11. Harper Leigh

"Wonder if she still thinks I'm safe and easy?" I turned toward Landry. Then I lifted my finger, pretending to mull it over before I continued. "Oh, wait. She can't think with half her head caved in," I singsonged, even more thrilled with my decision to push the skank. Vi was right, Addie was no good, and Landry was scum.

I'd probably be more devastated if he didn't kill my best friend. I'd noticed the sneaky touches and lingering glances all night. My mind was made up to end things with him before I saw the video.

"Baby," Landry tried. He'd been weary of me since I pushed Addie. I guess he's not as dumb as he looks.

Narrowing my eyes, I glared at him. "Don't tell me. You want me to let you explain? Am I right?"

"Harper. It was nothing. She meant nothing to me," Landry explained. Too bad I gave less than zero fucks.

"On to the next game," Jack commanded.

I sighed, storming through the door. Perhaps I'd get lucky, and there'd be a gator this scum could be fed to.

Landry ran up next to me, keeping pace. "Harper, please, baby. Let me fix this," he begged as we entered another part of the mansion. This one had paisley print wallpaper, high vaulted ceilings, and a fireplace that had seen better days. A stainless steel table was among the sparse furniture, its obvious newness making it stand out.

"Move, you murderous, cheating son of a bitch," I snapped, shoving his chest.

"You shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house, Harper. You literally just killed someone. We're even. We can escape from here together and then work this out," he suggested.

It was my turn to be shocked. I gawped at his audacity. Stupid idiot has never faced a real consequence in his over-privileged life. If Landry somehow made it out of here, his daddy would erase it all. "Get the hell outta my way, Landry Nicklaus Boutin!"

"Enough!" Jack barked over the intercom. "It's time to begin the next game. One of you won't make it out of this room, so your lover's spat is meaningless."

Growling, Landry spun around and stalked further into the room. "This isn't over, Harper. You're mine. I put too much work into this, and you won't leave me," he spat over his shoulder.

My lip curled in disgust as my anger mounted. I knew his words were true. Our parents planned to announce our engagement after Christmas. I didn't have any objections until tonight.

We passed a table lined with weapons. Scalpels, a bone saw, a mallet of some sort, a machete, garrote, knives, and so much more. What the hell childhood game were we perverting now? My fingers wrapped around the mallet, weighing it in my palm. I admired the shine of the tool orthopedic surgeons used to chip at bone.

"When you get home, I'll fuck your throat hoarse, pop that cherry, and put a baby in you. It would be in your best interest to stop fucking with me, Harper. I've only ever shown my nice guy side. You don't want me to introduce you to the guy that fucked Addie," Landry rambled.

I remained silent, pretending to be listening as we neared the exam-like table. Oblivious, he prattled on about all the shit I would and wouldn't do, and the consequences I would endure if I didn't comply. A whooshing sound thumped in my ears as my hand rose and my arm reared back. I swung two consecutive blows with the full force of my body weight to the back of his head before he registered what I'd done. Landry dropped to the floor, knocked out cold. A small patch of blood stained his hair. Gazing down, I noticed the pieces of skin mixed in with strands of hair.

"You finally shut the fuck up," I exclaimed, massaging the bridge of my nose. Dropping the mallet, I bent over, slid my arms under his armpits, and tugged him near the table, leaving a trail of blood in our wake. "Fuck, I forgot how heavy you are," I mumbled, thankful for the times I'd pulled his drunken ass to his room.

Huffing, I caught my breath and stared down at Landry's prone body, lying strewn on the steel surface. It took me what felt like hours to lift him onto the exam table. I needed to hurry. He still hadn't so much as twitched, but I couldn't stall any longer. I stalked over to the area we passed entering and grabbed the machete and the scalpel.

It was oddly silent as I stood over Landry. They announced no instructions for the game. No orders to stop came. It was just me and my thoughts. The day of the party by the lake and the video clips of what happened when I left played on a loop.

