It All Started With Hate

langley

I couldn't say I loved him, though. I didn't love anyone other than my grandmother and my brother, and sometimes, I questioned that.

It'd been robbed and drained right from under me, and after so many years of searching and searching for it back, I finally accepted that I couldn't truly love. That I loved the idea of loving someone, and I could fake my way through that until I couldn't any longer.

I shot Xander a quick text, then shoved my phone back into my pocket. There were several nurses and doctors on this floor, ones that I had grown to know by name over the past year. I nodded at a couple of them as I advanced toward the elevator.

"I have a surprise."

I paused, only a couple of steps away from the elevator doors. The voice came from the room on the left of it. I jerked my head in that direction, shaking my head lightly at it. But, there was no way in hell I had imagined his voice, or my disgusted reaction to it.

The mayor's bastard.

Agitation ignited my blood, the feeling sick and deadly. I couldn't leave it alone.

Slowly, I stepped closer to the elevator doors, then pressed my back against the nearest wall. I tried to appear normal to the passers, brut I paid them no mind. I was only focused on one thing.

What was he doing here? On this level, and in this hospital?

"Tell me," a small, feminine voice said in return.

I wanted a glance of whoever had Luke here, but this was the best I could do. The door had a small crack in it, but their voices were audible enough to catch on from here. I shuffled closer anyway, nearly molded into the lining of the wall.

It was obviously a woman. A part of me actually wondered if she were one of his hookups, maybe a baby mother or something. There was no telling with him.

"You know that place on Langley? The one we talked about?" Luke's voice rang through the space. I guessed he was trying to talk quietly, but with the deep timbre of his voice, it wasn't possible. "I got it."

A man passed by, zeroing in on me with curiosity. I feigned an innocent smile before he passed on with a shrug of his shoulders. Then, I tuned back into the conversation.

"You did?" the woman spoke again. I could hear traces of pride in her voice. "Oh, sweet boy. I'm so proud so, so, proud."

"You should have seen it. Fucking paint and vermin in every corner. I got most of it off and cleaned up some, but it still needs a fuck-ton of work," Luke started before I heard shuffling from his side. "I made sure to catch some pictures for you. One of the fuckers spray-painted damn cupcakes all over the walls. I haven't managed to got that part off yet."

"Cupcakes?" I heard the woman's' laughter, so soft and small, you had to strain an ear to catch it. "Well, I know that—" their voice fell into a mix of coughs and wheezes before I heard a chair scrape back.

Panic seized me. Immediately, I turned, and pulled my hoodie cap up. Thank fuck it was winter, so I had an excuse for it.

I shoved my hands into my pocket, glaring down at the ground as I waited. There was no way he'd recognize me, and if he did, I could hold him off with a hit to the balls. Tough since there's a 99% chance he doesn't have any; the 1% being that I've had them in my mouth before.

My finger nearly bruised as I hit the elevator buttons. Finally it opened, and I was in. I risked a quick glance behind my shoulder before they fell in relief. Luke didn't come out.

I shoved my head against the cool elevator walls; I needed a moment to confirm my next move.

Okay. I shoved out a breath, fully craning my neck toward the roof. I think I had it.

A building on Langley, a street not too far from my place. There were several buildings under construction there, but he'd given me a key: spray-painted cupcakes. Sweet.

I chuckled, palming a hand through my hair. If only the motherfucker knew that he'd given me the perfect shot at revenge.

Since it was so dark, I had to type in the Langley road on my GPS. After I stopped to pick up supplies, I headed out that way. It took a second, but once I caught the sign in front, I put the car in park.

I'd give it to the bastard; he had good taste.

I examined the building over with a click of the tongue. It was in its own secluded spot, large and spacey. Rusty brick with what looked to be old, aging windows. And, right on the outside, pretty, painted cupcakes.

My lips curled into a grin as I nodded to myself. This was going to be fun. Rightfully so.

If it were any other person, I would have thought twice about it. Of course I would have, I wasn't a monster. But, I was to the ones who fucked me out a job just for the hell of it.

So, I was going to enjoy this shit.

It'd take a while to do everything I wanted, but luckily, I was a pretty smart bitch. I went ahead, and picked up most of the things I needed on the way here. I didn't have much time to plan, but I needed this shit to hit hard. To bring that little bastard to his knees.

Since most of the people were still out of town for Christmas, I didn't have to worry about the anyone calling the cops. Plus, this place was old, and nearly abandoned; there was no way in hell Luke had installed cameras, yet. It was just sitting there, waiting for me to destroy it.

And, shit, would I make sure to do it.

I wasn't even sure what he planned to do with this place, but it'd have to wait. By the time I was finished, he'd consider quitting the project altogether.

My grin grew as I pulled the bags from my trunk. I made sure to park on the side of the road, so that I blended right in with the dark.

I whistled the tune of one of the many, many broadways Jax had forced me to see as I walked. The bags shook, and rattled under my grip with their contents, but I held on, anyway.

My feet hit the deadened grass with an extra pep. Excitement gripped and shook me so hard, I nearly wanted to bounce in my spot like a fucking cheerleader. But, I refrained to save the cheering for when I got home. Right now, I needed to focus.

Or, not...hell, I don't know.

I expected much more of a fight, but there was none in getting in. The door was obviously broken, and pretty boy hadn't been smart enough to use daddy's money to fix it.

I rolled my eyes as I pushed the door in. Immediately, I turned on my phone light to navigate the space. "You stupid, stupid bastard."

I nearly sang with glee as I stepped in, but the smell sent me back into silence. Jesus.

Just as he said, the place was a wreck. Scattered beer bottles, and wrappers in every corner, what looked to be a couple dead rats in another, and several profanities and images painted along the white walls. The floorboard seemed to be the only thing that was holding up, and that was barely. I'd see the other rooms when I hit them, too.

I set the bags down, fully scanning over the area. A wicked grin grew upon my lips, my skin and blood sizzling with the evil I would bestow among Luke fucking Vaudest.