Page 87 of Dreadful
A man who made me feel safe enough to relax in his embrace. A man who sparked more hope than I’ve ever dared to have before. A man who has caught me every time I’ve fallen—
My heart keeps trying to chime in with objections, but logic brutally stabs it to death.
He had no right to make me feel anything. No right to make me question all that I’ve strived for. He had no right, and yet, I nearly gave him the power to ruineverything.
And he’s ruining it in the most spectacular of ways. All that I witnessed at dinner Sunday night made me think he hated the Boss and the judge as much as I do, and now he’s inviting them to amusical? And not just any musical,mymusical.
My steps stutter, and I cling to the edge of my sewing counter to stop from collapsing. My gaze shifts up to the mirror in front of me. Fear has dilated my pupils, and I get lost in their green-gold depths as my world finally comes crashing down.
Sever knows.
Something about the drive-by yesterday must have tipped him off, and he didn’t like what he found out. It’s probably why he ran away so quickly and why I haven’t heard from him since. And now he…what? Brought Claudio and Judge Blunt here to taunt me?
Yes. That’s exactly what happened. I feel the truth of it in my soul. His sick, twisted smile told me everything I needed to know.
I’ve been played for a fool. He never should’ve gotten past my defenses, but I literally opened the door. I even had the chance to finish him off, but I stupidly saved his life instead. He’s always been rotten to the core. Anyone who could do what he did—
I shake my head and glare at the scar I concealed with makeup out of habit this morning. I’ve been ashamed and hidden the evidence of what happened to me for so long that invisibility has become part of my identity. But while hiding protected me for a while, it also protected the ones thatshouldbe ashamed. They think they’ve gotten off scot-free, and now they flaunt their immunity right in front of my face.
But I haven’t been their victim since I was seven years old.Talliehas never been a victim, and I won’t be one now. If Sever thinks he can screw with my mind by bringing the two people I hate most in this world to terrorize me, he thought wrong. I won’t let him have the satisfaction of getting to me. If he wants to serve my enemies on a silver fucking platter, he can be my guest.
I grab my coat and loop my bag over my shoulder. My hand dips into a canvas pocket to grip my knife’s cool, pearl handle like a lifeline.
I should’ve killed him when I had the chance. I should’ve killed them all when I had the chance, superstitions and list order be damned.
“I won’t make the same mistake twice, Severino Luciano.”
Scene 26
A VIPER LYING IN WAIT
Talia
While the actors take their bows back in the theater, I scout out the parking garage for Claudio’s black Rolls-Royce Ghost. It’s on the first floor in the same spot I killed his driver a few days ago. I can’t imagine the happy company all riding in one vehicle together, but I don’t see Severino’s motorcycle. How he got here doesn’t matter, though. I’m praying they congregate near the Rolls-Royce before going home, so I’ll just wait in the nearby alley like I did Saturday night.
I pull my hood farther over my head and duck away from security cameras as I text Gio that I’ll be home late. I normally don’t have to, but considering he’s all alone without Tony—
My heart wrenches, and the sudden ache makes me suck in icy cold air. I press my hand to my chest to try to ease the pain that worsens the more I push it down.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “It’ll all be over soon.”
One of the men in the front row was responsible for Tony’s death. Making him pay is the only way to make this agony go away.
There’s a white van blocking the alley this time, but I hide behind the same dumpster that I used to spy on Severino when he killed Percy.
Wait…
WhydidSever kill Percy? He told Percy it was because he touched me, but why would Sever so willingly work for Claudio and the judge if that mattered to him? He didn’t know who I was before he attacked Percy, right? Or does he even know who I am at all? Dammit, what on earthdoeshe know?
I need answers, and I’ll find them at the edge of my knife.
Questions race wildly in my mind, reminding me of how busy it felt up there before I had my list to focus all my energy on. I try to shove them aside, so my thoughts are crystal clear when it’s time to strike.
While the audience filters out slowly from the building and into the parking garage, I mentally map out my plan.
I’ll stay in the shadows, and once they come out, I’ll jump out and slice all of their throats, one by one—
No, that’s sloppy. Messy. I’ll get caught or killed before I can make my first cut, and I can’t do that to Gio.
