Page 79 of Burn Me Down

Beck’s eyes lit up, and I never wanted to lie to her, but if I died, he wouldn’t bother to go after her. If he died, then we were both safe, but if she came, then he would use her against me and make me watch her die. I knew him. I had watched the gleam in his eye as he talked in group therapy, and I understood how his twisted brain worked. He would do to her exactly what he did to Adalyn, and I wasn’t about to let that happen.

Derek

It was almost ten when I rolled up to Asher and Violet’s house. I turned and looked in the backseat and said a prayer that if I lived, Beck would forgive me. Hopping out, I grabbed the large duffel from the truck bed and looked around to see if anyone was on the street.

This is useless, just except that you can’t protect her. You can’t protect anyone.

“Shut up. I’m not listening to you anymore,” I growled.

My head was on a swivel, searching for any danger. I opened the back door, pulled Beck out, and carried her to the front porch. Pressing the doorbell, I heard movement a moment before Violet opened the door, and her mouth fell open.

“Oh my god, what the hell happened to her? What did you do?”

I ignored the accusation in Violet’s eyes. I would get worse from Beck when she woke up.

“Can I come in?” She stood out of the way, and I walked in, laying Beck down on the couch, and dropped the large bag on the floor. “I’ll be back, but if not, tell her I love her.”

Violet stood in front of the door with her arms crossed, and I now understood why these two were friends. They had the same ‘like fuck you are’ look.

“First, what is wrong with her? Second, where the hell are you going? Third…you love her?”

“Nothing is wrong with her, but she will need something to puke in, and her head will hurt because I chloroformed her. She wasn’t very happy with me about it.” Violet’s mouth fell open. “I’m heading out to take care of the serial killer who sent me this as a threat on Beck’s life.” I held out the photo, and she covered her mouth. “Beck wanted to come, but I’m not letting this psycho anywhere near her. You can keep your sarcastic comment to yourself. I know how you feel about me and what I’ve done. The difference is that Adam lives to kill. He probably played in this victim’s blood before they were even dead, and I need to stop him before it’s too late. He already found Beck at work, but she didn’t know who he was.”

“Oh my god.”

“And yes, I love her. I love her, and I will destroy anyone or anything that even thinks about hurting her, even if it means she’s pissed or hates me.”

Violet tilted her head and looked me up and down like she was inspecting me. “You kind of bring a literal meaning to, ‘I’d burn the world down for her,’ ” she said. I smirked.

“I would. I know you two haven’t seen eye to eye lately, but she loves you, and it’s killing her that you two are at odds. I’m sorry that I’m the cause, but I won’t walk away either. She is the only good thing I’ve ever had in my life. The only person who believes in me when no one else has. I would storm Hell’s gates to save her, so if you can find it in you to still love her and be her friend….” I shrugged.

“No need to be dramatic. I was never letting Beck go, but I am allowed to be pissed off.” Violet sighed. “You do seem different. I hate to admit that.”

“It’s all because of Beck. I planned on attacking you and Asher and was unable to get out of the dark hatred that had filled me, but….” I looked back at Beck. “I’ll never be that man again, and it’s all because of her. I really am sorry, Violet. Even if you never forgive me, know that you could never hate me more than I hate myself for some of the things I’ve done and the pain I’ve caused.”

“Alright, go do what you have to, and I’m not saying we will have family dinners anytime soon, but…I may hate you a little less than I did.”

“That’s a start.” I smiled. “If I don’t make it….”

Violet nodded as she stepped out of the way. “I’ll look after her, always.”

“Thank you.” Walking out into the night, I kept my head down, my face hidden by the hood as I prepared to do what I’d done a hundred times before. The darkness was always at the ready, and I touched that part of my heart now, summoning it like a great beast. It was time for the monster to play.

VIOLET

Knock, knock, knock.

“Jesus, I hadn’t even made it to the kitchen yet,” I mumbled as I turned around. “What did you forget?” I opened the door, but the man standing on my doorstep wasn’t Derek. I’d never seen him before in my life, but as he lifted his eyes and looked at me, I knew who it was. I didn’t need a picture or for him to say a word for my heart to leap out of my chest. This was Adam.

“So nice to finally meet you in person, Violet,” Adam said, his voice as soft and menacing as the rest of him.

I tried slamming the door shut and ended up in a pushing match. It was the only thing between me and Beck and this lunatic. I braced my foot against the wall but fell forward, smashing my face and shoulder as he slipped through the opening.

“Fuck,” I swore, the blow making my eyes water.

I heard the click of the lock, and all the hairs on the back of my neck stood. Staying low, I rammed my shoulder into Adam and knocked him into the wall. With a scream that could wake the dead, I brought my knee up into his dick and hoped that it was hard enough to push it inside of his body.

“Ugh, fuck,” he swore and doubled over. I blinked the tears out of my eyes before rearing back and bringing my elbow down across his face. Blood splattered the floor. “Bitch,” he snarled and made to grab me. Jumping away, I kicked him in the gut as he stood, and then I ran for my phone in the kitchen.