Derek hands me a mug of hot chocolate as I'm wrapped in a warm blanket on the couch in his living room.

"Thank you."

He sits near me, the TV turned on but muted. I know he doesn't know what to say.

What is even left to say?

I open my blanket and I invite him inside. He snuggles up me as I wrap the blanket around us.

"I can't believe I was incapable of reporting him."

"It's okay-"

I cut him off. "No! It's not okay. I had to do this for other victims."

He sighs. No one knows how to comfort me. Sure, I shouldn't be forced to report anyone... but I feel obligated for the sake of any future young girls who could fall prey to that monster.

I had to do it for them... and I failed. Now if I go back they won't take me seriously. Hell, I don't even take myself seriously.

Derek presses his chin on my head as he caresses my arm. "We will find a way. We always do."

I nod, even if I don't believe it will be easy... Still, I agree with him because he makes me feel like there is always a way.

He plants a kiss on my forehead. "I will always take care of you."

~

Two weeks later

My exams are nearing and I can't close an eye, I keep thinking of everything I have to study and haven't yet. Derek is sleeping cuddled up to me, his light snoring gives me comfort. I caress his freshly shaved jaw and I just stare at his beautiful features.

He sleeps so well with me here. I've never seen him happier, really, he doesn't even try to hide it. His whole body language is relaxed around me and I am the same. We are truly made for each other.

It's been a month since I started living here on and off, but his apartment is slowly starting to become mine too. I brought almost all of my stuff and now the bathroom looks like a mess.

I wasn't one to do a lot of skincare and bodycare but lately it's been easier to take care of myself. Despite my failed attempt to report my rapist, I feel at peace with myself.

Irène said she would keep looking for him but every time we talk she hasn't mentioned it so maybe she gave up... I don't know if she would give up, she isn't that kind of woman.

A small part of me wants her to find him and take care of the situation... but it's unfair. I shouldn't want this. If I'm not allowing Derek to be in danger because of that then Irène shouldn't be either.

Although it would be easier for Irène to get out of trouble with her powerful family, I suppose.

I know they have been cutting contact with her lately, but she isn't very open about it. She just looks miserable... but she keeps saying it's all going perfect.

Her relationship with Shanice has been rocky, they are meeting more frequently now but they are always fighting. Mostly because of Irène's weird habits.

Derek's phone beeps a few times, startling me. I stare at the screen lighting up and then glance toward him. He didn't even hear it.

It triggers me even more when it beeps again and again. The messages appear on the screen one after one. It's too far for me to see.

But I wouldn't take off Derek's arm around me just to check on his phone. I finally trust him. I don't know who would be texting at 3 am and why but it could just be Dominic. That boy always does that.

I fall asleep shortly after.

Derek's POV

First thing I see when I open my eyes is Veronica's beautiful and peaceful face. She is still sleeping but she truly looks like an angel. I've never seen her happier and it brings me joy. I now feel like I'll never lose her again, she is all safe here with me.

I pick up my phone to check the time, surprised to find twenty messages from Irène and four calls from Dominic.

I sit up, careful to not wake up Ronnie and I slide up the screen to see the messages.

Irène: I know you said you don't want to be in this but we think we've found him...

Irène: you have to come or we will go without you

Irène: hello??? Wake the fuck up

Irène: if you are with Ron it's fine just tell her Dominic broke down his car or smth

Irène: fuck we lost him. Dude call us as soon as possible

Irène: Jesus fucking Christ

I get out of the bed carefully and I pull the blanket over Veronica. She is sleeping so peacefully.

Irène is pissing me off, I told her she had to stop. I made a promise to Veronica. But I also know they didn't make any. Good friends would have listened to her, though.

I go to the bathroom and I call Irène.

"Oh, now you're calling."

"I was sleeping, Irène."

"Figured." She clears out her throat. "We've lost him, you're late to the party."

"Where? What happened?"

I shouldn't ask this. I should just tell her to stop... but knowing they actually had him makes my blood boil. He could be hurting other people right now. Promises mean a lot to me but so does putting that scum in jail.

"We went to Atlanta, guess what? The piece of shit lives close to Veronica. Well, somewhat."

"How's that possible? He is all over the news."

"No one is looking for him. I had my father check. They dropped it off after the girls—who were best friends—confessed they lied about it."

My face contorts with confusion.

"Of course I don't think they are lying, perhaps he threatened them."

"So you are telling me he is one of her neighbors? He knew her before the cafeteria job?"

"Kind of, yes, he doesn't live that close to her but he could have seen her when she went to work or school."

"I'm coming," I say decisively.

"Let's meet up at Dom's apartment, we have a plan."

And with that, I hang up and I hop in the shower.

It's morning, I will just tell Veronica I'm busy.

I know this is dangerous and I shouldn't take part in this... but knowing he threatened these girls to take back their reports and he lives close to her destroys me.

This is just a matter of time before he hurts her again. Maybe she will hate me forever, maybe I'll go to prison, but at least I will know she is safe.

That's all that matters.

When I step out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my hipbones.

