Page 101 of His Good Girl
“For what?” I ask, dread welling up.
“You’ll see,” she murmurs and lets go of me.
With a trembling hand, I lift the lid a fraction and then drop it in horror, my hand going to my mouth. “What?”
“What is it?” Logan demands, flipping the lid off so vehemently that it goes flying across the kitchen. “Oh. Who is it?” He peers at the severed head with curiosity.
“Mr. Todd,” I murmur, clenching my fists as I glare at my abuser’s head and hands nestled on either side of the box.
“Welcome to Solitaire,” Rue says.
“Fuck,” I mutter, feeling the vomit rise up. Turning, I slap my hand over my mouth to stop its progress.
“Get rid of it,” Logan mutters.
“That’s up to Serena,” Rue says, handing me a brand-new phone. “Cleaner is listed under C.”
“What?”
“I know this is hard, but your demon is gone. Dead, and most of him buried. Call the cleaner and get him here to remove the rest of this plague from your life.”
Catching Logan’s eye, he nods grimly, coming to me and placing his hand on my back as I make the call.
It is answered after two rings, but no one says anything, so I speak, my voice hoarse with emotion. “Clean up needed at my apartment.”
A click sounds to signify the cleaner hanging up. Placing the phone back on the counter, I swallow back the fear looking into his dead eyes brings me.
“Well, actually, it was me, but you know, I have to come bearing gifts from the folks,” Rue says.
“You?” The fact that my best friend is so violent doesn’t faze me at all. If anything, it makes me love her even more.
She nods and clasps my hand. “I avenged you, my sweet friend. You never have to fear him again.”
While Logan replaces the lid on top of the box, I lick my lips. She’s right. With Logan by my side, propping me up, and the knowledge that Mr. Todd is gone, I have nothing to fear. “It was Solitaire, wasn’t it?” I ask Logan.
“What?”
“Who killed that man in prison.”
“Yeah.”
“So this is how it works?”
“Pretty much. Quid pro quo.”
Taking that on board, I feel oddly satisfied with the system. I’m not saying this is over, it will never truly be gone from my life, but it’s a fucking good start to slaying that demon.
Turning to Rue, gripping Logan’s hand tightly, I say, “Thank you, Rue. Whatever you need from me, whenever that is, I am here at your service.”
Logan kisses the top of my head, pulling me closer as he murmurs, “Good girl.”
