My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 225

Tyler

I stepped back into the penthouse.

No-not a penthouse. A fucking shithole. Sure, most people would kill to be here, surrounded by functioning luxuries, calling it a dream. But for me? This was nothing. A joke compared to what I had. What that piece of shit, Jacob, stole from me. And there was only one way to take it all back. I had to take everything from him. And in this world, if there was anything Jacob Adriano cared about more than his own life, it was her.

Evelyn Fernandez.

The one thing I could never have. The one fucking desire that had ruined me. I didn't regret what I did not for a second. One taste of her would've been worth losing everything. But I couldn't have her. And that's why she had to die.

There were two reasons Evelyn had to die.

One-I couldn't have her.

Two-Her death would be Jacob's downfall.

And that was more than fucking enough.

I tossed my knife onto the table and stalked over to the counter, grabbing my bottle of whiskey. I took a long, burning gulp before setting it down with a careless thud.

My sweet Evelyn...

A dark chuckle rumbled in my chest as I dropped into the chair, my gaze drifting toward her picture on the wall. My fingers twitched. That same photo I still fucking jerked off to. Still beautiful. Still untouchable.

"You're going to die," I murmured, my lips curving into a slow, twisted smile. My head tilted, admiring the image, the perfect curve of her lips, her eyes, that body. Mine, mine, mine.

"Isn't it poetic?" I exhaled, the thought unraveling something primal inside me. "You're going to die in my hands... a slow, painful death."

Heat pooled in my gut.

The thought of killing her was turning me on. Jail had done something sick to me. Twisted me into something even worse. And I fucking hated it.

Because this wasn't me. Not entirely.

A part of me-small, buried deep-wanted something else. Something better. Something to fix what I'd ruined.

But no.

I couldn't afford to be that person. This was who I was. It was what everyone had told me from the beginning since childhood. Careless. Entitled. A burden. Trouble. So I played my part.

I had spent my whole life trying to prove them right. And Evelyn? Maybe she was

the last validation I had needed before I could finally fix myself.

But I couldn't have her.

So fuck it.

Let me be the ruin they always said I was.

Let me burn everything in my path.

If I was a burden, I'd be a fucking curse too. Drag everyone through the mud-my brothers, my stepmother, my sick fucking father. After this murder? They'd never be able to show their faces again.

And that was worth it.

Yes. Maybe... one life was worth it.

But she was pregnant.

Something in my chest tightened.

I clenched my jaw. Fuck this.

"Fuck this," Grabbing my phone, I dialed a number-the one person who wouldn't dare say no to me. The line rang twice before she picked up. No excitement in her voice. Just hesitation.

"...Hello?"

darling," I murmured, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Get to my penthouse. Now. It's time

I'd been using her like a fucking whore-because, for now,

already," she pressed, her tone edged with something almost close to pity. "They're

grip on the

I

Silence.

Dead. Heavy.

line. Could practically hear her heartbeat pick up,

there in

I leaned back in my chair, head tilting toward

These lines worked on everyone. The sight of a knife worked even

I'd learned in jail-words are

you meant them

Didn't fucking matter.

time, I had

had

To ruin my family.

destroy

***

Jacob

I couldn't pinpoint why, but the moment I crossed the threshold, unease curled around my spine. This was her hour. The time of day when Evelyn would be bouncing around the apartment, snacking on everything in sight, moving with the restless energy of a kitten—a cute little kitten. We even had a name for it -her sprinting

But now?

Silence.

my brows as I shut the door behind me. My eyes flicked to

only possibility left. I strode toward it, my pulse ticking higher. And the second I stepped inside-my chest tightened. A trail of clothes

My stomach twisted.

sharper than intended, edged with

across the floor like they'd been ripped straight out of the closet in a

My voice rose.

For a moment-nothing.

Then-

weak, muffled whisper. I turned sharply toward the closet just

creaked open. My breath caught. She was there. Curled up in the corner. Pressed so tightly against the wood that it looked like she was trying to disappear

Tear-streaked cheeks.

Red, swollen eyes.

understatement. It didn't just shattered it was fucking ruined, burned and turned into ashes. "Baby—" I was on

Why are

wracked her body, shaking so violently that could feel it

terrified. More

was shattered. And

Evelyn like this.

smoothing a hand

head,

she clung to me like I might

I murmured, my throat

you?"

fists curling into

was here." My blood turned

in a jagged breath, fresh tears

said he's going to kill

me froze. The

That piece of shit.

knew Tyler was twisted. I knew he was capable of anything for his sick amusement. But this? This was too fucking much. This wasn't just about scaring Evelyn. This wasn't just about his fucked-up games. This was war.

I forced it down, forced myself to soften

touch you, baby," I murmured, brushing damp strands from her face, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "He

Jacob." Evelyn's voice was barely above a

of sheer terror. Her wide, tear-filled eyes locked

trembling. "He looked... different. Strange. And he didn't just say he'd kill me-he said he'd.. Another sob broke through her throat. He said he'd tear mny. belly open, yank our

before my

sharp, searing pain twisted in my

me. And do the

shattered something