Page 36 of Carnal

I nod a thanks and hop inside. The entire drive, my stomach is in knots thinking about all of the things that could be happening to Essence right now. That text could have been sent hours ago, and she needs me.

I pull out my phone to double check the time it was sent, but the sight of the cracked screen makes me want to throw it again.

“What’s going on, man?” Tommy asks, weaving through traffic, lights and sirens blaring. “I haven’t seen you like this since…”

He trails off, but I know what he wants to say.

Since Leo died.

I place a hand on my knee to calm my bouncing leg, but it doesn’t work. Nothing will be able to calm me until I have my flower in my arms and I know that she’s okay.

“Family emergency,” I tell him shortly.

At the sound of my voice, he doesn’t ask any more questions.

When we finally arrive back at the house, I quickly thank him as I jump down from the fire engine, grab my jacket and keys out of my locker, and bolt outside to my truck.

I’m coming to get you, baby.

But not before I stop home and get some things.

CHAPTER 24

DANTE

“No, please, stop!”Evan begs.

His screams are like sweet, sweet music to my ears.

I take my time with him, make sure to draw out his torture for as long as I can. All the while, he begs and pleads for his life. He asks who I am, because of course he doesn’t recognize me in my mask.

When I’m done with him, I lay him out in front of the fireplace and cover him with a sheet I found in a basket of laundry I found by the stairs.

When I’m done, I go upstairs and find Essence lying on the floor. Her face is all bruised up, and she looks so broken, slumped in a puddle of her own blood.

Carefully, I scoop her up and place her on the bed. Something in me snaps at the sight of her, and suddenly, I’m ready to show her the extent of who I am.

Wake up, little flower. I’m ready to play.

CHAPTER 25

ESSENCE

I try to swallow,but my mouth is so dry. I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids are so heavy.

Am I dead? Did I just wake up in the afterlife? What the hell even happened?

God, my head hurts like a bitch.

I’d come here hours ago to talk to Evan. He invited me inside and…

And then he attacked me.

I remember him pushing me to the floor and unleashing the most horrible torrent of abuse he’s ever inflicted on me.

His blows were relentless and full of hatred. He’d called me every insult and slur under the sun for choosing Dante over him, and I couldn’t believe he’d even think of me that way.

“So you’ve been cheating on me this whole time, huh?” he’d asked before kicking me in the ribs. I cried out from the pain and nursed my sore side, unable to form words.