What started as a void inside of me, when I started telling her my truth, has blossomed back into rage and an overpowering desire to carry out my plan, even if it doesn't involve Marni anymore. One day, he will pay.
I’m looking out the window into the night of nothingness when she walks up behind me. Comforting hands wrap around my waist and her head rests on my back. It feels foreign. To have someone pacify me out of sheer concern.
“You shouldn’t try and comfort me. Because there’s more.”
She doesn’t budge. “Tell me everything.”
I could let this all go right now. Tell her a lie and keep her in my life until she’s sick of me and wants to leave. Or, I could tell her the truth and set her free.
“I never heard of the WatchMeNow app until I was packing up my things in the old house and found a box of papers my dad left behind. It had his username and password on it. I downloaded the app, logged into his account and searched through his entire history. I talked to so many random women before I found you.”
Her hands drop, and she takes a step back. Her displeasure shows in the reflection staring back at me through the window. “You found my profile on your dad's account? Please tell me, he wasn’t—”
“No,” I spin around. “He never talked to you, at least not then. I did an area search and found Josh. I was desperate to find anyone in Redwood who had connections to the app and to him. I wanted to find him, Marni. I wanted to find him and kill him. So, Josh and I met up. Most people don’t list their location, because most people are smart—like you. Josh was an idiot. Anyways, he ranted and raved about a girl from Redwood who bared all on there. He said she was in the top ten for most interactive.” I quote with my fingers.
Marni’s hand slaps over her mouth, but I keep going. “Josh didn’t just watch you on the app. He watched you at night from outside your window. He was fucking obsessed with you.”
Color drains from her face, and I extend an arm when I think she might pass out. Instead, she shoves it away and rushes to the bathroom. “I’m gonna be sick.”
Heaves and sobs come from the bathroom as I stand here looking at myself in the reflection of the window. All of this is my fault. Zed would have never touched her if I didn’t lure her in. I practically fed her to him on a silver platter.
No. This is his fault. All of this is because Dad fucked up my life and created a monster inside of me—a monster that is meant to be unleashed on him.
When the sounds from the bathroom stop, and she doesn’t return, I knock on the door. “Marni?”
Still nothing.
That’s to be expected. She fucking hates me. Why wouldn’t she?
“Please, let me finish.”
“This is all too much. Josh, your dad, everything your dad did to you.”
Sliding my back down the door, I can feel her on the other side. “You hearing us in the room that night wasn’t an accident, it was strategically planned. We saw an opportunity and we took it. Paid some random chick five-hundred bucks to wait for you to use the bathroom then send you upstairs. We watched every step you made through the cameras. We needed assurance that we could force this on you and leave you with no choice. That’s why we gathered evidence that could incriminate you. Because this whole time, our end game was getting you to meet my dad, and I was prepared to use the evidence against you if you didn’t.”
It sounds so much worse saying it out loud to her. Talking it over with the guys felt like child’s play. Adrenaline rushed and excitement roared. We were all in. Ready to drag Marni through hell and back, so I could kill my father. I just never expected whatever this is. And I sure as hell didn’t expect Zed to turn on us.
“Did you plan to kill me, too?”
“God no. Never, Marni. That was never the plan.”
“What about Josh’s death? How did it happen?”
Dragging my bottom teeth between my lip, I bite down. Fuck. I can’t go there with her. I just can’t. That’s one topic that’s off-limits.
“It was an accident. That’s all you need to know. Please don’t dig any further because it will only make things worse.”
“Fine. What happened with the app?”
“That night at Briarwood, I changed your password on the app. I’ve been pretending to be you while I talk to him in a private chat window. I used the video of you as bait.” I stop talking to see if she has anything to say. When she doesn’t, I go on. “It worked. He’s prepared to meet you tomorrow.”
It’s quiet. Far too quiet.
“You changed my password?”
“I assumed you’d figure that much out by now.”
I can hear the handle turn, so I jump to my feet. The door opens, and she’s standing there with a bunched up tissue in her hand. “I haven’t logged into the app in weeks. RebelSin was the only reason I even bothered with it anymore.”
“What about the other guys?”
“There were others in the beginning, but it was just a few shots and live feeds for fun. In the end, there was only you.” She steps closer, surprising us both. “Would taking your dad’s life give you yours back, Talon?”
I nod.
“You’re sure?” Her brows raise. “Because once it’s done, it’s done.”
“He needs
