𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐞

66|| Betrayal

Celeste // August 3
•••

I walk past the gates that surround a building I'd ones considered the closest thing I had to a home until I'm in front of the doors that led inside.

They open before I can raise my hand to knock.

"Darling." Lester's smile is the same as ever, his arms open as if to welcome me home.

Josette used to greet me the same way and just like her, the man before me would be dead within an hour if everything went to plan.

I smile back at him, fighting every nerve in my body as I walk into his embrace. He closes his hands around me, one hand gripping as the flesh above my hip while the other rests at the side of my ribs, his thumb brushing against the underside of my bra.

I have to keep my shoulders from tensing up when Lester drops his face into my neck, deeply inhaling my scent before letting go.

One of his hands stays at my hip, his free one moving up to cup my cheek.

His exhausted eyes are soft, his touch is too, yet a shiver full of discomfort and ugliness crawls up my spine due to those very two things.

"Smart girl," he says, stroking my cheek. "You're a smart girl for coming back to me, Celeste. And after some time, I may be able to forgive you for your betrayal."

I have to force my laughter back.

It hadn't even been five minutes, I was yet to walk further into his home than his foyer – was yet to even open my mouth at that – and he was already right where I wanted him.

I nod with big eyes and Lester smiles.

"Now let's get you to your room, yes? We need that bastard's scent off of you."

I'm glad he turned to walk halfway through his sentence, because I was sure I wasn't able to keep the fury from my face for calling Dante that name.

I follow him through the house, walking upstairs until we reach what was ones my bedroom. Everything is exactly as I left it, except for the fresh lilies standing on my nightstand.

He sure got those quickly seeing as I called him to ask if I could come home only about thirty minutes ago.

Nostalgia hits me as I walk inside. Nights of uncertainty, complex feelings and home sickness coming back to me all at ones. The memories take so much of my focus that I don't notice Lester had moved until he lays a hand on my shoulder.

I quickly turn around, my hand firmly holding his wrist and eyes set on the needle in his other hand.

Surprise fills me for a moment, leaving me so angered with myself that Lester groans from the tightening of my grip.

I should have expected him to use my methods against me. Sneaking up in my back, distracting me with something sentimental, ready with a poisonous needle.

"Just turn around and trust me, darling."

His tone is sickly sweet, matching the unconvincing smile on his face.

I snap his wrist, causing him the momentarily pain that gives me time to hit a spot in his neck that instantly causes him to collapse.

He falls down with a thud, but instead of restraining him any further I step over his body and run into the hallways, searching for Adriana.

I check Lester's office, some of the guest bedrooms and even the basement before my eyes finally meet something that could be of use.

I recognize her from the back. Light brown hair, small frame and the uniform of the school Adriana used to attend.