LOGINCATHERINEThe streetlights flickered rhythmically, ghosting across T’s face, making him look more menacing.His dead blue eyes stared deep into my soul like he could read my thoughts. He couldn’t. He was convinced I was desperate for answers, for a way to make sense of this all.Well, he was wrong.I closed the gap between us, leaning in until I could smell the smoke that clung to him like a second skin. My grip on the pen tightened inside my pocket.He spoke before I could. “Before you start interrogating me,” he said lazily, his gaze flicking between my eyes, “I’ll let you in on a little secret.”His lips hovered over the shell of my ear and it took everything in me not to shudder away from his hot breath. T’s voice dropped impossibly low, almost in a singsong tone. “I’m a mere foot soldier.”I jerked back before I could even think, my pulse picking up. “What?”He straightened slowly, watching me unravel with something close to amusement.“You’re lying.” I said, forcing the words
CATHERINEI lied.I wasn’t going to talk to T.No.I was past that.I didn’t care where the hell he came from and what his story was. He was done ruining my life.Someone bumped into me, knocking my phone out of my hand. It clattered on the counter of the bar, the sound was swallowed by the chatter. The perpetrator mumbled something between an apology and a curse before walking away. “Not a problem,” I muttered mostly to myself.I leaned forward from my stool, hand stretched out to retrieve my phone but before I could reach it, a hand snatched it up.Irritation sparked in my chest as my head snapped up.Blue eyes met me. His lips tugged into a cheery smile that could blind.What could he possibly be so happy about?“Miss Catherine,” Josh said lightly. “I didn’t think this was your scene. What are you doing here?”I scowled, yanking my phone from him. “This is a bar.” I replied flatly. “I came to have a drink. What- what are you even doing here? Don’t you have a fancy job at R-“ I pa
CATHERINE The bustle inside the cafe seemed louder than usual. My pulse hammered inside my chest, the sun prickled at my skin, making sweat bead around my temples.I gnawed on my bottom lip as impatience threatened to swallow me whole.Then the doors swung open.The ding of the bell echoed throughout the small empty space. My head snapped up, my breath stuttered.My grandmother walked through the doors, head held high like she owned the place. Her pearls danced around in the sun as she scanned the area and the moment her eyes landed on me, a small frown formed on her face.Irritation flared up but I forced it down, forcing a smile.When she got to my table, she lowered herself into the seat opposite me. My eyes still wandered, behind her, looking for-“She’s in the car,” my grandmother said before I could ask. “You’ll see her. But we need to talk.”I clenched my jaw, forcing my gaze to her. “About what?”Her brow arched. “The information you requested from me. Zavier.”My head instin
CATHERINE Ice flooded my veins. My mind snapped back to the safe house. Bile crawled up my throat at the slow, horrifying realization that it wasn’t a coincidence.“He let me go,” I whispered.Marcus turned sharply. “What?”“He let me go,” I repeated, even as dread coiled tighter inside me. “The driver… he knew who I was. He had my picture. He said he was taking me home.”Solomon’s eyes darkened.“Not home,” he said.Understanding slammed into me like a truck.“No,” I breathed.“Here.”Sherry looked between us, panic starting to creep into her expression. “Miss Catherine?”But no one answered. This wasn’t just a game to T. This was control. Every move. Every step. Every decision. Mine. Ronald’s. Even the police. All of it… exactly where he wanted us. And we had just walked right into it.My chest tightened as I slowly lifted my gaze to Solomon.“He’s not hiding,” I said quietly.Solomon’s expression hardened.“No,” Marcus agreed.I swallowed.“He’s leading you.”For a moment no one s
CATHERINEThe chatter in the precinct was dulled by the steady rush of blood in my ears. My grip on the disposable cup tightened when an officer brushed past me, disappearing down the hall. I was anxious. My pulse wouldn’t stop raging. I downed the water in a single gulp, tossing the plastic aside. Marcus and Detective Solomon were still inside his office, going over everything. Or at least trying to. Marcus had asked where the hell I’d gotten that load of information about Zavier. Ronald sure as hell didn’t tell me. I wasn’t going to let Marcus worry over mundane details. All we needed to do was focus on bringing this nightmare to an end.The buzz of my phone in my right pocket vibrated throughout my body, snapping me out of my spiral.I picked immediately.“Cath,” Stacey breathed.My throat tightened.“How was it?” She continued, worry coating her words. “Marcus told me you had to see Ellie for a while. Is she okay?”The lie tasted bitter even before I spoke . “Yeah.” I said, for
CATHERINEThe image hadn’t left my mind.It was still grainy, distorted, the security footage blurring some parts but it was there.A younger Ronald, standing over an older man with a gun pointed at him. I didn’t look away when the shots rang out, or when the man’s body dropped to the ground. I couldn’t. And now I wished I did.T’s voice was stuck in my head too.Ronald killed his own father. He’s a monster that needs to be stopped.That was before I knew any better. I couldn’t believe I actually fell into T’s poisoned words.A hand gripped my shoulder.I flinched, snapping out of the haze. I blinked, Solomon’s office slowly came back into focus. His gaze was sharp on me, eyes narrowing slightly.Marcus shifted slightly, glancing sideways, silently asking if I was okay. My lips flattened as I nodded once before turning my attention back to Solomon.“That’s a bit vague, detective.” I said despite the way my heart hammered in my chest. “Care to shed some light on that?”The detective d
CATHERINERonald’s touch lingered long after he left. Jed dropped me off, watching me until my door shut close behind me.But as soon as I stepped in, I felt it. Something was wrong. My skin crawled with nerves, I moved slowly, dropping my things on the couch.“Ellie?” I called out.A second passed
CATHERINE“Do you… have feelings for him?”My heart skipped a beat “No.” I said too quickly.His eyes narrowed on me with a knowing look. “Katie…” he started. “I’ve known you for years. And I also know when you’re not being honest.”“I am. I’m not.” I said again.“He’s your ex-fiancé’s father. One
RONALDThe school looked the same. The same as over forty years ago. The hallways were filled with fluorescent lights and the faint smell of cleaning chemicals. The feeling of nostalgia made my stomach turn. Nothing about this place gave me any good memories. It had been decades since I’d walked th
CATHERINEMy breath hitched and I instinctively moved away from Ronald but he caught my wrist gently. My head snapped to him but his eyes were fixed on the intruder, Jayden.Jayden’s eyes flashed as he walked into my office slowly. His nose was still bruised but that didn't stop him from doing some







