Chapter 10

Ten

Rook

S talking a girl who preferred to lie in bed watching movies, read, and order endless takeout was boring. It had been four days and she had left the house two times.

How could I stalk her if this is all she did? I'm used to stalking. It's not like this is the first time I've done it, but the people I follow are usually up to pretty horrible things. Torture, human trafficking, fucked up fantasies come to life. Even their day-to-day lives reflected it more often than not.

Not Regan, though. The girl did next to nothing.

She left once to go back to the bakery, and once to go to another art exhibit.

By the sixth day, I felt pretty confident her schedule wasn't going to change anytime soon and the stalking from afar thing wasn't going to help me anymore. It was Tuesday night now, and she laid back on the couch, watching another old episodes of Dateline. The girl seemed to have an obsession with old true crime shows, and watching them through her windows just wasn't cutting it for me anymore.

While the entire thing bored me, part of me wished I could be doing this with my night instead. The endless running around had me exhausted, and when I wasn't chasing after her or someone we needed something from, I worked at the shop, running the actual business at Maverick Moto. All the guys helped. It wasn't like I wasn't alone in it, but somehow we had grown both our businesses overnight and we were all running ourselves ragged.

Now all I wanted to do was sink into the couch, eat those stupidly good cookies, and watch an episode of Dateline.

I had gone onto Evie's computer earlier, grabbing Regan's number and hoping I did a good enough job hiding I had been on it because Evie hated me messing with her stuff.

Now I stood outside Regan's window, watching as she drew on her tablet. Another episode of some true crime show played in the background. The couch she lay back on seemed to suck her in, and I knew I was seconds from barging through the door to sit there next to her. A few hours to sleep where no one could find me and ask for help with something else. My shoulders fell at the thought of a few hours next to her, watching her shows while I slept.

But instead of sneaking in to sleep on her couch, I pulled out my phone.

Unknown

You can't seriously be entertained by this. I think we've watched this episode already.

Regan

??

Who is this?

Unknown

Put on a better show. Or a movie maybe? Something scary or maybe…Taken?

Seconds went by until I heard the alarm system enable.

Unknown

That didn't work in the movies, it won't work now.

Regan

WHO IS THIS?

Unknown

You're supposed to start running around the house looking for me, Rebel. Then, I jump out with a knife, you scream and run around until I catch you.

Regan

Rook???

How did you get my number?

And how very Scream of you…the call is coming from inside the house? Are you a stalker or a killer?

Rook

I believe I am both.

Regan

Where are you?

Rook

Around. And it's surprisingly easy to get someone's phone number.

Regan

So you get all mad at me and now you're stalking me?

I laughed as her eyes darted to every window and doorway.

Rook

I prefer to think of it as keeping an eye on you, but yes. For days now.

You should be more observant.

Regan

You're creepy, you know that?

Rook

And yet, you keep talking to me. What does that say about you?

Regan

That I'm making a terrible mistake?

Rook

Or you secretly like it? Admit it, you're a little curious about me.

Regan

Curious? More like trying to figure out how to get a restraining order.

She added a little smiley face, and I smiled down at my phone.

Rook

Good luck. Restraining orders are for people who actually follow the rules.

Regan

So what's your plan? Keep stalking me until I call the cops?

Rook

I'm not sure yet. Maybe I'm just bored? And calling the cops has zero effect on what I do.

I had also used Evie's computer to install a security system app. One that would easily connect to Regan's house security, so I had a little control over it. It also helped me blank out a few of the cameras when I needed to.

I clicked the button, unlocking the doors all at once.

"Rook!" she screamed.

I wanted to be closer. I wanted to see if she would be shaking in fear or if she would reach out to me.

Rook

Yes, Rebel?

Regan

Knock it off, you're freaking me out.

Rook

You're all alone.

Regan

Thanks, that's really helping.

Rook

Shouldn't this place be filled to the brim with staff and your dad?

Regan

No, and he's away on business.

Rook

For how long?

Regan

A few days? Idk.

Rook

You are so smart, but you really need to keep important information to yourself. Don't you know how many people would pay me to know when he will be out and it's only you in this house?

Regan

Please don't tell people.

Please, Rook. I already hate being here alone. Don't make it worse.

Rook

Does this mean you are done being scared of me? Maybe, learning there are other things more dangerous to you than me?

Regan

Maybe you aren't as scary as you thought.

Rook

Or maybe you're a devil yourself. Why fear what is your equal?

It wasn't a far-fetched idea. Her father could have raised her to be as ruthless and destructive as he was. I wondered how dark her world got. Did he show her he killed people? That he protected shitty people and ruined lives to make his money.

