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THIRTY-THREE

HALLOWEEN L

REINVENTING YOUR EXIT—UNDEROATH

CALISTA

I couldn’t sleep.

Even being curled up in the safety of Dom’s embrace, I couldn’t stop my mind from running wild, playing nasty tricks on me by torturing me with flashbacks of the many men who shattered my spirit over the years.

I had to get out of there. I had to run so I could breathe again.

Even with the cold plastic of the mask covering my face, I can still breathe easier than I could trapped in that bedroom.

I walk the empty streets, fog heavily consuming the night. The wind blows, making me shiver, but bringing relief to my hot skin at the same time.

“Where are we going now?” Addy, who has barely been around, shows up beside me out of nowhere.

I breathe a sigh of relief, glad to see her. “We’re going to stake out the next house,” I tell her, a deadly smile tugging at the corners of my lips, hidden behind the hacker mask I chose to wear.

“Did you get the boys to agree to help you?” She questions, subtly skiing her hand into mine, holding it tightly.

“I talked to Dom about it, and he’s aware, but the other two are still clueless. But don’t worry, Addy, they’re going to help me regardless.”

Coming up to the gated community where the mayor lives, I punch in his code that I managed to clone, and Addy and I slip through the gate unscathed.

Knowing exactly where his apartment is, I climb the fire escape to the very top and make myself comfortable on his balcony, making sure I have a perfect view of his bedroom, where he lies sound asleep, holding a girl who looks no older than eighteen.

“Fucking pervert,” I mutter under my breath, pulling my black hood over my head to avoid being seen.

I pull out the list and study it, even though I’ve memorized every name on it by now.

Mother

Father

Holden Graham

Gunnar

Adam Moretti (Ash’s father)

David Blacksburg (Kill’s father)

Jackson Gray (Dom’s father)

State senator Gallagher

Mayor Kyle Benjamin

City Councilman Marcus Rutherford

Judge Hayden Wilson

Brockton chief of police Robert Bailey

City councilman Jose Brown

My throat tightens and my hands get shaky, noticing that Dom’s father is only two names away after the mayor’s. I’m not sure how he and the guys are going to feel about their father’s names approaching, but at the same time, I don’t really care. From day one, I promised myself that I’d rope them into helping me, and I have to keep reminding myself that no matter what happens between us, my mind is already made up.

Not only did their fathers betray them and myself, but out of all thirteen names on my list, their torment and abuse was way worse than anyone else’s—even my own fucking parents. The things they did to me are diabolical.

I take a deep breath, steadied by my resolve, and focus on the scene in front of me. The mayor’s silhouette shifts slightly in the glow of the moonlight. I can’t help but feel the pulse of urgency in my veins. It’s strange how I’ve come to find solace here, watching my targets, each breath swelling with purpose and righteousness, while the weight of the past still hovers in my mind like a dark cloud.

Addy’s grip tightens on my hand, pulling me briefly from the depths of my thoughts. “Are you sure about this?” She whispers, her voice a gentle warning echoing through the fog.

I turn my head, catching her eye—a mixture of concern and fierce loyalty reflected back at me. “I have to do this, Addy. It’s not just for me anymore. It’s for them too. We can’t let their fathers continue to play puppet master over our lives.”

Before she can respond, the bedroom lights flicker on, casting shadows across the balcony. I hold my breath, instincts sharpening as I peer through the glass. The mayor stirs, the girl nestling closer to him, her innocence tainted by the monsters who wield power over us. It sickens me, but I can’t allow my rage to cloud my judgement. Not yet.

I pull out my phone, the glow illuminating my focus, and I see a new message from Dom, wondering where I am and if I’m okay. Even though he’s the one I trust the most, the one whose heart still holds traces of the boy he used to be, I ignore it, not ready to text back just yet.

“Come on,” I tell her, standing up.