Veronica comes inside the bathroom and she eyes me up and down. I find it hard to hide how worried I am but I have to. It's never easy lying to her.

When I look at her angelic, soft face, I feel sick. Sick because of what happened to her, sick because she wasn't the first neither the last victim, sick because the police sucks, sick because I'd love to keep her safe from all the bad things in the world.

She comes to me and gingerly wraps her thin arms around me. I pull her in for a deep embrace, still feeling my torso wet from the shower but she doesn't seem to mind getting her pajamas wet.

Ronnie stands on her tiptoes, smiling dangerously. She cups my face.

"You showered without me."

"Next time I'll wait for you," I reply, not completely convinced there will be a next time after going behind her back today. I don't know what will happen. Will I catch him and murder him?

I like to believe I'm not capable of murder, I shouldn't be. Going to prison wouldn't help anyone, especially not her.

I could give him a good beating and then ship him off to the police... but what would they do about it? Of course arrest me.

Her soft lips brush against mine and it takes everything within me to not get into the shower with her.

She doesn't let go of me as she deepens the kiss and presses her body against mine.

"It won't hurt to shower again," she kisses me as she pulls on my lower lip.

I grab the back of her head, exploring her mouth breathlessly. She plays with my hair, earning a grunt from me.

"I really can't," I barely reply when she pulls away a bit.

"Fine. I'll be patient," she says before giving me another peck.

When she pulls away, I already feel empty and cold.

A stupid dread I can pinpoint to me lying to her. I'm terrified of her finding out about what I'm going to do.

I hope we can take care of him without her finding out.

"I love you," she says and I smile, giving her another peck and wrapping my arms around her waist.

"I love you so much words don't even do it justice," I admit and her smile brightens up the entire room and my heart.

Later that day I am at Dom's apartment with Cyprian and Irène.

"Finally. I waited for too long," Irène says as I sit on the couch and Dominic gives all of us beer.

"Ugh, beer tastes like shit," Irène says and Dom rolls his eyes.

Cyprian also seems to not like her very much. Honestly, very few people like her.

"Let's get to the point," I chime in.

"Besides what I told y'all, that piece of shit is also married... he has two kids," Irène explains nonchalantly.

It takes everything within me to not break the glass in my hands. I put it down, instead, I can't even stomach it anymore.

Cyprian puts his head between his hands and sighs. "We have to do something."

I nod, despite my promise.

"Do you think he abuses..." Dominic asks but we all look uncomfortable at his question.

"Don't say it. Let's just deal with this," I say and they agree, not one single one of us finishes our beers.

"What's the plan? Do we just go to his house with his wife and kids home?"

"No. We will have to catch him elsewhere. Maybe on his way home from work."

"What's his job?"

"He ships stuff."

"Why did Veronica say he was homeless?" Cyprian asks.

"Because he does look like he is homeless even now. He doesn't have a lot of money and spends it all on alcohol."

"We know for sure he threatened those girls to take back their claims. Do we know who they were?" I ask.

"Yes... one of them is his neighbor. She was younger than Veronica. I tried to talk to her but her parents stopped her."

"Bizarre," Dominic says.

A lot of sketchy people in that neighborhood.

"The other girl killed herself last year," Dom adds.

My heart drops to my stomach, feeling nothing but sadness for that young girl. She deserved better and she was failed.

It could have been Veronica's ending, especially when she abused drugs.

I'm forever grateful she stopped.

Irène ponders. "I know the company he works at. Let's order something and hope he is the one shipping it."

"Good idea," I reply.

She calls the company's number. Which sells backyard stuff but mostly garage stuff. Garage doors are within some of the stuff they ship which now tells me how he knew to open the garage door without setting off the alarm.

"It's done. He will ship it to my home. There we can kidnap him and no one will know."

It was only morning when I left Ronnie. The creep will show up in a few hours, hopefully, it will be him since he is working. We ordered a set of paint for garage doors. He won't see it coming.

Not long after we are at Irène's house, waiting for him to show up.

"We hit him behind his back when he unloads the paint," Cyprian says to me.

I nod. I don't really need his help but I'll take it. I haven't thought about what I'm going to do to him once I see him, I just know I won't stop.

Irène loads her gun, even though it's not our intention to use it. It's also too loud and it would make his death too quick for my liking. It's just to scare him.

I can't even think about seeing his face-

"My phone is ringing..." Irène says as her phone vibrates on the table. I impatiently wait for her to pick it up.

"Where is Dominic?"

"He is with Shanice," Cyprian says as Irène picks up the phone. "He will come soon."

"I hope he doesn't tell Shanice."

"No way. Most likely not. If Veronica finds out..."

"No. She won't find out, at least not now," I say.

"Shut up!" Irène yells at us as she puts the phone on the speaker.

"Hello. This is HomeDeco. We will arrive in 20 minutes. Are you home?"

"Yes, sir."

My heart races, I want to ruin this piece of shit. It could be that it's not him on the phone. I need to calm down.

I unclench my fists and I think about Veronica but this doesn't make me calmer.

The door opens and we all stand up, not knowing what to expect.