24. Reagan

Chapter 24

Reagan

T he setting sun behind the cathedral on campus casts long shadows on the cobblestone path as I walk hand in hand with Penn. The cold breeze tugs at my hair, but his warm fingers entwined with mine keep the chill at bay.

I smirk, nudging him playfully. “You seem…happy. You’re not giving up the whole tortured bad boy pyro thing on me, are you? I can’t be seen out in public with a nice guy. It would ruin my whole aesthetic. We are not black cat and golden retriever, psycho. We’re black cat and pit bull.”

“Are you…teasing me?” Penn says with a sly grin. His eyes dance with mischief beneath the brim of his baseball cap. “They can pry the lighter fluid out of my cold, dead hands. Don’t you worry, hellfire.” He pulls my hand roughly, bumping me into his side playfully.

“That’s my good boy,” I giggle, slapping him on the ass, and judging by the look on his pretty fucking face, he likes the sound of my laughter and the slap on his cheek. He’ s quick to let go of my hand, wrap my hair around his fist, and jerk me up to his lips for a rough kiss.

“Say it again,” he demands with his lips still against mine, but I can feel the naughty grin spreading across his face. “Say it again, and I’ll drag you through that cemetery and fuck you until you couldn’t form the word good if you tried.” Penn nods his head toward the cemetery just beyond the wrought-iron gates.

“Reagan! Where the fuck have you been? Come over here right now!” A shrill voice pierces through the air, making me wince. My stepsister Ashley stands across the walkway, half in a small alcove by the cemetery, hands on her hips, her dyed blonde hair whipping around her face as she glares at me with disdain. She looks like Sharpay from High School Musical grew up to become an angry hooker.

“Jesus Christ,” I mutter under my breath, tightening my grip on Penn’s hand. His body is moving with the laughter he’s not even trying to hide.

“What the fuck is that?” He asks, gesturing toward my stepsister. He knows exactly who she is. He knows everything about my life, but he’s enjoying himself right now, and I can’t say I blame him. She’s a sight, and that’s all there really is to be said.

“What do you want, Ashley?” I sigh. I could run away from her, but this is never going to end if I do. She’s always going to be my dad’s little messenger, and I’m sick of it.

“Are you fucking stupid?” she demands, her acrylic nails tapping impatiently against her arm. “You haven’t been answering your phone and Dad’s pissed.”

I roll my eyes, trying to rein in my frustration. “Tell Daddy Dearest that I’m busy living my own life, not catering to his every whim. ”

“Really?” Ashley sneers, taking a step closer. “That’s rich coming from you, Reagan. It’s like you want him to have to pull your innocent little sister in to do your job.”

“I will fucking kill you if you ever bring Reese up again,” I snap, feeling the familiar burn of anger in my chest. “Just because you’re screwing my father, and all his clients doesn’t mean I feel sorry for you. You are just as much of a trash human being as they are because instead of trying to get out of it, you try to pull other girls in on it. You’re a snake and you deserve whatever you get.”

“Rae...” Penn squeezes my hand, and I snap my head up to glare at him because I know Mr. ‘I’ll burn your car down in broad daylight’ isn’t trying to calm me down right now. But he grins down at me, and I can see by the look in his eyes that he’s down to help me with however this pans out with my stepsister. I can feel the heat of his body pressed against mine, his protective energy radiating outward like an invisible shield. And it only makes me more determined to stand up to her, to remind her that I won’t be pushed around anymore, and she will not utter my sister’s name ever again.

“Watch yourself,” Ashley snarls, her eyes narrowing to slits. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. There is nothing wrong with what I’m doing.”

“Sure there isn’t…if it was just you. I don’t give a fuck what you do with your own body. But tricking others into it or forcing them is a whole different fucking story. You’re fucking rotted,” I reply sarcastically, noting with satisfaction the way her face flushes with rage. And despite the tense situation, I can’t help but feel a thrill of excitement course through me, knowing that Penn is right by my side.

Ashley’s eyes darken, her mouth twisting into a sneer. Penn squeezes my hand before stepping forward, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. “If you so much as lay a finger on my wife, I’ll help her burn your body while you’re still alive.”

Ashley recoils, her eyes wide with shock. She quickly composes herself, glaring at us both. “This isn’t over, Reagan. You have St. Pierre responsibilities. You can’t just be out here sucking some poor person’s cock,” she hisses through clenched teeth, stomping her high heel on the sidewalk.

“Of course it isn’t, sweetheart,” I reply sarcastically, enjoying the way Penn’s presence unnerves her. He’s a monster, but right now he’s my monster. “There’s always some drama with you, isn’t there?”

Her face reddens in anger, and she raises her hand to slap me, her hatred for me overshadowing her will to live, apparently. But Penn is faster, his grip firm as he catches her wrist mid-air. “You really are a dumb bitch, aren’t you?” he warns, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

“Let go of me!” Ashley screeches, trying to yank her hand away, but Penn’s grip remains unyielding. I can feel the heat radiating from his body into mine.

