Page 57 of Little Twisted Things

I couldn’t stop thinking about DaisyMae22 in that house. It had only been a day since I’d found her. She’d be fine. But he had to check on her, right?

After Alex’s literature group ended, he climbed into his car and led me to the house. He pulled into the driveway while I parked along the curb. I reached inside my bag and took out the syringe. He climbed out of his car, and I called his name.

“Dahlia?” His brows furrowed. “What is going on?”

“I know, Alex. Or should I say, Anthony?”

“What?” His brows furrowed.

I smiled. “I want to help you.”

“Help me with what?” He frowned.

“There are things about me you don’t know.”

“What are you talking about?”

I wrapped my arms around him and whispered, “Things you couldn’t imagine.” I jabbed the syringe into the side of his neck.

“What the—” He placed his hand on his neck.

“Nighty night.” I smiled.

I took his keys, unlocked the door, and dragged his body inside. It wasn’t easy, but I managed. Walking over to the bookcase, I pulled the book that opened it and dragged his body into his torture room, stopping before the door where DaisyMae22 sat behind. I slowly turned the knob. Her head lifted, and her eyes widened when she saw me. She looked weak, dehydrated, frail. I almost felt sorry for her. I dragged Alex’s body inside the room.

“I told you I’d take care of him.” I smiled.

I found some rope and tied him to a chair, binding his entire body, along with his feet. He woke, lifted his head, and looked at me.

“Checkmate.” I grinned.

“Dahlia, I—” He struggled in the chair.

“Tell me, Anthony. Why did mommy kill daddy? What kind of monster was he?”

“Dahlia, please. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I reached into my bag and pulled out my large chef’s knife, running my finger along the steel surface.

“You will tell me everything now.”

“What are you doing with that knife? Dahlia, please. What the hell is going on?”

“I suppose we were playing a game this whole time, Alex. You were running around Key West murdering young women, while I was murdering cheating husbands.”

His eyes widened. “That was you?”

“Yes. Cheaters need to be punished for their sins. See, mommy caught daddy cheating. Mommy became angry and decided to kill him by stabbing him for every month he cheated. In case you’re wondering, the number was twenty-two. After Kevin, I’d realized I messed up by killing him the same way as I did the others back in New York. Lucky for me, there was another serial killer in Key West. One I could pin the blame on to keep the cops and that nosy NYPD detective off my back. So, I made it look like you did it. The Last Chapter Killer. I have to hand it to you.” I waved the knife. “It’s a clever name. You like it. In fact, you love it. You know what I was called back in New York?”

He shook his head.

“The Widowmaker. I suppose it was fitting since I made wives widows.” I paced around the room. “Here’s the problem I have. You cheated on me. You told me you loved me, but still cheated. I saw the messages, Alex. Anthony. Whatever the hell your name is. I kill cheaters. It’s how I’m wired. It’s how I came to exist. I needed to protect Katherine from the horrors of that night when our mother took our father’s life. She needed me and begged for help. So, I took over.”

“I don’t understand.” His brows furrowed. “You never told me you had a sister.”

“She’s tucked away in her happy place.”

“Dahlia, please, darling. Untie me and let’s work things out. I love you. I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”