Page 25 of Taking It Off

Em sends us a group text, letting us know what time we need to head down to the jail. I check my watch and realize that Jer and Will still have a couple of hours to sleep before we need to get ready. I set an alarm and head back to my room, settling onto my bed with a book.

EMILY

With all my research done, I decide that a few hours of sleep are a good idea. I don’t want to be groggy when I try this for the first time. Hopefully it works, otherwise, I’ll have to switch to plan B. I lay in bed for a little while, staring at the ceiling. Part of me wants to send a text to my guys, but I won’t interrupt their sleep, if they’re actually getting some.

I drift off slowly, having time to check my alarm to be sure I’m not late. Luke was the only one to respond to the group text, so I’m hoping the other two are sleeping.

It doesn’t take long for the nightmare to take hold of me, like it normally does. This time, every man I’ve ever killed appears. As I stab, slice, and tear at them, their faces morph into those of the men I love. In my dream, I kill Jeremy, Luke, and Will over and over. I can’t stop myself from completing the missions, and I enjoy every kill. I think that’s what scares me the most. I know I’m killing them, and I’m relishing it.

Can I trust myself with these men? The thought crosses my mind as I stake Luke in the heart. He dissolves in front of me, and something changes. I bolt upright in bed, tears streaming down my face. It was just a dream. None of it was real. That’s a lie, and I know it. The elation I felt when I killed each man was very real, and it didn’t matter to me that the men had my lovers’ faces.

I truly am a monster. I don’t deserve to be loved by these men. I should leave while I have the chance, before things get more complicated.

I can’t do that to Jeremy, though. I promised that I would take care of his dad for him, so that all three of their moms can live in peace. I’m protecting them from the fallout that’s coming.

Knowing that any chance at sleep is gone, I get up and shower. I’ll be ready early, but it’s the only thing I can do right now.

JEREMY

I can’t stop the nightmares. They’ve been attacking me since I found out what a horrible beast my father is. I don’t want the details in the media, but in my dreams, it’s already there. As I walk through the streets, I see it everywhere.

Videos play on billboards, showing the depraved things my father did to women as they begged him to stop. Photos display in storefront windows, depicting the shady deals my father made. Exchanges of money, women, even drugs, are pasted up where everyone can see.

Mortification isn’t even a strong enough word for what I feel at seeing these things. And somehow, every citizen I pass knows exactly who I am. Their mocking haunts me.

“Oh, there goes the Franklin boy. I wonder if he’s as awful as his father.”

“Look, it’s the son. I bet he’s gearing up to take over the old man’s operation.”

I fist my hands in my hair and run, trying to escape it all. The voices echo in my head, accusing me of being part of it all, laying out my future, speculating at whether I’ll be worse than my father in the end. I scream as I race away from them all.

As long as I’ve been running, I should be outside of the city, but I’m not. I stand in front of our building, staring up at the windows I know mean home. Safety calls to me, begging me to return home. I enter the building and climb the stairs quickly. With my wolf speed, it’s faster than waiting for the elevator. I reach our floor quickly and dart inside the apartment.

I expect to find my chosen family waiting for me. Instead, I find their lifeless bodies, with Emily standing over them. Will’s glossy eyes stare at me from beside a charred pile of ash I know has to be Luke. The wicked smile on her face terrifies me, and I have the desire to run again.

But I have nowhere else to go. My life is ruined. So, I stand there, waiting for her to kill me too.

“Jeremy! Wake up. You’re having a nightmare. Come on, man,” Will’s voice permeates the dream, pulling me toward consciousness.

“What happened?” I ask, opening my eyes to see Will standing over me.

“You were screaming. This nightmare was a bad one, huh? Do you wanna talk about it?” he asks, sitting beside me on the bed.

I shake my head. I can’t tell him that seeing his dead body is what made me freak out like that. It’s not fair to anyone for me to share that. “I’m okay. This one was just a lot. The media had everything and everyone knew who I was. They all accused me of being in on it.”

“Wow, that does sound awful. It was just a dream, though. We should go ahead and get ready to leave, since we’re already up. Em texted to let us know what time to get there. Luke has been dressed and waiting for hours. I don’t think he slept at all.” I sit up at Will’s words.

“Does that mean you actually slept?” I know how much he’s struggled with that, especially since this all started.

“Better than I have in years. I think it’s knowing the truth that helped me with that.” The quiet conviction on his face tells me that I have nothing to worry about. Emily would never hurt us. She loves us, and we love her. We’re all in this together. It was just a dream.

EMILY

We meet up for breakfast so that Jeremy has time to call and arrange a visit with his father. We sit in the coffee shop, drinking the delicious warm brew and munching on pastries while he makes the call.

“Yes, officer. I’d like to see my father this morning if I can.” Jeremy pauses, winks at me and crinkles his nose. “Lloyd Franklin. That’s right.” He listens for a minute as the officer speaks. “I’m not planning to bring him anything but my disdain, sir. I just want to tell him face to face that he’s no longer my father.” Another short pause. “Thank you so much. I’ll be right over.”

I know that Jer had originally wanted the guys to go with him, but he must have changed his mind. “That officer said I can go in to see him as soon as I get there. What do you need to do to get ready?” he asks, pulling me from my thoughts.