I take a deep breath as I step back and give him an even stare. No wonder I could never find her or why the smell of her decomposing body never reached me. Penn hid her in the fucking dumpster.

I finally nod, and Ernie lets out a deep breath. “Get rid of it,” I tell him softly.

What he plans to do with her body is none of my fucking concern. What I plan to do with Penn for being so goddamn careless is another matter.

Ernie helps me load the rest of the trash into his truck, but when he reaches into the dumpster to retrieve Julie, I turn away from him and bid him farewell.

“See you next Tuesday?” he calls out.

“Like clockwork,” I reply over my shoulder.

I’m sure the rats and bugs have gotten to her by now and I can’t stand to see what’s become of her.

I wait just inside the door to the building like I always do, arms crossed firmly over my chest, and wait for the beeping sound of Ernie’s truck. Once that’s done and he pulls past me, I nod at him again as he waves then I go back upstairs.

I’m so fucking angry right now that I’m having trouble seeing straight. This man that I gave myself to—that I let fuck me so violently because that was his pleasure, could have gotten me sent to fucking jail for the rest of my life all because he wanted to play a game of hide-a-whore.

At this point, I don’t know how to feel about him anymore. Did he know that this could mean my downfall, or did he just think that when people die you throw them away in the trash? Why the fuck did he think this was okay to do?

I toss myself down onto the couch and reach for my cellphone, dialing Aiden’s phone number. It rings once, twice, three, four times before she finally answers.

“What’s up?” she greets me tiredly.

“You said Penn was strange. Does he not have a grip on fucking reality?” I bark into the phone.

“What? Did something happen?” she asks, her tone picking up and becoming curious.

I don’t know how to tell Aiden the truth. She knows what I do because I like her feedback and help with my art, but I don’t want her to think of me as some kind of mindless killer.

I take a deep breath and let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry, kid. It’s nothing major, I just think I’m going through withdrawals.”

Aiden giggles, “Was his dick really that good? I mean it’s only been a day, Gray.”

I chuckle slightly, feeling the anger starting to slip away momentarily. I swear, if Aiden had been born with a dick instead of a pussy, I would have married her by now.

“Best I had in a while,” I reply quietly. “I’ll let you go. I think I just need to sleep and I’ll be okay.”

“Hey, before you go,” she says, “what’s on the agenda for tomorrow? Do I get to kick your ass again?”

I roll my eyes at the ceiling and laugh. “Nope. Tomorrow is yoga and stretching. Then maybe, just maybe, if you’re not a whiny little pain in the ass, I’ll take you out to dinner. Sound like a plan?”

“For sure!” she replies enthusiastically. “I’ll see you in the morning, Gray!”

“Later, kid,” I reply softly before I disconnect the call.

As soon as I hang up with her, I kick myself for not asking for Penn’s phone number, so I send her a text then set my phone down next to me, rubbing my face with both hands.

I may have told him that I would see him at the fight, but that doesn’t mean I can’t talk to him beforehand.

Aiden replies almost immediately, and I stare at the information. Maybe I won’t call him because it would make me feel awkward to try and explain how I got his phone number, so I decide to send him a text instead.

A few, very painful minutes pass by before the phone vibrates on the couch next to me. I don’t look at it right away, instead bringing my legs up, and stretching out comfortably onto my back first.

Hey.

It’s a simple reply and for some reason it’s not what I was expecting. Granted, I don’t know what the hell he would say, but I was hoping for something a little more substantial.

I found her, I text back.

Took you long enough lol, is the reply.

Give me break. It’s only been a couple of days.

I’ll give you a break. ;)

My entire body burns crimson and I’m actually relieved that there’s no one here to see how hard I’m blushing right now.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that she’s gone now.

Where to? Anywhere fun?

Just gone.

Tell me!

To where all little dead whores go.

You’re being boring.

The message stings to read, but I don’t think he means it in a cruel way. Until I get to know him better, I just have to brush it off and take it as just words with no meaning.

I’m going to sleep now.

Alone? ;)

Yes. Goodnight.

Dream of me.

I have no doubt that I will.

I toss the phone onto the couch, ignoring whatever message he’s just sent through. If I read it, I know I’ll end up staying awake all night just to fucking talk to him and I have to get some rest.

Tomorrow is a new day and I have to get back into workout mode with Aiden. Penn can wait until Thursday and so can I.

Can’t I?

With a loud groan, I reach for my phone and smile at his reply before I take a deep breath and send one back.

I yawn widely as he sends another one back and then me in return.

Aiden is going to fucking kill me when I show up dragging ass or she may be grateful for the fact that I’ll more than likely be too tired to do anything. I guess I’ll find out in the morning.