“Oh my God.” Her eyes widen to that fucking blue. The blue that I want to confiscate and turn into my tailor-made brand.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

I could’ve, but then I wouldn’t have been able to watch her sleep or witness her current frantic movements.

My head tilts to the side as she abandons the sheets and stands in her full nakedness

That’s one of the highlights of my day.

“Jonathan!” she scolds, even though her cheeks tint in red.

“Yes?”

“Did you do it on purpose?”

“What would give you that idea?”

“The way you’re watching me.” She folds her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes on me.

“That’s kind of useless when you’re fully naked, wild one. Or are you perhaps tempting me?”

“Of course not.”

“Well, I am tempted. After all, you owe me a punishment.”

“No, I don’t. I paid for spending the night yesterday.”

“How?”

“You…know.”

“Say the words, Aurora.”

A red hue covers her entire body and the nipples peeking from between her fingers harden as she mutters, “You fucked my mouth.”

Not really. I actually gave her free reign and she sucked me off like a good girl. Over time, she’s been getting used to my pace, making up for her lack of skills with her determination. She’s the only one who still manages to stare up at me with defiance even when I’m wrapping her hair around my fist, hitting the back of her throat with my cock, and smudging that red lipstick all over her mouth.

Considering her reservations at the beginning, it’s clear she hasn’t given much of those before – blowjobs, that is. I have the urge to murder any fucker who put their hands on her before me.

“But you didn’t pay for the kiss in my office,” I tell her, still taking my fill of her nakedness.

Truth is, I love kissing Aurora. She comes undone when my lips ravage hers. She melts against me and lets me do whatever I please.

There’s something euphoric about owning a fireball like her and making her come to me as if that’s what she’s always needed.

It’s one of those bizarre things that are only related to her. Kissing never mattered to me before to the point that I never did it.

But with her, I can’t get enough of it.

I don’t tell her that to keep her coming back to me for more.

“Later,” she mumbles. “I want to have dinner out tonight. A date.”

A date. I don’t even know how to date, but it usually includes Aurora loosening up and talking about her past. For that reason alone, I take her up on her offers whenever she asks.

“That’s two punishments.”

“I’m fine with that.”

“First one now?”

“No. I’m going to be late.”

“Here’s how it will go. I’m going to count to three and if you don’t go into the bathroom, you might have to call in sick.”

Her eyes widen and before I start counting, she jogs to the bathroom. My grin widens as I pick up my phone and leave.

My feet come to a slow halt in front of Alicia’s room and my smile vanishes.

I place a hand on the door as I often do.

Alicia is a reminder of when I also lost control. I have to make sure that doesn’t happen with Aurora.

She already shares her looks; she won’t share her fate.

33

Aurora

Damn Jonathan.

I curse him under my breath for the whole time I’m stuck in traffic.

The tyrant is bent on getting me out of sorts. He gets off on seeing me helpless, defenceless, and completely at his mercy.

Not that he has any.

He’s sadistic to a fault.

And you enjoy every second of it. Hell, you’re looking forward to tonight like you’ve never looked forward to anything before.

I shoo that intrusive voice away and release a breath when I finally arrive at my flat.

Paul called to tell me I had another package. Since I was already late, I texted Layla to carry on with the morning factory meeting without me and fill me in later.

I can’t miss any chance to know more about Alicia. I snooped through all the books in her room and even the library. She often circled and underlined words in red. Sometimes, she scribbled words like:

I wish you didn’t save me.

The worst thing you can do to a life is suffocate it.

A crime is a secret.

Bury them all.

The more I read, the deeper the hole between me and Alicia grows. I’m starting to doubt if I even knew my sister.

It’s like an entirely different being possessed her hand and scribbled those words.

Maybe it’s like with Dad. I thought I knew him, but…

I shut the door on that thought as I step into my building and smile at Paul, who’s watching TV with Shelby. My neighbour doesn’t even acknowledge me. It’s Paul who strikes up a conversation, asking how I’ve been.

He reaches behind the counter. “There was a man who came to ask about you the other day.”

My muscles tense. It must be the solicitor. “Did he mention his name?”

“No. He left when I told him you don’t live here anymore.”

Phew.

Shelby raises the volume of the TV and my relieved breath catches. A news anchor appears, his expression serious and it’s for a very good reason.

The man who’s sitting across from him in a grey room is the main character in my nightmares. The one who digs graves and suffocates people with duct tape.

Maxim Griffin.

The most notorious serial killer in the UK’s recent history.

My father.

The news anchor’s serious tone drifts from the TV. “Today, we’re having an exclusive interview with Maxim Griffin. It’s the first time in eleven years that he has willingly chosen to talk. What happens when a killer breaks his silence?”

The camera zooms out to focus on Dad. He’s sitting casually on a chair, wearing a black jacket and khaki trousers, appearing serene. His beard is trimmed, but he’s still the same — broad, tall. Handsome. Looking like every woman’s dream makes him so scary.

It’s why they fell at his feet.

When his suave voice sounds, his Yorkshire accent barely there, I almost topple over from the force of it on my nerves. “I chose to be silent, thinking I was protecting my daughter. But now, I realise she needs to be brought to justice, too.”

I stumble and nearly fall backwards.

No.

No, no, no.

“Miss Harper?”

I gasp as Paul touches my shoulder. My heart jumps in and out of synch as if it’s about to leap out of my throat.

“Are you okay? Do you need to sit down?”

I need to get out of here.

Not just the building, but out. Out.

I snatch the package out of Paul’s hand and fly out of the place where Maxim’s voice rings out, where he’s haunting and coming after me. My heart is hammering and my breathing is bursting out.

Tears stream down my cheeks as I feel the world closing in on me with its ghostly hands and meaty fingers.

It’s like that time all over again.