Page 138 of Pretty Thing

“I want what I’ve always wanted. Eden safe and with me, where she belongs.”

“You’re…delusional. You’re no better…than I am,” he slurs, and then spits blood onto the ground.

“Am I? I’m protecting her. I’ve always protected her by keeping assholes like you away. I always made sure she got home safely after her shifts at the café. What have you done other than jerk off in her room?”

He swallows hard, clutching his broken hand to his chest.

“What if I leave her alone?”

“Uh-huh, I believe that about as much as I believe that the tooth fairy, Easter bunny, and Santa are getting together for weekly orgies. The first thing you’ll do if I let you live is run to the police. Then you’ll go to Eden all too happy to play the victim and show her what I did to you.” I stand and shake my head. “Not going to happen.”

“So, you’re…you’re going to kill me,” he asks, voice shaking.

“I thought that was obvious. You really are slow.”

Tucking the bat under my arm, I get to work. I don’t want to leave Eden alone any longer than necessary.

I open his door and pop the trunk before turning off his car.

“What are you doing?”

“Just giving the cops a reason to close your murder quickly.”

This part sucks. I hate that I’m even touching this stuff.

From my trunk I pull out the backpack filled with vacuum-sealed bags of fentanyl. I open a couple and walk around, dumping them on the ground and trampling them into the snow to make it look like there was a struggle.

Getting my hands on this much at such short notice was no easy feat.

“What the fuck is all that?” I don’t answer Kyle. “You’re fucked up, man…seriously, what’s wrong with you?”

“You, Kyle. You’re what is wrong with me. I thought the rat between your legs was warning enough, but then you doubled down by sneaking into Eden’s room.” I look him dead in the eyes. “I can’t have you doing that. You’ll escalate, Kyle. Guys like you can’t help but think you’re owed something more. I won’t let you hurt her. No…I won’t let you have her. Eden is mine.”

“I’d never hurt Eden. We grew up together. I love her.”

I toss the last handful of baggies into his trunk and close it. Then I grab the ten grand in counterfeit money that cost me a mint. It blows around the parking lot after I throw some of it in the air.

Yeah, this looks like a drug deal gone wrong.

“You know what drug suppliers really hate?” Kyle just stares at me. “Being scammed by preppy college guys thinking they are so much better than they are.”

“You’re insane.”

“No. I’m smart. There’s a difference.”

I lock his car doors and throw the key into the forest.

“I wish I could say that I’m happy to see you die…but honestly…I don’t hate you. I believe that you think you’re in love with Eden, but here’s the thing…she’s mine, and you’re keeping me from the bed we share.”

His lips pull back in a snarl.

“You won’t get away with this.”

“Yes, I will, and deep down you know it. Your sister, your parents, and Eden will all be standing around your grave. They’ll say it’s too soon and swear that you never touched drugs. It’s such a shame when the young die. But it’s time, and I have to get going so…”

“Help! Help me! Someone, please! Help!”

Kyle screams at the top of his lungs as he pushes himself backward along the ground.