Page 40 of Massacre Monday

“Gwen has been missing since Monday, and I had to tell the campus police, but there’s been no word from her.”

I skip over the part where I have an insane stalker who won’t leave me alone and that Mitch has iced me out because of it. And that I feel guilty that those facts are causing me more distress than my roommate’s possible demise.

“Oh my god, that’s horrible. Where was she last seen?”

“At our Greek event. The police are trying to narrow down who last saw her.”

If I spill anything about the cloaked man, not only could I get in trouble with the sorority, university, and organization, but my parents would never let me return to school.

Dad and Adal bust in through the front door, loudly discussing something and laughing. Mrs. Kroft skirts to the butler’s pantry, clearly annoyed with the ruckus.

“Hey, pup.” My dad stops to give me a kiss on my cheek and a squeeze while I snag a stool at the butcher-block island.

“Hi, Dad.”

Adal snatches the cookie from my hand and shoves it in his mouth before I can grab it back. “Mm, my favorites.”

Mrs. Kroft returns only to smack him on the back of the head. “Those are for your sister!”

Adal rubs his head, but doesn’t even appear sorry.

“You two are later than normal,” my mom says.

“Hung up with Bear Cage stuff,” Adal says, then gives a slight chuckle. “New guy. He’s really good.” My brother grabs two beers from the fridge and hands my dad one.

Dad leans over the counter with my mom between his arms and cracks open his drink with a hiss, chugs half of it, then presses his lips to my mom’s head. “New kid there has impressed me, and we’re trying to get him prepared for his first match.” He points the top of his can toward me. “You home for the weekend, pup?”

“Yeah. Thought I’d watch a movie with Mom tonight. You up for a rom-com?”

A big smile crosses her face as she reaches for my hand. “You havenoidea how ready I am. You’ve been gone for two weeks, and I’ve had to be in the same room as action movies every evening.”

My dad swats her ass, but she grabs his hand in a lock until he submits with a sly grin.

“I’ll take a shower and see you in the den in half an hour,” I tell her.

“I’ll make the popcorn!” she calls out as I head out the kitchen door with Adal behind me.

When he opens the front door as I pass it, Nico stands, ready to meet him. Probably for some club activity.

“Hey, Pip-squeak!” Nico greets me over my brother’s shoulder.

“Hey,” I say politely.

Adal pulls on his boots while squatting on the preacher’s bench near the entry. With a nod toward his friend, he heads out. “I’ll meet you there.”

Nico grins, eyes skating over me in that way he used to get away with. “Looking cute tonight. Got big plans? Wanna be my backpack?”

Last year, I would havebeggedto tag along. My heart would have soared, and I would have talked Gwen’s ear off about it for weeks.

Now, I just don’t care.

“Sorry, my mom and I are going to watch a movie. Have fun!” I say, noticing how much my response surprises him. But before he can say anything else, I turn toward the hall as my dad exits the kitchen, announcing he’s heading over to Uncle Ace’s to discuss business. Which means the two of them are going to play cards and argue until they both say they won’t ever speak to one another. For a week.

After cleaning up, I throw on a purple soft-knit loungewear set with a long, fuzzy cardigan. Cozy slippers warm my feet as I head down to our library den. It’s my favorite spot to watch movies in the house. Plus, it holds the theater popcorn machine. The aroma of the buttery treat has my mouth watering as I descend the main stairs.

I round the corner to the foyer and pause, hearingtwovoices laughing. One is clearly my mother’s, but the other is deep…and eerily familiar. My heart thuds against my ribs as I creep down the hall.

When I twist the knob and enter, my blood stops moving.