Con handed us the two solo cups. I missed the signs that night. He hovered, waiting to see us drink, but my phone went off, and I left. If I knew Vi, she drank both cups of the spiked drink. It was fitting he died being liquified. He was the reason she fell into the lake.

My ex was handsome, even with the burn on his face. Maybe if he had been less attractive, he'd have an ounce of humility. I doubted it, though. Landry had access to money. Looks helped, but money meant power, and power made people stupidly bold sometimes.

Vi's sluggish movements before she stilled in the water. Alone . . . she was alone.

Pain ripped through my chest. "I should've been there for you, Vi," I whispered. Guilt seeped through my pores, permeating the surrounding air with its toxicity. I bit the inside of my cheek until a metallic taste hit my tongue and fought back the tears. I'd fix this.

Her body lay still. They made a piss poor attempt to revive her. Only checking her pulse. No one called the police, too fearful of ruining Landry's father's mayoral re-election campaign.

I hummed Iko Iko as I cut his jeans and boxer briefs next, leaving him exposed. I stared at his erection. "You get off on pain?" I mumbled. "How fitting."

Raymond as he ran out of the house with the chicken to draw the gators.He'd sealed his fate. He was barbecued like the raw meat he had fetched. "Stupid fucker. I should've roasted marshmallows as you charred," I murmured.

Turning, I picked up the scalpel. The coolness of it was a stark contrast to my overheated skin. I pressed the sharp point against the left side of Landry's neck just enough for a trickle of red to appear. Goosebumps lined my neck, and my nipples hardened. "Guess I get off on inflicting pain." My shoulders slumped. This would be more fun if he were awake.

Addie, as she heartlessly gloated like a proud peacock when her idea to draw the gators that ate my best friend alive worked."Pride goeth before the fall, you cunt," I snapped. My only regret was not seeing her face when she realized I pushed her.

That left one person to serve penance–Landry. I understood why we were here. This couldn't end until Vi received retribution. My ex may not have been the catalyst or the person who suggested how to get rid of Vi's body, but he was complicit. A willing and eager accomplice. "You whined like a baby-back bitch about your daddy," I seethed as I sliced through his carotid artery until I nicked bone like butter. Crimson fluids poured down his throat as his eyes popped open. Landry peered up at me before he shot up into a sitting position. I could only imagine the adrenaline that was coursing through his veins. The fight or flight that misfired, encouraging him to act. His hands flew to his throat, but it was too late. He opened his mouth to speak but only coughed up blood before he fell back on the exam table.

"I'm going to fuck your throat, pop your cherry, and put a baby in you."Landry's threats bounced around in my head. Dropping the scalpel, I picked up the machete. "Joke's on you. My cherry was popped," I giggled. His eyes blinked. He'd suffered too much blood loss to elicit a greater reaction. "Boooo. You're no fun," I teased before I fisted his erect dick by the crown and swung the machete, cutting the appendage off like I was aiming to hit a grand slam. Landry definitely had a reason to be cocky. His dick was firmly above average in length and girth. "This probably explains why Addie was gagging for it."

I let the blade fall to the floor, holding Landry's most prized appendage in my hand. My pupils dilated, fascinated by how quickly his cock went limp. "I'd make some joke about you being a two-pump chump if I hadn't seen you're not with my own eyes," I said, moving back toward his head. I studied the cut along his throat. Landry's flaccid dick wouldn't fit. Dropping his cock on his chest, I reached up and pulled until there was enough room. "That should do it," I mumbled, then grabbed his dick and shoved it into his neck, pumping it in and out. "Who's fucking whose throat now?" I screamed. Blood splattered over my face, and I moaned. I almost wished Erebus was here so I could ride him.

Still not satisfied, I slipped my hand between my legs and pinched my clit.

Shame hit me at the realization of what I'd done. What they drove me to. Who they stole from me. All the pent-up rage of the night bubbled over. "Are you impressed with my game of operation? I had nothing to do with Vi's death. I was told she was missing," I yelled, looking for the camera before. Lodging Landry's cock into his throat, I spun around and stretched my arms wide. As I curtsied, I said, "You're welcome."