As if a switch has been flipped, we move in unison, slipping into the shadows, every step a calculated whisper against the misty air. Addy stays close, trailing behind me like a determined phantom.

We approach the balcony door, and I gently pull it open, cringing at the creak inside. The soft light is enough to reveal their peaceful forms, a stark contrast to the fury simmering within me. Drawing a sharp breath, I remind myself of my purpose.

Quietly, I step into the room, and Addy follows. My heart beats louder than the whispers wrapping around my mind. I flick my gaze back to the girl—she seems so trusting, so blissfully unaware of the reality swirling around her. I can’t let her be a part of this cycle, not when she should have every opportunity to be free from it.

“Shh,” I whisper, putting a finger to my lips before motioning for Addy to stay back.

I edge closer to the mayor, the sight of him flaming the resentment lining my stomach. I reach for my phone and hit record, capturing the snoring figure as evidence of his sheltered life.

“Wait,” Addy interjects in a whisper, suddenly tense.

I look back at her, her eyes darting to the door. My heart skips a beat before sinking as I hear the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching from down the hall. Panic sets in, and I know we have mere seconds to decide our next move.

“Hide!” I hiss, directing Addy to slip behind the oversized curtains while I cling to the shadows in the corner.

My pulse quickens as the doorknob begins to turn. The door creaks open, and a man steps through—his face shadowed but somehow familiar. I can barely breathe as I recognize him—one of the mayor’s closest aides—an enabler of the corruption that has plagued our lives. This could either be our grave mistake or the very key to unraveling everything I’ve set in motion.

His gaze sweeps the room, and just as I think he might notice me, he slips out in silence, never even knowing I was here. Addy and I take the chance to slip out through the door to the balcony, quickly rushing to the fire escape and descending the rusty steps without looking back.

This isn’t over. I’ll be back tonight but I won’t be alone. This time, I’ll have the boys who broke my heart right by my side, and together, we’re going to unleash a new sense of fear on the community, and it’s going to be so fucking sweet.

* * *

LATER ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT

“It’s fucking Halloween, Fuckers,” Ash announces as he appears from down the hall, strolling into the living room, dressed in all black with a blunt in the corner of his lips and a cigarette tucked behind his ear.

I sit on the couch, zoning out, feeling more manic than usual but trying not to show it.

“There’s another race tonight,” he says cheerfully, a cute, boyish grin plastered across his face. “Who’s down?”

Dom glances at me, a serious look in his eye, before looking at Ash with an unfortunate shake of his head. “We have plans with Calista tonight,” he mumbles, anxiously picking at his already short nails, a nervous tick he’s had since he was a boy.

Killian looks up from his laptop, shooting me an intriguing stare. Ash senses the mood in the room and flicks his gaze between me and Dom, eventually taking a seat on the end of the couch.

“Okay, what would these plans be?” He lights the blunt and looks at me, waiting for me to speak.

But before I can find my voice, Dom interjects, a slight sense of irritation lacing his tone. “Oh, you know, just a little murder.” He looks at me, giving me silent permission to fill the others in on what I told him last night.

“We can go to the race first,” I tease, flipping my hair over my shoulder to keep it out of my face.

“Wait, what do you mean murder?” Killian’s focus is fully on me, and off whatever he was watching on his laptop, the screen now shut.

“Like I told Dom last night, there’s this list I have with a bunch of names on it, and the three of you are going to help me cross off every single one I have left. Just ask Ash; he’ll tell you.” I smirk, flashing Ash a wink that makes him crack a tiny smile.

“Marcus was on her list,” Ash says, maintaining his smile as he leans back, passing the blunt to Dom.

“Apparently my father is too,” Dom bites venomously, snatching the cherried blunt out of Ash’s hand, taking a huge hit.

The boys look around the room at each other, having a silent conversation with only their eyes. I can’t help but grin, knowing I’m getting to them and that my plan is coming to life.

