Cupid's Guide to Murder

Chapter 1: The Devil's Calling

You think you see it coming.

A bullied social pariah seeking revenge on the famous A-listers wasn't breaking news. A heartbroken singer who got cheated on releasing a song about how love was a deadly illusion was almost inevitable.

These things started like small flames, breaking hearts like crushed embers, spreading until they set everything ablaze, and then becoming still and charcoal black, fading into darkness. In the end, the damage was irreversible but expected. When you played with matches, you were bound to get burned.

Sometimes, though, you don't see coming.

When I got the call, I sent it to voicemail. It started ringing again almost seconds after.

"Do you want me to get it?" Justin asked.

A lot of girls would be lucky to date Justin Anderson. He was the type of boy to get you flowers for no reason and hold your hair back when you're throwing up. He looked like he belonged in the 90s, with his vintage-styled blonde hair and square-cut jaw. Everyone always told me how lucky I was to find someone like him, and they weren't wrong.

By definition, he was perfect — Star of the football team, a shoo-in for the Ivy Leagues, the golden boy.

"I can think of something better to do than answering a phone call," I teased, intertwining our hands.

Justin grinned, leaning in to kiss me as the ringing faded away.

We were in Lake George for an impromptu weekend getaway, and even though it was beautiful inside, the outside told a different story.

Heavy rain splattered against the windows, the beginnings of a thunderstorm already brewing. Despite the murky purple-tinted sky and harsh wind that spiraled in hushed whispers, it felt safe inside these walls. It wasn't just because the log cabin was tucked away in a forest of trees, harboring us from the constant Manhattan traffic we were used to. 

It was also because Justin was here. With him, I knew I was safe.

"So Valentine's Day is coming up," Justin said. "Your favorite holiday."

"What's not to love about discounted chocolate?" I grinned, seeing his eyebrows raise. "And my boyfriend, of course." 

He broke into a smile, leaning in to kiss me again. Before he could, my phone started ringing.

Again.

Justin pulled away. "You should get that. It might be your mom wanting you back home before the storm gets too bad."

"Okay, ew. I don't want to think about my mom when I'm kissing you. Besides, she loves you too much for you to get in trouble." I glanced at my phone, wrinkling my nose at the new voicemail notification. "It's an unknown number. It's probably a telemarketer. You know, I'm convinced they're worse than serial killers."

Justin laughed. "Debatable. Whatever it is, it seems urgent."

I sighed and lazily untangled myself from Justin before grabbing my phone. "I'll go see who's calling."

I headed to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. Large raindrops slid down the window pane in a steady rhythm. I pressed the play button on the voicemail. Muffled static resounded before I heard his voice — husky and familiar.

I froze. 

It was him. I would know his voice anywhere.

"Hi, Haven. I know it's been a while. Um, if you get this call — what am I saying? Of course, you'll get this call unless you changed your number. I hope you didn't because this voicemail should not be in the wrong hands for legal reasons. Shit, it's Griffin, by the way. I should've started with that."