A wicked smile plays on my lips as I watch Ashley dig her own grave with her next words. “She’s going to scream, you know. She’s going to cry for you the first time. Your little sister will end up a stupid whore, just like you. She won’t use them like I do. She’ll never be anything!” She screams, trying to jerk her arm away from Penn, with no luck.

“Want me to snap her neck?” Penn asks, completely calm like he’s asking if I want fries with my burger.

I shake my head no, leaning up to give him a chaste kiss because I have something else in mind. My husband isn’t the only psychotic one in this little love bubble we’ve created. I love the fact that Penn is willing to step in and protect me, even if it is from someone as asinine as Ashley. I glance around to make sure no one else is around or might see what’s going to happen. As if it’s divine intervention, I notice that a large chunk of fallen rock from one of the stone pillars lies nearby, its jagged edges glistening in the quickly fading sunlight. With a swift movement, I pick it up and, without hesitation, I bash Ashley on the side of the head with all the strength I can muster.

The bitch she crumples to the ground like a rag doll, and I hit her three more times for good measure. A triumphant surge of adrenaline courses through me, and I can’t help but revel in the feeling of finally putting her in her place.

“I fucking knew you had it in you, baby,” Penn chuckles, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I have to say, though, we make quite the team. Also, I feel like you channeled me with the four hits.”

“God, I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” I admit, breathing heavily from the rush of it all. “She’s been a bitch since the day I met her.”

“Clearly, you’ve got some pent-up aggression there, hellfire. We all know I know how to deal with aggression.” Penn winks suggestively, and I can’t help but feel a shiver of anticipation at the thought.

“Are you saying you want to fuck me next to her dead body?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Keep it up, and I’m not gonna make it to the cemetery,” he replies with a grin, taking my hand. “I’ll fuck you right here and kill anyone that sees us.”

I run my fingers along cracked tombstones as we make our way through the cemetery. Penn carries Ashley’s limp body effortlessly, her designer clothes and long acrylic nails a comical contrast to his simple jeans and hoodie.

“Do you have a spot you’re headed to or are we just winging it?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. The adrenaline of killing Ashley is leaving my body and I’m starting to second guess things now. It’s too late. It’s already done, and I don’t regret it. I don’t feel bad. I just can’t afford to get caught with my dead stepsister’s body. Reese would be on her own, and that would be the real tragedy.

“I’ve got it, baby,” Penn replies cryptically. “You did the hard part. Let me take care of the rest.”

I follow closely behind him. This was definitely not how I expected my night to unfold.

“So, you’re enjoying this, huh?” I ask, noting his casual whistling like he’s about to play a round of golf or something.

“Can’t say I’m not,” he admits with a sly grin. “There’s something undeniably satisfying about putting someone like Ashley in her place.”

“Agreed,” I murmur, hoping he doesn’t notice the slight tremble in my voice.

“Hey,” Penn says softly, sensing my unease. “You okay?”

“Fine,” I lie, forcing a smile. “Just thinking.”

“About what?” he probes, his eyes searching mine.

“I’ve never lost it like that before. I don’t even feel bad. I bashed in her skull with a rock, and I don’t feel sorry or like I’ve even done something wrong.” I look away until I hear a rustling sound. When I look over, Penn has dropped Ashley on the ground like a sack of potatoes.

He’s cupping my face in his big hands, Ashley’s blood smearing on my face. “That bitch was asking to be tortured and killed. You’re my little hellfire, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

“If we get caught—-” I start, but Penn cuts me off with a sharp laugh like I’ve said something absolutely absurd.

“Baby, no one is taking you away from me. I’m a fucking Blackwood. This is what I do. Nobody is going to catch us, and if they do…” he grins, leaning down to kiss me on the mouth roughly, his hand sliding up my waist and over my breast, pausing to squeeze before his fingers circle around my throat. “So fucking what? Who is going to miss this bitch, anyway?”

“My father…” I start again, swallowing hard because I love the way his grip feels around my neck.

“I’ll handle your father. I don’t want you worrying about anything. You hear me?” Penn whispers huskily, dipping his head to kiss me once again. He waits until I nod in agreement before he lets go. He doesn’t pick Ashley up again. Instead, he grabs one of her ankles and drags her behind him and reaches out to grab my hand, linking our fingers like we’re going for a stroll in the park.

I notice the twisted branches above as we reach a secluded spot deep within the cemetery. Penn lowers Ashley’s body into a ditch that looks like it’s been freshly dug, her designer clothes now stained with dirt and blood.

“Do you just have random graves dug around campus?” I ask him, kneeling down to help shovel the soil on top of her.

“It’s a good workout, and as you can see, they’re needed at the most inconvenient times,” he smirks, tossing a handful of leaves over her limp form. “See you in hell someday. Hope you’re less annoying than you were on earth.”

“Very dramatic,” I say, rolling my eyes as we work together to cover her up. “Does this mean I’m stuck with you?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Hmm, something like that,” he promises, pulling me close. I expect him to ravage my mouth, cup my pussy or ass, anything to remind me that he’s crazy and I’m his. He surprises me by simply kissing my forehead before letting me go to finish burying the Sharpay of New Haven City.