Page 109 of Forgotten Deeds

Arriving at campus, I walk over to the financial services office. Canceling my payment plan, I go ahead and pay for my upcoming grad school tuition using a pre-paid credit card I loaded with some of Harrison’s cash. Now my cash.

Who the hell said my wings had to be clean, anyway?

Next stop is the salon for some much-needed maintenance. After getting my hair done, I take a seat in the pedicure chair, texting Darius what he wants to do for dinner, but he doesn’t reply. Trying to shake away the unease—it’s his job, and he has twenty-eight teeth left, I remind myself—I toss my purse in my bag, relaxing into my foot massage.

Finishing up at the salon, I step out into the parking lot, riffling through my purse for my keys while trying not to mess up my nails. Iris’ evil eye charm I took from her yesterday at the park gets jostled in the process; falling onto the pavement, it cracks in half.

“No!” Picking up the jagged pieces, I stick them in my pocket. Maybe I can glue it back together. Or better yet, maybe Darius can find her a replacement charm. The man calls me an angel, but the same could be said for him. Well, more like a dark angel, but that’s even better.

Pulling out of the parking lot, I don’t get very far, as the back end of my vehicle starts to make a weird thumping sound. I pull over and inspect the rear right tire—flat. I’m not in the safest neighborhood, so I lock my doors and call Darius, but it goes to automated voicemail.

A police cruiser pulls up behind me, and I sigh a breath of relief when I see Ethan approaching. “Need a hand?” he asks when I step out of my vehicle.

“Thanks. This is so embarrassing to admit, but I don’t know how to change a tire.”

“A lot of people don’t know how, so don’t feel too bad,” he assures me.

“Perfect timing anyway, because I needed to talk to you about Harrison’s estate,” I tell him.

“No problem. First, let me grab my tools from my trunk. Hey, walk with me, and I’ll give you the paperwork for Iris while I’m thinking about it.”

“Sure,” I say, following him.

He opens the trunk and calls me over. “Here’s the paperwork.” I join him behind his vehicle, something hard now pressed against my side. It takes my shocked brain a moment to catch up—it’s a gun.

“Get in,” he menaces, grabbing my wrist with his free hand.

“Ethan, what the hell are you doing?” Struggling against him, I look around for help, but the street’s deserted. He slaps something heavy on one of my wrists—handcuffs—as I buck like a wild animal. He easily outmuscles me, cuffing my other hand before picking me up and tossing me in the trunk.

“Ethan, no!” I shout, kicking wildly, but my legs aren’t long enough to do a damn thing; the trunk closes with a thunk.

The police cruiser starts moving, and I kick with all my might—trying to bust out the taillight from the inside with the hopes a driver behind us notices. I pray it’s a cop. Unless they’re all dirty like Harrison and Ethan?

Fuck, where’s a mobster when I need one?

* * *

Darius, earlier that day…

And now to mark off the second name from my hit list. So thoughtful of Ethan to leave lilies on my wife’s SUV. I’ll make sure to return the favor on his headstone.

Driving over to his house, I park two streets over and make my way on foot. Having already staked out the property, I easily pick the basement lock—I have no idea why these cops are so lax with home security.

Screwing on my silencer, I go to walk upstairs but stop dead in my tracks. A rage like I’ve never felt before fills my veins when I see it. It’s a stalker shrine—a small table with pictures of an unsuspecting Lily in various states of undress. Stepping closer, I examine the pictures—these were taken from her bedroom at her old house. I fucking told her it wasn’t safe. Also on the table is a hair brush with light blonde strands, and a black thong with what looks to be dried cum; that fucker beats his dick with my wife’s panties.

There’s a television next to the table, and my hand shakes with fury as I grab the remote and hit power. It’s a paused video taken from inside Lily’s bedroom; Ethan was the one who broke the lock on her window, setting up a hidden camera. I should have went with my instincts and gouged the fuckers eyes out with the bubble wand.

Gritting my teeth, I hit play and watch an unsuspecting Lily strip out of her clothes and stroll to her bathroom naked. I laugh; it sounds inhuman to my own damn ears. Oh, do I have plans for Ethan.

Turning off the television, the tiniest of sounds has me spinning around, but I’m too late. A baseball bat connects with my skull with a loud whack, and I crumble to the floor.

Chapter Forty-Five

Lily

Ethan’s cruiser comes to a stop, and the trunk opens. Before my eyes can adjust to the harsh overhead light, he yanks me out. I thrash violently against his hold. “Let me go!” I shout.

He drags me through the garage to the kitchen, and my foot catches a chair leg to stop our forward progression. “Help!” I scream at the top of my lugs.

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