Chapter 3

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might explode. I forced myself to stay calm. "I just tripped on the stairs, you know how clumsy I am..."

Vinny walked toward me slowly, each step making my heart race faster.

He stopped in front of me, reaching up to touch my forehead. "The person who ran away earlier—that was you, wasn't it?"

I flinched backward. "What are you talking about? I've been home waiting for you..."

"Stop lying." Vinny's voice was calm, but I could feel the danger radiating from him. "Why were you there?"

My legs went weak.

"Why... why did you kill her? Sofia was my cousin!"

Vinny sat down on the couch, straightening his shirt. "She seduced me. What kind of woman tries to seduce her cousin's husband? Didn't she deserve to die?"

I trembled with rage. "Then why did you sleep with her?"

"I'm still a man." Vinny spread his hands. "She threw herself at me. I couldn't resist. And honestly? She was way more fun than you."

I couldn't hold back anymore. I rushed over and slapped him hard across the face. "You bastard!"

Vinny's head snapped to the side, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He slowly turned back, a dangerous glint in his eyes, but that damned calm expression still on his face.

"Done hitting me?" He wiped the blood from his lip. "Anyway, it's all over now."

A chill ran through me as realization hit. "Wait... where's Tommy? Where is he?"

Vinny made a slashing gesture across his throat. "Dead. Quick."

I backed away in horror. "Why? Why would you do this?"

"You're completely insane!" I fumbled for my phone, shaking. "I'm calling the police!"

Vinny lunged forward, snatched the phone from my hand, and smashed it on the floor.

"Don't do anything stupid, Bella." He grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard it hurt. "You're going to pretend nothing happened and keep living our normal life."

"Let go of me!" I struggled desperately.

He pulled a velvet jewelry box from his pocket. "Today marks one thousand days since we got married. This is my gift for you."

"I don't want your damn gift!"

Vinny suddenly used force, slamming me against the wall. "Behave."

He opened the box—a silver necklace with a blood-red gemstone pendant. I could smell the blood on him.

"No..." I shook my head.

"Hold still." His voice softened again, but his grip didn't loosen. He forced the necklace around my neck. "Now you look like my wife."

The necklace was heavy, making it hard to breathe.

"Anyone who tries to hurt you, I'll kill them." He leaned close to my ear.

He stepped back, admiring the necklace around my neck. That's when I spotted the bronze candlestick on the coffee table.

I nodded, feigning compliance. "I... I understand."

Vinny smiled with satisfaction. "That's my good wife."

The moment he let his guard down, I grabbed the candlestick and swung it at his temple with all my strength.

"Ah!" Vinny screamed, blood streaming from his forehead.

He staggered back, clutching his head, his eyes full of disbelief.

I spun around and bolted out the door.

"Bella!" His furious roar echoed behind me. "You ungrateful bitch!"

I ran barefoot over the gravel path, not stopping until I reached the townhouse next door. Through the window, I could see lights on inside.

Professor Romano—the newly moved-in psychology professor. He seemed kind.

I pounded frantically on the door. "Help me! Professor Romano! Open the door!"

No response. I hit the door harder. "Please! Vinny's trying to kill me!"

Footsteps behind me. Vinny was coming!

"Bella, stop this." His voice cut through the darkness, sinister and cold. "Come home with me. This is your last chance."

I hammered on the door. "Professor Romano! Please!"

The door suddenly swung open. Professor Romano quickly pulled me inside, blocking the doorway with his body before slamming it shut.

"My God, Bella! What happened?" He was wearing a dark blue robe, his hair disheveled—clearly I'd woken him.

The terror of my narrow escape overwhelmed me. I collapsed into his arms, sobbing.

Professor Romano's body stiffened. I could feel his breathing quicken. After a moment's hesitation, he gently patted my back.

"It's okay now. You're safe."

After crying for about a minute, I finally calmed down enough to speak. Professor Romano noticed the bloodstains on my clothes and his expression turned alert. "This blood..."

"It's not mine," I gasped between sobs. "It's Sofia's blood... and Tommy's... Vinny killed them both, and now he wants to kill me!"

I told him everything—Sofia and Vinny's affair, the bloody crime scene, Vinny's threats.

Professor Romano's face grew grave. He paced the living room. "This is terrible. We need to call the police immediately."

He strode to an antique telephone and dialed. "911? I need to report a double homicide... Yes, extremely urgent... The killer is nearby and threatening others..."

Heavy knocking erupted at the door.

"Bella, I know you're in there." Vinny's voice seeped through the door, chillingly dark. "Did you forget it's our anniversary? Come home with me."

I shrank behind Professor Romano, shouting at the door, "I've already called the police! They'll be here any minute!"

The knocking stopped. I crept to the window and peeked through the curtain. Vinny's figure melted into the darkness, but I knew he wouldn't give up that easily.

Professor Romano hung up the phone. "Bella, have you ever heard of the 'Red Hair Reaper'?"

I shook my head. "No."

"It's the nickname for a serial killer. Five girls in six years, all redheads." Professor Romano looked at my hair. "I consulted on the police investigation. Based on your description, I think Vinny is the Red Hair Reaper."

My mind went blank. "What do you mean?"

"You might have been his target from the beginning. He didn't marry you for love. He married you for your red hair."

I sank onto the couch. "So I've been waiting to die this whole time?"

"Don't think like that." Professor Romano tried to comfort me. "You're safe now."

"When will the police get here?"

Professor Romano glanced at the wall clock. "Should be soon. Let me make you some tea—chamomile. It'll help calm your nerves."

An hour passed. No police. Exhaustion was setting in, my eyelids growing heavy.

"Would you like to rest for a bit?" Professor Romano brought over the tea. "I'll wake you when the police arrive."

He led me down the hallway to a room at the end. When he opened the door, I froze.

Everything was pink—wallpaper, curtains, bedding. Makeup and jewelry everywhere. A complete teenage girl's room.

"This room..." Something felt off.

"My ex-girlfriend's." Professor Romano looked embarrassed. "Never got around to redecorating. Rest here. I'll get you a blanket."

He walked toward the closet and accidentally bumped the vanity. A jewelry box fell to the floor, contents spilling everywhere.

"Let me help." I knelt down to pick things up.

When I grabbed a stack of photos, my entire body went rigid.

The top photo showed a red-haired girl tied to this pink bed, covered in syringes, her face twisted in agony, eyes filled with despair.

My hands trembled as I flipped through the others. Different red-haired girls in each photo. All dead. All horrific.

I slowly looked up. Professor Romano was staring at me, the warmth gone from his eyes—replaced by sick excitement.

"So you found them." He adjusted his robe.

"You..." I backed away, but my legs were going numb. "It's YOU. You're the Red Hair Reaper!"