Except why would I fantasize that Vanian is a serial killer? Vigilante killer? Is that better? It might be better.
“I realize I’m asking a lot,” Vanian says.
“No.” I shake my head. “You’re not. I’m, um, trying to merge my current reality with my teenage dreams.”
He smiles softly, brushing his fingers across my cheek. “Better late than never?”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “Yes.” I squeeze his hand. “You’ll get through this. I’ll help you. You can always come to me when the urge arises. We’ll figure it out.”
He searches my eyes, biting his bottom lip. I can’t tell what he’s thinking at all.
“Van?”
Blowing out a breath, he nods. “Okay. We’ll figure it out.”
“Good. Want to clean up a little and get some sleep?”
“Sounds good.”
I can tell something is still on his mind, but we’ve covered enough heavy topics for one night, and I know he’ll tell me when he’s ready.
As I slide off the bed, Vanian grabs my wrist. I turn to face him. “What?”
“Thank you. I can’t express what a relief it is to admit it all. Thank you for not turning on me.”
“I never will, Vanian.”
Chapter 23
Vanian
I can’t stop obsessing about Fetterman. Even as I finish my workday, even after the heavy conversation I had with Nantes, I can’t shake it. I have so much to lose—namely a shot at a real relationship with my best friend. I could lose my career, my stability, I could end up in prison.
But I can’t stop thinking about that asshole getting away with what he did.
I’m about to shut my laptop down, but I can’t resist the urge to do another internet search on him. When nothing comes up, I search the local area newspaper. I’ve been doing this nearly every day for the past week, torn between hoping he’d do something that gives me more cause and hoping he doesn’t so another child isn’t harmed.
As I scan the online page, my eye catches on a small headline tucked into a bottom corner.
Fetterman Pressured to Leave Area
I continue reading, learning that several concerned residents have pressured the family to get Fetterman to leave. They don’tfeel safe, especially with one of his family members being a Sunday School teacher.
My body heats and my pulse ticks up. Has he done something?
“The concerns come from recent sightings of a figure lurking near a neighborhood park,” I read aloud. “‘We’ve never had problems like this until Fetterman moved back,’ a resident reports. ‘It can only mean one thing. Either it’s him or he’s attracted sick people like him to our town.’”
I lean back in my chair. It’s gotta be him. He can’t stay away. The sickness is too strong. There’s no turning over a new leaf when you’re a serial predator. He can’t stop any more than I can.
But how? How do I take care of this without letting Nantes know? He can’t know. He’s accepted my confession, hasn’t treated me any differently, but maybe it’s only because he thinks I won’t do it again. What if I do it just one more time? Top off my achievements with one last piece of shit. Then I’ll walk away. I have to if I want a future that includes Nantes and his family.
Decision made, I start planning. I need to get him someplace alone, and with the whole town feeling animosity towards him, it creates a lot of motives and potential suspects. I’ll go in a day or two once I can establish his routine. Then it’s on.
Alex Fetterman is going to die before he can hurt someone else.
Chapter 24
Nantes
