I lied.
All I want to do is lie next to her, with her body cradled against me until our hearts stop beating all on their own. But the dose I gave her isn't enough to keep her down forever, so my time to say goodbye is limited.
I kiss her lips one last time, wait for my tears to dry, and wipe her face of the ones I left there.
Then I get up and get to work.
The first call goes to my father. He'll need to know what I'm doing so that he can prepare to spin things to cover for our family name in the media.
Though we don't draw a ton of attention on our own, finding out that the rich businessmen with their privilege and games are actually killers? That will draw attention, the kind that can't be buried with all the dirt in the world.
The only thing that will kill a story so dark is when it's drowned out by another tragedy, another life stolen, another monster being brought to justice.
“I'm sorry, Father.” I tell him when he answers the phone, his voice full of irritation.
“Sorry? Cal, not over the phone, okay?” He sighs. “It could be compromised.”
“It doesn't matter if it's compromised.” I shake my head. “I'm leaving a confession. Handwritten, signed. There will be no questioning whether it was me.”
“Callum!” He snaps. “Don't say another word!”
“I'm sorry I disgraced the family name. I'm sorry I killed my brother instead of myself. I'm going to fix that now... all these years later.” I laugh coldly. “Tell Charlotte I'm sorry, too. Sorry that I never gave her a chance... that I couldn't learn to love when it mattered. Maybe, if things had gone differently, I could have loved her. I think if I'd met her sooner, I could have.”
“What are you talking about?” My father hisses. “You met her when she was born. You're not making sense, Callum. Just stop fucking talking before you say something to incriminate yourself.”
“I'm guilty.” I shrug. “Who cares if I incriminate myself? I know you don't want this to be your legacy... that you wanted an heir like my brother who you could shape into what you want. I just wanted you to know that I didn't mean to bring dishonor on you.”
“Fuck, Callum!” He grits. “Stop fucking talking, or I'll hang up on you now.”
“Before you do that, you should know I buried my first victim in the family crypt. I imagine the authorities will exhume her, so you'll want to be prepared for that.”
“Callu—”
“I love you, Father.”
I don't know why I do. He's a piece of shit who hates me. He loved my brother more than me. He loves my sister more than me. He loves his wealth, his empire, and his family name more than me. And yet, I love him.
I disconnect the call because I know he won't say it back. He never has... not even once.
I've barely let my screen clear out before I call Dex, praying that I get his voicemail for once. I don't know how he does it, but he always answers. Even when I don't want him to.
“Well, guess you're alive after all.” Dex laughs. “You haven't been answering my texts, and I've made it a point to not show up at random in case you're chained to your bed again without anything to cover your dick.”
“I need a favor.” I tell him because it's all I can manage.
Speaking to my father, I was calm... collected, composed. But with Dex, it's hard to act unbothered. It's hard not to feel.
“Really?” He laughs. “You don't talk to me for days, and then you call to ask me for a favor?”
“It's important.” I assure him, and something about the tone of my voice must convince him exactly of that, because he falls silent.
“Is it…? Did you…?”
I know what he's asking, but I won't even entertain the idea by giving him an answer.
“I need you to pick someone up and bring him here. I sent the address to you.”
“Wha-?” I hear his voice get further away as he looks at the message I just sent. “That's a thirty-minute drive from your place. Why can't you—”
