His eyes are the most terrifying shade of ice blue I have ever seen, and his empty stare sends a chill straight down my spine.
I’m so shocked that I don’t even realize what I’m doing as I reach out and take his hand, allowing this stranger to lead me towards him with physical contact and a menacing vibe.
The only people I’ve hadanyphysical contact with over the last three years have been Justine, Pierre or some sort of medical professional. And remembering that is why I quickly jerk my hand back, my fingers still tingling from the dark presence of his brief touch.
“Please, let me explain what you undoubtedly overheard. I’m Alexander Collinsworth.” He pauses as if I should know his name or face. “And you are?” Collinsworth offers his hand again, palm up in fake greeting, but I just stare at it.
Justine quickly steps up next to him and blurts, “He’s the benefactor who has graciously funded the whole restoration ofthe estate.” Nervously, she smiles at Pierre then looks to me, pleading to keep my big mouth shut.
But I’ve never been very good at that.
Especially when the people I love are involved and despite what I’ve become, I do still love Justine and Pierre.
“That wasn’t an explanation, it was an introduction,” I snap. Suddenly I’m fuckingseething, the words flying from my lips without purchase. “And I’m the one who has been restoring all of the paintings in the house but based on what I just heard, I’m soon to be known as the one whoformerlyrestored the portraits of raging assholes at the Bissonnette Murder House.”
I grab my bag from Pierre, shooting him a quick look of reassurance before turning back to those cold blue eyes that were boring a hole into the back of my skull.
“Pierre and Justine are fucking saints,” I spit as I step off the staircase, my knees trying to give out as I do, but I power through and pull from a long-dormant reserve of energy, placing my feet solid in front of this six-foot-tall lumberjack. “You can think whatever you like when it comes to me, but I can assure you, there isn’t anyone in the world further fromjeopardizingyour estate than these two.”
I brush past him, narrowly avoiding Lurch as I head for the door, ready to kick the damn thing open if I have to, when I hear Collinsworth chuckle.
He’s fuckinglaughing,and the sound is like nails on a chalkboard darting around in my head in the most infuriating way, my blood boiling at the noise and everything it sparks inside of me.
I spin toward him, ready to fire back, but he just smirks and cuts me off. “If you wanted to keep your job, all you had to do was ask.” His empty blue stare turns a shade lighter as his eyes crinkle with glee. “Despite whatever it was that I just witnessed, your work does appear?—”
“I could give a flying fuck what you think of my work, or if I ever step foot in this house again but let me give you a friendly piece of advice. If Justine brings Dirt Sack Danny, who in fact is a real person, into this house because he is the most skilled carpenter within a nine-hundred-and-fifty-mile radius—which he is—you better kiss this woman’s goddamn feet and thank the heavens above that she’s the one in charge.”
I push my shoulders back and try to stand tall. “Justine knows this property, thishouseand its history better than anyone short of those who actually lived it, and the last thing she would ever do is bring someone into it who she didn’t trust explicitly.” I pause and try to catch my breath because it’s been so long since I’ve yelled at anyone it’s wearing me out.
“Justine and Pierre also happen to know this city better than the majority of the population, which means they have connections running deep and can get anything and everything to make this restoration exceed your expectation without exceeding your budget. If I ever,everfind out you or anyone you are affiliated with speaks to her that way again, you can bet your dumbass I’ll be back, and I won’t be looking for a fuckingjob.”
Narrowing my eyes on the smirking asshole in front of me, I make my final threat with whispered words. “I want to be very, very clear; you have hit the fucking jackpot with these two, so don’t fuck it up on account of some uneducated judgement you passed on acharity caseand how she came to be.”
Turning around, I whip the door open, practically ripping the thing off its hinges before I bolt out of the house like a bat out of hell.
I can hear Collinsworth laugh as Pierre begins talking, nervously trying to fix whatever I just ruined. I feel bad but I’m fucking furious, my blood pumping through my veins like lava, my adrenaline taking me to a place I haven’t been in close to three goddamn years.
Must be the damn meds.
They haven’t worked in a long ass time but apparently they did today, and I’m sort of grateful for it.
“Leo! Leo, wait! Leonor,stop!”
Great.
Justine is chasing me.
But I don’t stop.
Not until I get to my car, open the door and toss my bag on top of the fucked-up doll in the passenger seat. I fumble to pull a cigarette from my pack then struggle to light it because I’m angrier than a fucking bull in a ring, but also because I’m scared to turn and face Justine.
What I just did could have cost her everything.
But I know I have to, so I slowly turn, still fighting with my lighter and drop my cigarette when I’m met with tears. “Fuckme.”
Just as I bend to pick up my smoke, Justine throws her arms around me, sobbing into my shoulder while she tries to crush my bones to dust. I hug her back out of reflex and begin apologizing for the same reason but there is no amount of regret able to fix my explosion.
“Leonor, stop. Stop apologizing. Do you have any idea what you just did?” Justine can barely get the words out as she sobs, hiccupping them all over my face while she cups my cheeks.
