Page 3 of Watch Me Burn

Tristan sinks back in his chair, fingers drumming against the leather. When he finally speaks, his voice is unnaturally calm.

“Well. This explains the eau de desperation you’ve been wearing lately.”

“There’s more.”

His eyes snap to mine. “Of course there’s more. There’s always more with you.”

The next part is going to kill him. Hell, it’s been killing me.

“She works at Blooms. With Zoe.”

“Who? Please tell me you mean Tracy, because Tracy looks like she could murder someone and I respect that in a woman.”

“The blonde. Via.”

“Via?!” The word comes out like he’s been personally offended by the entire alphabet. “Sweet, butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-her-mouth Via who dresses like she time-traveled from 1950 and makes those lemon tarts that have Zoe writing actual poetry? That Via?”

“That’s the one.”

“You’re telling me Zoe’s new best friend and coworker is your psychopath from Untamed?” He’s on his feet now, pacing my office. “Holy shit, Aaron, she’s not just in our circle. She’s practically family. She knows Zoe’s schedule, her habits, where she lives…hell, what brand of tea she drinks.”

I’ve been torturing myself with this exact realization for weeks now. That’s how close this is. That’s how far I’ve let this go.

Via knows everything about my sister. Her routines, her vulnerabilities, her complete lack of awareness that she’s befriended a monster. And there’s nothing I can do about it without sounding completely insane.

“How long?” Tristan demands.

“How long what?”

“How long has she been working there? How long has she had access to Zoe?”

“Since Zoe moved to New York.” My voice sounds hollow even to my own ears.

“Christ on a cracker.” He stops pacing and stares at me. “This isn’t random, Aaron. This is strategic. She got the job after she met you at Untamed. She’s been planning all of this.”

Yeah. I know. That knowledge alone is slowly eating me alive.

“Why do you think I hired the investigators? The first one vanished completely—just stopped answering calls and cleared out his office. Maybe she got to him, or fear did. Either way, he vanished.” I gesture toward the box of horrors.

“The new one keeps hitting dead ends while her gifts keep escalating.”

The truth is, I’m starting to think the first investigator is dead. And that might be my fault. Another life destroyed because I couldn’t handle this situation properly.

Another person I’ve failed to protect.

Tristan reaches for the velvet case before I can stop him. His face goes through several expressions—curiosity, confusion, then pure revulsion.

“Well,” he says after a long moment, his voice carefully controlled. “That’s certainly...intimate. Whose eyes are these?”

“No idea. And honestly? I’m not sure I want to know.”

“Smart choice. Though I have to ask, are they fresh? Please tell me they’re not fresh.”

“Not helping.”

“Fair enough.” He closes the box with a sharp snap. “She’s not just stalking you, darling. She’s building a shrine. This is full-blown obsession territory.”

The word ‘obsession’ hits different when someone else says it. Because that’s exactly what this is, isn’t it? She’s infatuated with me.

And the terrifying part? I’m becoming obsessed with destroying her. With taking back control. With making her pay for every sleepless night, every moment of fear, every second she’s made me feel powerless.

I want to watch the light fade from her eyes. I want to be the last thing she sees.

“Does Zoe suspect anything?”

“Nothing. She thinks Via’s perfect. Funny, sweet, helpful. The ideal friend.” I run both hands through my hair, tugging hard enough to hurt. “If this gets out, if anyone links me to Untamed or worse—it could take down the business, the reputation, everything we’ve built. All of it.”

But it’s more than that, isn’t it? I’m terrified because part of me wants to handle this permanently. Part of me is fantasizing about cornering her the way she cornered me, about having that knife in my hands instead of pressed against my chest.

I want to kill her more than I want to stop her. And that should horrify me. It should make me question everything about who I am. Instead, it makes me feel completely alive for the first time in years.

“But if I don’t do something?—”

“She’ll escalate until someone gets hurt.” Tristan straightens his jacket with sharp, efficient movements. “Well, this is completely deranged. Also, somewhat entertaining.”

Only Tristan would find attempted murder humorous.

“We handle this together,” he continues, his voice taking on that dangerous edge I’ve heard him use with business rivals. “My resources, my complete and utter lack of moral boundaries when it comes to protecting family. Plus, I’ve been bored lately. This sounds like a fun side project.”

“Fun?” I stare at him. “Tristan, this woman is a killer.”

“So are we. We just haven’t had the right motivation yet,” he says, in a casually disturbing way.

“I didn’t want you involved. Untamed has connections to people who make our worst enemies look like kindergarten teachers with anger management issues.”

“Too late. She involved me the moment she decided to play house with you and mess with everything we rule.” His smile could cut through steel. “Besides, I’m insulted you thought I couldn’t handle a little homicidal stalker. I’ve dealt with worse at charity galas.”

“This isn’t a joke, Tristan.”

“Who’s joking? I’m deadly serious. Literally.” He pauses at the door, glancing back with that grin that usually means someone’s about to have a very bad day. “Time to find out who she really is so we can return the favor. With interest.”

Something cold and final settles in my chest. “Whatever it takes.”

“I’ll hack every system, call in every favor, turn over every rock until we find her real identity.”

I sigh. “She’s good though. Stayed ahead of everything so far.”

“That’s because she hasn’t played against me yet. Time to show her what happens when she picks the wrong family to fuck with.” Tristan’s eyes gleam. “This is going to be so much more fun than my last hostile takeover.”

After he leaves, the silence feels different somehow. Less suffocating, more charged with possibility.

But also more dangerous.

Because now I’m not just worried about what she might do to me. I’m worried about what Tristan and I might do to her.

And the terrifying part? I’m looking forward to it.

For the first time since that night at Untamed, I feel something other than helpless rage burning in my chest.

Hope. Sharp-edged and hungry for blood.

Maybe revenge too.

You want to play games, little nightmare?

I pick up the velvet box, thinking of where to dispose of its grotesque contents. My mind already racing with varying scenarios on how to get her back.

Let’s see how you handle playing against real fire.

Game on.