“You’re not spending the night alone,” I insisted. “Stay here.”
“Why, so you can do it again?” she snapped.
It was like I’d been punched in the stomach. Did she really think I’d wanted to do that?
I’d been a part of three murders and felt nothing, but the very idea that I’d take glee in what just happened next door? I wasn’t a fucking monster. Those men had deserved it. Evie didn’t.
“Evie, I would never...” I gulped. Maybe I was a monster. My defenses disintegrated, and guilt swarmed me. What I’d done to her in that basement hadn’t been by choice, but I couldn’t explain that to her in a way that would paint me as the hero. I was no hero. I was a fucking coward. “Please, it’s not safe for you to go.”
Her shoulders fell in defeat. “Fine, but I need to be alone, please.”
I nodded and left her in the foyer, going upstairs to retrieve one of my shirts for her to sleep in. I left it on the bed in the guest room across from mine, then went to my room, where I cried into my hands.
What had I done?
And why had I found some of it so hot?
There was deep shame in my soul for having come. I should have pretended, forced my cock flaccid. Something. My body was all-too willing to let her suck me off in front of that room.
I was trapped inside my head until I heard the shower turn on in the guest room. There was a moment or two of water pouring onto the tile—then came a tortured cry.
I bolted across the hall, my feet moving faster than my brain. I threw the bathroom door open and found Evie naked, crumped at the bottom of the shower. I stepped inside, fully clothed, and sat down with her. Pulling her into my arms, I rocked as she sobbed against me. I didn’t speak or try to soothe her in any way past holding her. What could I say? Sorry for forcing myself on her wasn’t going to cut it. But the fact that she didn’t push me away now told me more than any words could.
The hot water eventually turned cold, and only when her teeth began to chatter did I lean up and turn the faucet off. I helped her to her feet, then scooped her into my arms, cradling her out of the shower. I took her to the bed and rushed to cover her with a towel. She didn’t look my way as she moved into the fetal position. I peeled off my wet clothes, leaving briefly to get dry boxers, and then lay beside her, pulling her into my embrace.
“Evie...”
“Beep beep, Ritchie.” The words came out strained and cracked from the sobs in the shower.
I did as told and shut my mouth, holding her until she fell asleep. Eventually, my conscience let me do the same, but before I did, I vowed that now, this wasn’t just revenge for her mother. I was on a path to avenge Evie as well, and maybe, in the deepest roots of my psyche that I’d pushed down for no one to ever uncover, I was going to do this for me as well.
Lita wasn’t the only one who’d been used and abused by Hollywood. There was a price for fame, and day by day, I was realizing that it wasn’t worth it. I’d do anything to simply live a quiet life with Evie. Maybe, after this was over, I’d leave all of this behind with her.
But not yet. We had a task to finish.
This weekend, at Fred’s little hot tub party, he was as good as dead. Property values be damned.
Chapter 34
Sebastian
The Lawyer
Bryce stopped by my trailer after we wrapped for the day. “What are you doing tonight? Skye wants us all to hang out.”
I looked up from my phone.
“Actually, I wasinvited,” I said, using air quotes, “to my neighbor’s place.”
“Invited?”
“Yeah, I can’t say no. You know how it goes.”
I’d just gotten a reminder text from Frederick Castle, in fact. He’d made it clear that my attendance wasn’t an option.
“Who’s your neighbor? A new director?” Bryce raised an eyebrow.
While he didn’t know exact details, he knew some about how I’d made my way in this town.