Anger flared at her, but I tamped it down. She could be na?ve to the entire world or know every single detail. I needed to keep pushing to find out.

Regan

Equal? You think I could kill you?

Rook

Could you? No. Do you kind of want to? Yes.

Regan

I'm done with your creepiness. Go away.

Rook

I'm done with your clothes. Make them go away.

Regan

Creep.

You can't watch me all night. You have to sleep at some point.

Rook

You sitting around looking at a computer and watching the same old tv show is going to make me fall asleep. What are you looking at, anyway?

Regan

Would you rather some trashy reality TV show?

And I'm not looking at anything. I'm drawing.

Rook

What are you drawing?

Regan

Are you really sitting somewhere stalking me while texting to get to know me??

Rook

Yes. Aren't you glad you haven't been alone all night?

Regan

I would rather you either come inside or leave. Where are you, anyway?

I slipped the mask I brought back on, climbing down off the second-story balcony I had been looking into and walking back to the main living room she was sitting in.

The main living room because there was more than one. I had spent the last hour looking around and getting a better idea of the layout of the house. I wasn't sure how my plan would come together to take down Cameron Fletcher, but any information I could gather would be helpful.

I stepped in front of a window where she would notice me immediately.

The scream that escaped her was a bonus.

"Rook!" she yelled. "What is with the mask?"

Rook

There are cameras all over this place. Do you think I would willingly show my face?

"Why are you here?" she asked, loud enough I could hear her.

Rook

Again. I'm stalking you.

She marched over, throwing the huge window open. "Aren't you doing a really bad job at stalking me if I catch you?"

"You didn't catch me. I made my presence known because I couldn't take one more silent episode of Dateline without screaming."

She leaned down onto the windowsill. "I could turn on subtitles if it's helpful."

"It would be nice. At least I would find out the ending," I said, grinning behind the mask.

"You could come in and actually listen to it."

"You're inviting your stalker in to watch TV?" I asked. The second I felt like I was getting a glimpse inside her head, she said something like that and threw me off. I never knew if she scared of me or interested in me? Or maybe she didn't even know.

"I'm just saying I have the TV and some more cookies, so it's not a bad deal for you."

"What's in it for you?"

"Not sitting in this huge house alone, freaking out because someone just texted me and got me all scared someone is going to break in."

I smiled again, thankful the mask hid it.

She reached out, hooking a finger under the bottom of the mask and pulling it up. Her eyes went wide, quickly looking over my face. It had to be the best look at me she had gotten so far.

"I feel like stalkers should be creepy old weirdos. What is it you're stalking me for? Do you really not have better things to do?"

"Just curious about how the other half lives," I said, looking past her into the fancy living room. "And no, nothing at all. You didn't answer my question."

"Which one?"

"What are you drawing?"

"A girl," she said, trying to avoid answering.

"Doing what?"

She turned it around, showing me the drawing on her tablet.

A girl stood facing a mirror, a rope of thorns wrapped around her with one over her mouth. The mirror showed another girl, this one perfectly beautiful, but a sinister smile on her face, with two little horns poking out of dark hair.

"It's incredible," I finally said, glad I could think of anything to say.

"It's not, but I appreciate it either way."

"Do you think I go around complimenting people on their art often?"

Her lips pressed together, the slight red hue to her cheeks making me stare at her now.

"No. I guess you wouldn't," she said, turning the tablet back around to glance at it. "I answered your question. Now, are you really just here to get to know me?"

I had too many things to do, but there wouldn't be a good way to explain I was neglecting a lot of my work to stalk her so I could either kill her dad or ruin his life.

Or both.

My phone rang before I could respond.

"What?" I snapped.

"We need you back here," Hero said.

"Why?"

"Trouble with a messenger."

"Fine. I'll be there in fifteen." I clicked off, my eyes meeting hers again. "Well, you got your wish, Rebel. I have to go."

Her eyes narrowed as she stared down at me. "Are you coming back tonight?"

"No."

Her face fell the slightest amount, and I was surprised at how quickly she recovered. Would she really rather have me lurking around than be alone?

"Will I see you again soon at all?"

"No," I said. It was a lie. I would be back another night and she would see me again, but the guilt itching its way into my brain made me tell her no. I would be using her, and she thought I came for her. I didn't know when I started to feel anything like guilt or empathy, but I wasn't okay with it.

I stalked back out to my bike I left hidden by the street. I had shit to do, and taking care of one lonely rich girl all night wasn't going to be on the list.