“I’m not lying,” she says, sobbing as she peers deep into my eyes. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Caleb. I love you!”
“What?” Lili says, sounding as dumbfounded as I feel.
“You think you were the only little girl with a crush?” she hisses, glaring at Elisa.
“Look at her like that again. I dare you.” I squeeze her throat for extra measure as Lili pulls up my zipper.
“Please.” Her voice is strangled as I choke the air from her lungs.
“Let her speak, Caleb.” Lili tugs on my arm. “She knows something. I’d prefer we find out what it is before you toss her out the window.”
I let go, and she slides to the ground, gasping for air and clutching her throat. Draping my body around Lili’s, I hold on to her to stop myself from making good on my threat.
“I didn’t let him in,” Beatrice says in between sobs, “but I saw Sebastien leaving as I was coming back from the grocery store.He didn’t see me, and I just presumed he’d come looking for you and left when no one was home.”
“How did he get in if you didn’t let him?” I growl, not trusting this bitch one little bit.
“He stole my spare keys.” Elisa turns to look at me. “I kept a spare set in my locker at school, and they went missing months back.”
“He’s a dead man when I get my hands on him.” I clasp Lili’s hand in mine before shooting daggers at the bitch cowering on the floor. I jab my finger in her direction. “And if I find out you had anything to do with this, you’re dead too.”
“Get out,” Lili says, pointing at the door. “I don’t want to see or speak to you again.”
Beatrice scrambles to her feet, sniffling and wiping her eyes with the back of her sleeve. I feel her eyes glued to me as she leaves, but I ignore her. I hold Lili’s face in my hands. “Are you okay?”
She bobs her head. “I’m fine. I just got a fright when I first saw it.” She grinds her teeth. “Now I’m just mad. Fuck that asshole.”
Lili rarely curses, and it shouldn’t turn me on, especially in this moment, but it does. Then again, everything about her turns me on these days. “I’m going to make him pay.”
“Good. I won’t lose any sleep over it.”
“Grab enough stuff for a few days,” I tell Lili. “I’ll send someone over to pack up the rest of your things. We’re not staying here any longer than necessary.”
Elisa removes a bag from her closet and begins throwing clothes into it. I snap a pic of the pig’s head on the bed and repocket my phone.
“I’m done,” my girl says ten minutes later, and I grab the large duffel bag from her hand and sling it over my shoulder.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Caleb
“Ready?” My gaze dances between Joshua, Alesso, and Cristian as we wait outside the two-story cabin nestled in the middle of a forest in the Hudson Valley where fuckface is hiding out. It didn’t take long to pinpoint his location or prove he’s the one who was stalking Lili. As soon as I had proof, I dropped in to see Alesso at the CH building where he works because I knew he’d want in on this. To say he was enraged is an understatement.
“Let’s get this fucker,” Cristian says as the three of them slide their hands into black gloves.
The property is owned by a friend of Sebastien’s, and we don’t want to leave evidence of our crime.
“We’ll take the rear,” Joshua says, and I nod as he and Alesso take off for the back of the property, keeping hidden between trees.
Cristian wears an orange lightweight mesh jacket and matching cap we stole from the delivery driver when he showed up ten minutes ago. The dude is currently taking a “nap” in the trunk of his Prius. I shove the takeout bag in my buddy’s hand and flash him a devilish grin. “Showtime!” I flex my hands,enjoying the glint of silver glimmering under the moonlight from the brass knuckles I’m wearing.
I creep up behind Cristian as he advances toward the door, keeping behind his back so I’m not seen if fuckface looks out the window.
I stand to one side with my back plastered against the wooden structure as my buddy rings the bell. As soon as the door is fully open, I reach around, grab fuckface by the shirt, and ram my fist into his face. He screams like a bitch as blood gushes from the cuts I’ve just opened, stumbling back as we push our way inside. Cristian shuts and locks the door as I thrust my fist into the other side of Sebastien’s face, relishing the spurt of blood that splatters over my shirt.
He doesn’t put up much of a fight as we drag him by his arms across the lower level of the cabin toward the back door where Alesso and my twin are waiting. I slap a piece of tape over the asshole’s mouth as Cristian opens the door to the others. Alesso grabs Sebastien outside and goes to town on him, pummeling his face repeatedly while I kick him in the ribs, his stomach, and between his legs.
J disappears inside the house to take care of the cameras while Cristian, Alesso, and I drag him farther into the woods and away from the cabin. Alesso dumps the bag with supplies on the forest floor while I get to work stripping the bastard who hurt my girl. He’s whimpering and clutching his stomach like the pussy he is.
