Intense

After all, he and I were just stepsiblings.

“Thanks for telling me that,” I said. “Makes me feel a little better, I think.”

“Don’t worry, hun. He’ll come around eventually.” She paused and laughed softly. “Or he won’t. You never know.”

I sipped my coffee. “I think I’m going to head upstairs and get myself together.”

“Sounds good.”

I smiled and left the kitchen. I needed to get out of there before my curiosity got the best of me.

Maybe her story had raised more questions than answers, but I was totally sure about one thing: Easton was trying to push me away because he thought it was best for me. But he wasn’t allowed to choose what was best for me.

I stopped outside his door. It was open a bit, so I softly nudged it open.

The room was empty.

I walked inside quickly, not overthinking it. I did a quick scan of the room and spotted what I was looking for: the case file. I grabbed it from the side table and quickly brought it into my room.

Once inside, I sat down on my floor and spread the file out in front of me.

There was so much stuff. Police reports, crime scene photos, handwritten notes, and more. It all stretched far back in time, back to the original murder that had opened the file. Easton’s contributions were significant, but they were only a small part of what was in there.

I didn’t know what Easton was thinking or what he wanted. Part of me didn’t care. If he wanted to be stubborn, then fine. But he couldn’t control my actions, and I was going to help him catch this murderer.

He wasn’t the only person that had met Mrs. Suarez. I had been inside her house; I knew her. I felt as responsible for Luisa as he did.

I took another big sip of coffee and dove in head first, starting from the beginning. I had a long morning ahead of me.

18

Easton

I was covered in sweat as I started the second set. I stripped off my sopping shirt and tossed it aside, dropping down to my knees to start. I pushed, my arms bulging, working my body hard, past the point of exhaustion.

I’d been neglecting my workouts. Fortunately, Susan’s basement was finished and quiet, and so I was able to escape down there early to get my workout in. There was only a treadmill and some simple weights, but that was fine.

I put the television on the local news and pushed myself. It honed my mind, made me concentrate better. I’d been too busy medicating myself with alcohol to really push it, but it felt good to finally get off my ass.

Plus, working out helped me think.

There were so many possibilities in the case. They all swirled around my mind constantly, flitting this way and that. I wanted to be clear, totally clear, and I needed to be if I was going to figure anything out.

Unfortunately, Laney kept jutting into my mind.

The way she had looked when I’d told her that we weren’t working together anymore kept jabbing me in the chest. I hated that I hurt her, that I had to push her away, but I hoped she’d understand it one day. I hoped she’d understand that at the moment, I was the most dangerous person in all of Mishawaka. Just being around me could mean death.

Maybe I should have run away, moved to a different state, but that wouldn’t have stopped the killings. Frankly, I figured Susan and Alan were both in danger, and Laney would be too. The best thing I could do for them was to solve the case, and solve it fast.

But fucking Laney. Remembering the way she moaned as she slid down my cock just made me rock hard. I finished my set and sat back against the couch, breathing deeply. I could feel my cock begin to stir as everything about that afternoon in the car came back to me.

The way she whispered in my ear. The way she begged for it. Her lips sucking me off. It was impossible not to think about her, not when she drove me so completely fucking crazy.

I clenched my jaw and went back to work. I had nothing to do that day except clear my mind. Later, once I felt like I could finally concentrate on my work, I’d throw myself into the case. First, though, I needed to do my little ritual.

Tire out the body so the mind could take over.

Hours slipped past that way. I would work out, take a short rest to watch the news, and then go back to it. Over and over again.

By the end, the sun had dipped down below the horizon and I was completely exhausted. It felt pretty good to be totally and absolutely wiped.

I stood up and stretched, looking up at the basement window. Shadows stretched across the yard and the sky was a deep, blood red.

“Easton.”

I looked up at the steps. Laney was standing there, looking down at me.

“What can I do for you?”

She bit her lip at my tone. I felt a short stab of regret but shoved it aside. I had to keep my mind right.