Page 88 of PET

All eyes turn on me when Zeke asks with a smirk, “You ready to put on our masks and go fuck some shit up?”

I look down at Billie, who’s still wrapped around him, and let out a huffing laugh. “Yeah, dude, let’s go show my father what it’s really like being in hell.”

Onourwaytothe Veradin Estate, “IDOL” by Hollywood Undead screams through the speakers as we bob our heads to the aggressively badass beat. I’m driving with my Michael Myers mask on, while Zeke wears his Jason Vorhees one.

These masks are something that goes far back into our history together. Holden’s mom—when she was still alive—used to take us to see horror movies all the time. But since we weren’t old enough to watch them alone, she’d go with us, sitting far up in the back corner out of the way. We’d wear these masks, watching the horror unfold on the big screen.

Speaking of Holden, I ask Zeke, “Fuck, bro… Have you heard from Holden since the Halloween party?”

Everything has been so hectic that I completely forgot about him.

“Yeah, he texted me the morning after and said he’s taking Everlee out of here because he feels like something bad is happening in Reaper.”

We share an incredulous laugh because we both know just how right he is. I just wish I could take Zeke and Billie and flee, never looking back, but Reaper needs us. We’re the next generation, and we might be the only ones who can take these corrupt motherfuckers down.

When I turn down my street, I park out front of the Hampshires, knowing our security footage doesn’t reach this far. As we get out, I tell Zeke, “Stay in the bushes on the East side of the house. We’ll come up to the bay window of his study—he should be in there right now.”

He throws me a nod before we take off in that direction. The thick, gray rain clouds are a great cover as we make our way through the bushes. I’d be lying if I said seeing Zeke in his mask wasn’t hot. I can understand now why Billie likes it so much.

And when this is all over with, we’re going to make her wish come true. She wants us to chase her through the woods until we catch her? Then we will, and we’ll fuck the hell out of her—maybe I can even fuck Zeke, too.

Pulling myself out of those unevasively wanton thoughts, I focus on our task at hand, stopping just below the bay window of my dad’s study. I can hear muffled voices coming through the closed window, so I wait until it’s quiet before I poke my head up and peer through the foggy glass.

He’s sitting at his desk. Belle Barrett sits on the edge with her legs in his lap. They’re talking about some fancy dinner they’re attending tonight, and then he tells her how he can’t wait to bring her home and—

Yeah, I don’t want to hear that shit.

“What’s the plan, bro?” Zeke asks, his wide eyes glowing through the holes of his mask.

I want to confront this prick more than anything—to bring him to his knees and make him feel a little like he’s always made me feel. But then he’ll know we’re here. We need to get into his study when he’s gone to gather everything we can get our hands on.

As I pull my phone out, I see the time is just after four in the afternoon, which means he’ll be leaving the house soon. He goes somewhere every single day at ten past four, but I’ve never cared enough to follow him and find out. When he left the house, I usually took the time to raid the kitchen cabinets without getting an earful from him.

“He’s about to leave soon. I know my way around his study, so I’ll stay here and grab as much shit as I can. You follow him and figure out where the hell he’s going.” I proceed to tell him how he leaves every day at the same time. I know in my gut that it has to deal with the society and his leadership role, but we need solid proof.

“You going to let me take your car?”

Shit, I didn’t think about that.

“Yeah, but you better come back around and pick my ass up.”

When movement comes from inside the study, we shut up and peer in. The Barrett sister is smooching up to my dad as he hands her his Black Card. The bitch is spending all of my inheritance! But now they’re moving, and this is a good thing. I’ll worry about getting my money back later.

“Don’t ride his ass—stay back. And don’t follow inside anywhere, okay?”

Zeke snorts. “Dude, I know. Believe it or not, but I’m not a moron.”

“Fuck, sorry. I know that.”

I grab the back of his neck and pull him to me, our foreheads connecting. We stay like this for several long seconds as our heavy breaths fill the space between us.

“Be safe. I don’t know what I’d do if—”

“Hey,” he whispers. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

Then he kisses me. I lean into his mouth, sliding my tongue along the seam of his lips as he slowly opens. When our tongues collide, we both let out a breathy moan before we reluctantly break apart.

“Love you, bro,” he says over his shoulder.

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