Chapter 15

“Shit,” I muttered, quickly taking the envelope out.

I glanced around, trying to guess which direction he might have taken, but the place was crowded. Finding him was impossible.

Smart. Too smart. Who the hell is he? And what does he want with me?

I went home, threw off my jacket, and tore the envelope open.

Inside were pictures.

Not just any pictures. Pictures of James.

James with women. Different women, including most of the murdered victims.

Some shots showed him naked, fucking them. Others, he was smiling, clearly enjoying himself as he touched their bodies.

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not for that scumbag.

He didn’t deserve it.

One picture caught my attention. The date stamped on it was yesterday.

James had lied about being at the bar. He was at a hotel, fucking those bitches.

I knew he was hiding something. I just never… never expected this.

“I swear, I’ll blow his balls off,” I hissed through clenched teeth.

Another slip of paper was tucked inside.

My stomach tightened as I grabbed my gun, slipped on a head warmer, and stormed out of the house.

I drove straight to Brooklyn, stopping in front of the hotel.

Pulling my sweater hood low over my head, I dipped my hands into my pockets, making sure to keep my face hidden from CCTV cameras.

Inside, I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button. A few others joined me. When the doors slid open at my stop, I stepped out, head still lowered.

Trailing closely behind a cleaner, I slipped into their changing room. Moments later, I walked out disguised in a cleaner’s uniform.

I approached the door number written on the paper and pressed the bell.

“Room service.”

The door swung open. A woman stood there.

“Babe, did you call for room service?” she shouted over her shoulder.

No response. The sound of loud music spilled from the bathroom.

I smiled faintly at the woman. She looked trashy, chewing bubble gum, standing there in nothing but panties, her boobs exposed.

No shame whatsoever.

“Get in. And make it quick,” she ordered.

I entered, pretending to clean, while scanning the room carefully.

“Babe, are you going to spend the whole night in the bathroom?” she called out.

The bathroom door opened. I raised my head slightly, trying to see who it was.

“Hey, you. Are you done cleaning?” the woman snapped at me with disgust.

I forced a smile and nodded.

“Leave,” she said with a scowl.

I tried to glance at the man, but she shouted again, “I said leave!”

On my way out, I purposely knocked against the table, sending a glass cup crashing to the floor.

I quickly crouched to gather the shards.

“You wretched fool! How did you even get employed? So annoying,” she spat.

I cleared my throat, altering my voice.

“I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“You have five minutes to finish that, fool.”

“You don’t have to be angry, Jessica. The night is still young, we’ve got all the time in the world,” the man’s voice drawled from behind.

That voice.

My entire body froze.

James.

Undoubtedly James.

I clenched my fist so tightly that the broken glass pierced my skin. Blood trickled from my palm, but I ignored it, rising slowly to my feet.

They were both behind me now.

“What’s wrong with her?” Jessica sneered. “Hey, lady, leave the rest and get out!”

Then her eyes widened. “Oh my God, that’s blood!” She shrieked and darted behind James.

I lifted my head and tugged the mask from my face.

“Ariel?” James’s voice cracked with shock.

“Babe, do you know her?” Jessica’s brows pinched together, her voice trembling with confusion.

James didn’t answer. He moved slowly toward me, his hand outstretched. “Ariel, I can explain—”

I looked at him with pure disdain, every muscle in my body screaming for me to break his face.

“Babe!” Jessica snapped, rushing to stand between us. Her eyes flicked nervously from me to him. “What’s the meaning of this? Are you cheating on me… with a cleaner?”

James’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, still keeping his eyes on me, ignoring her.

“Babe, I’m talking to you!” Jessica shouted, her voice high and desperate.

I tugged at the oversized cleaner uniform, ripping it off in one swift motion until I stood barefaced, no longer hidden.

Jessica froze. “Babe… who is she?” Her voice cracked, softer now, threaded with fear.

James’s mouth opened but no words came out. Sweat was gathering at his temple.

I tilted my head, lips curling into a cruel smile. “Why don’t you tell her, James?”

His eyes darted between me and Jessica, panic written across his face. I dropped the stack of photographs onto the floor. They fanned out at her feet like a death sentence.

Jessica bent down, hands shaking as she picked them up. With each picture she flipped through, her breathing quickened, her eyes widening with horror.

“What’s the meaning of this?” she screamed, hurling the photos back down. “You’ve been cheating on me!”

But James barely glanced at her, his gaze chained to mine.

I chuckled lowly and turned to her. “If I were you, I’d leave. Right now. You see those girls in the pictures? Some are already dead. The rest… they’re on the list.” My voice dropped, cold and sharp as a blade.

“I bet you don’t want to be next.”

Jessica’s face drained of color. She scrambled for her bag, clutching it to her chest like a shield, then bolted out of the room without another word.

The silence that followed was thick, suffocating.

My eyes locked back on James.

“Ariel—” he started.

I didn’t let him finish. My fist collided with his nose. The crunch was satisfying.

James staggered back, clutching his face. Blood seeped between his fingers as he stared down at the red staining his hand.

“You fooled Mrs. Jones, but not me,” I spat, my voice burning with venom. “Every single girl who ended up dead—you were with them. You think you’re clever? You’re just a pathetic cheat. And a killer.”

James let out a guttural scream, rage vibrating through him. He swept his arm across the table, sending everything crashing to the floor. Glass shattered, papers flew, the air filled with chaos.

“Fine!” he bellowed, chest heaving. “I’ve had enough of this!”

I smirked, unfazed. “Oh, so the real James finally shows his face? About damn time. You two-faced bastard.”

His eyes darkened, no longer desperate, no longer pleading. Something twisted surfaced instead—violent, unhinged.

And in that moment, I knew the mask had slipped.

The killer was standing right in front of me.