrets. No more lies. I knew you two were hiding something,” I say, my body trembling with shock and disbelief. “Oh my god, is hehere?”

“Yes. He’s locked in the basement.”

Horrified, a gasp escapes me, my hands instinctively covering my mouth.

Tessa simply watches me, and my skin prickles with alarm. “He was trying to run away. I couldn’t let him escape after what he did to you.”

“So… what, you kidnapped him?”

“When you put it like that, yes, that is exactly what I did.” Tessa shrugs, no sign of remorse in her eyes.

Oh my god, this is aJohn Wickmovie!I pinch myself desperately, trying to wake up.Ouch, that hurt.Panicking, I back up slowly, but she raises her hands and speaks in a reassuring tone. “Alls, it’s me. I need you to give me a chance to explain myself here.” I eye her warily before nodding at her to continue.

“He was running from the law, and they were doing nothing. Nothing, Allie. I had to stop him.” She locks hands with Eli. “We hadto stop him.”

I look at Eli. “You were in on this, too?” My mind races, trying to put all of this together and make it make sense.

“Dalton hurt you. He almost killed you. He killed—” He breaks off suddenly.

Heavy emotions roll over me. My hand instinctively goes to my abdomen. The loss I feel is unbearable. It’s as if there’s a weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I have to focus on something else. I can’t think about the baby. Not right now.

“How did you find him?” I ask, struggling to regain my composure. “Where was he?”

“He was hiding out in an abandoned warehouse.” Tessa’s gaze slides away from mine, as if she’s leaving something out. “We grabbed him before he could leave town.”

I look at my friend, slowly trying to process everything. I’m scared to ask more questions, but I need to know. “Tess, tell me why you brought him here. Why didn’t you call the police?”

“Because there are others involved. It isn’t just Dalton and Wilson. There are people in high places who will do anything to protect themselves,” she says forcefully. “I had to get as much information out of him as I could. We have to get justice for those girls. I have to get justice for you.”

“M-me?”

“Dalton is a bad man. I can’t let him hurt anyone else.”

“What are you going to do?” I ask, fear creeping in.

“Do you really want to know? I mean,reallywant to know?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know,” I sob. “Just tell me.”

“He has to die.”

Understanding dawns on me as I recall the news release of Wilson’s body being found. “Dalton was here. He couldn’t have been the one who killed Wilson.”

“Wilson was a bad man, made bad decisions, and didn’t feel an ounce of remorse. The world is better off without him.”

My mind races. What did Tessa do? “Oh my god, so you’re...what? Some sort of vigilante?” I gape at her, disbelief flooding through me. This isn’t the Tessa I thought I knew. But if what she is telling me is true, Wilson and Dalton are monsters.

Biting my lip in indecision, I finally steady myself. “I want to see him. Dalton,” I say firmly. “Take me to him.”

We go down to the basement. I’ve always loved this theater room. We’ve spent several girls’ nights drinking margaritas and watching rom-coms. I’m not sure I’ll ever see this room the same again.

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