“Don’t worry, Dom, your father’s name isn’t the only one on the list. Adam and David are on there too.” I smirk, watching all three of their jaws drop in shock, their eyes bulging with fear and unease.

“I don’t know if I have it in me to kill someone,” Killian admits. “Let alone my fucking father.”

I shrug, giving off the impression that I couldn’t give a fuck, because I don’t. “Like I told Dom, you three fucking owe me for the shit you did—for ruining my life. I didn’t just show up here because I wanted to fix shit between us,” I chuckle, getting to my feet. “I do, but nah, I came back because it’s time to pay up. You want to be redeemed in my book? Well, welcome to fucking redemption, boys.”

The atmosphere in the room thickens, the playful banter suddenly feeling dangerously real. I dart my gaze from Ash to Dom to Killian, watching the realization seep into their minds. This isn’t a joke. I have come to play.

“So what’s it going to be, gentlemen?” My tone turns serious, challenging.

I can see the gears turning in their heads, weighing their options. The playful Halloween spirit has dimmed, and the shadow of my ultimatum looms large.

Ash breaks the silence with a chuckle that masks his unease. “Well, I have always wanted to see what it’s like to be on the other side of the law.” He flicks the ash from the blunt, leaning slightly closer. “But lets just say hypothetically, how do we go about crossing names off this list of yours?”

I lean against the wall, a mock casualness taking over my body. “That’s the fun part. You don’t get to ask questions; you get to follow orders. I’ve done my homework and all the footwork. I know where they are and how to get to them. It’s all mapped out; all you have to do is trust me like you did the other night with Marcus.”

Dom swallows hard, unease washing over his features. “Trust has never been our strong suit, Calista. You know that.” His voice shakes slightly, a hint of the boy I used to know breaking through the armor he’s built.

“It wasn’t mine either,” I reply, a sadness in my tone that surprises even me. “It still isn’t. But this isn’t just about me anymore. It’s about the shadows we’ve been running from, and it’s about time we faced them—together.”

Killian clicks his tongue, a low sound that only adds to the tension. “And what if we don’t want to play your little game? What if we don’t want any part of this anymore?”

“Then you can continue to live with the guilt. Every name on that list is a scar on your conscience. You think just ignoring it will change anything? You think I want to try and forgive you so easily?” I step closer, fearless and undeterred. “You have no idea what I’ve fucking gone through to get here.”

Silence falls again; the only sound is the faint ticking of the clock echoing in the background. They exchange glances, silent deliberation pressing on.

Finally, it’s Ash who breaks the tension, tilting his head slightly. “You know I’ve always been up for a little chaos. Count me in. Besides, I’ll be the first to admit that the other night was sort of... fun, and the sex—fuck—the sex was fucking incredible.”

Dom looks torn, visibly wrestling with his conscience. “I want to help you, but...”

“But you’re scared.” I finish for him. “Scared of what you’ll become, scared of me. I get that, but what we’ve all been through in the past is what led us here—to this very moment—and either you break free or stay shackled to your demons and continue to let them control every aspect of your life.”

Killian finally speaks, his newfound determination lacing his voice. “Alright, I’ll do it. But if we’re getting into this, I want some rules: no unnecessary bloodshed; we need a plan.”

I smile, the thrill of the hunt sparking alive in my veins. “Deal. I already have a solid plan. But know this—we’re not just taking lives. We’re dismantling a legacy of abuse, pain, and misery. It'll be fucking messy. And another thing, I’ll never take the life of someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

“Messy is kind of my specialty,” Ash teases, leaning back with a renewed spark in his eyes. “Let the games begin.”

Dom sighs, the fight in him seeming to wane. “Alright, then I’m in too.”

I feel a particular warmth at his willingness to fight alongside me, even if it’s wrapped in a shaky resolve. And as I turn away, the weight of the night pressing down on me, I feel the shadows entwining with my thoughts—a promise that this Halloween, the masks wouldn’t just hide our faces; they would unveil our darkest truths.