“I don’t know the number.”
“This reeks of a spurned ex, and considering you only have one, my money’s on Sebastien. He’s a fucking dead man.” Iforward the text to Fiero and ask him to trace the number. I was going to send it to Philip, but he’s Ben’s guy, and word may get back to Alesso. I want to gather all the facts before I call Elisa’s father because he’s going to go crazy, and he’ll want to take immediate action. I need to be sure my personal bias against fuckface isn’t clouding my judgment in case something else is at play here.
“I had a feeling someone was watching me,” she admits in a quiet voice.
“What the fuck, Lil?” My eyes dart over her face. “Why the hell didn’t you say anything?”
“I thought I was imagining it because there was never anyone there!”
“Has anything else happened I need to know?”
She knots her hands in her lap and wets her lips.
“Spit it out, Lil.”
In a quiet voice, she tells me what went down the night she broke it off with him.
“Hehityou?” It takes huge effort not to raise my voice. “That fucking degenerate raised his hand in anger toward you, and you told no one?” I slam my hands repeatedly down on the wheel, wishing it was Sebastien’s neck so I could wring it.
“Don’t be mad, Caleb. I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d kill him, and I didn’t want his death on my conscience.”
“Of course, I’d kill him! He fucking hit you, Elisa!” I take her hands in mine and force myself to calm down, remembering I’m not angry with her. I’ll reserve my rage for fuckface. “How badly were you hurt?”
“I had a bruise for a few days, but I was fine.”
“I’m going to kill him for daring to put his hands on you in anger, and you’re not going to stop me.” I drill her with a challenging look because I’m not backing down from this.
“If we find evidence he’s behind this, I won’t stop you.”
“Good.” Her words take the edge off my rage. I gently clasp her face and kiss her softly. “Promise me if anything like that happens ever again you’ll tell me immediately and trust me to handle it the right way. If someone hurts you, they deserve to die, Elisa. End of.”
“Okay.”
I thread my fingers through her silky hair. “I know you have the best heart, Lili. I know you want to see the good in everyone, but not everyone is good. You need to trust me to take care of you and know that I will do whatever it takes to ensure your safety.”
“I trust you, Caleb. I’m just not a fan of slaughtering everyone in cold blood unless it’s warranted. Then I’ll cheer you on from the sideline.”
“Good girl.” I crash my lips onto hers. “Let’s get you packed up and moved out. You’re not spending another night in that apartment.”
I go to take a piss in the bathroom while Lili heads into her bedroom to begin packing. I am lowering the zipper on my jeans when a loud scream rips through the apartment, and I rush out of the bathroom, racing to Lili’s bedroom with panic blaring in my ears. “What the—?” I stumble over my words when I see the mess waiting on Elisa’s bed.
“Oh my god.” She’s visibly shaking, and I pull her back, bundling her in my arms and pressing her face into my chest.
“Son of a bitch.” Blood is all over her pink and white comforter, but it’s the picture of Lili with a bullet hole in her head stuffed in the dead pig’s mouth that sends chills racing up my spine.
“What’s—” Beatrice screams, and I turn around with Lili in my arms, narrowing my gaze on her roommate.
I make a split-second decision and dart toward the girl, grabbing her by the throat and shoving her against the wall. “Who the fuck did you let in here?”
Her eyes pop wide in fear as she grabs my wrist and tries to free herself. “No…one,” she croaks.
“Caleb.” Lili comes up to my side and touches my waist. “Let her go so she can speak.”
Reluctantly, I loosen my hold on her throat while still keeping her pinned to the wall. “Talk,” I snap.
“I didn’t let anyone in, I swear.”
“You’re lying.” I dig my thumbs into the side of her neck as a tear spills from her eyes. “I will give you one last chance, Beatrice. Lie to me again, and I’m throwing you out the window.”
