Beastly: Sequel to "Mr. Perfect"

Chapter 37: Abandoned Houses and Horror Movies

🌸Faith (P.O.V.)🌸

"But then why wait?" I asked. "If the brother was the first, why didn't he keep going sooner?"

Roberto shrugged, eyes narrowed.

"That's what I'm sayin'," he said. "What stopped him since then?"

"Maybe it was somethin' else that triggered him—somethin' that flipped the switch again," DJ said.

Roberto raised his eyebrows, then started pacing.

"Or maybe the brother ain't gone," he said.

We both looked at him.

"Sh*t, what if the brother in on it?" Roberto asked. "What if he helpin' Tybalt now? Like, on some weirdo family sh*t after all the trauma they been through with they mama?"

I dragged a hand down my face.

"Either way...somethin' wrong here," DJ said. "Somethin' seriously messed up. Whether the brother dead or not, whether he vanished or in on it—we need to figure it out."

Roberto nodded hard.

"Yeah, 'cause if this man made his own blood disappear, then these girls ain't never had a damn chance," he said.

I glanced at the mirror across the room.

For a second, all I see is Tybalt's face reflected in my memory—the calm smile, the soft-spoken voice, the fake-ass charm.

I felt cold.

"Aight, so say he really is makin' people disappear," DJ said, rubbing the back of his neck, brows tight. "What would the motive even be? Like, why?"

Roberto leaned forward, eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, like—what's the reason behind all that shady-ass behavior?" he asked. "Dude don't just poof folks outta existence for no damn reason. What he gettin' outta that?"

I stared at the wall, mind reeling, and the word just slipped out.

"Control."

They both turned to look at me, DJ blinking, Roberto's head tilted.

"Tybalt likes control," I said, looking down at my hands. "Especially over the people he builds his videos around. Dancers, muses—whoever he centers. It's like... he picks you; he owns you. And if you try to step away or disagree with him? It's like he loses it. He doesn't just get mad—he snaps. He'll do anything to drag you back in."

DJ leaned back slowly, eyes on me.

"Damn, you think that's what happened with the girls?" he asked.

"Yeah, I do," I said. "Nadine, Arcely, and Zuri...what if they tried to leave or said something? Maybe his ego couldn't take it. He couldn't let them walk away and ruin his image. Maybe he is holding these girls somewhere and controlling them."

DJ let out a low whistle.

"Man...that is motive," he said. "For real. Even with his brother, maybe he lost control there, too. Couldn't handle it. Did somethin' drastic and prolly holdin' him hostage somewhere too."

"But, how do we even know that's the real reason, though?" Roberto asked. "Like, what's the proof behind that?"

I looked up at him.

"Because I lived it," I said. "After I walked away from his music video, he flipped on the phone. The whole vibe shifted. Like one minute he was calm, and the next he was damn near yelling. That's how I know he can't stand being told no."