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?"

a smirk tugging at my lips. "Get to my penthouse. Now. It's time for your weekly

Her voice was tired, drained. She was exhausted because of me. I'd been using her like a fucking whore-because, for

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

on

my penthouse now, or I

Silence.

Dead. Heavy.

through the line. Could practically hear her heartbeat pick up, the way she gulped down panic before

be there

I leaned back in

lines worked on everyone. The sight of a knife

in jail-words are your

you meant them

Didn't fucking matter.

time, I had to

had a

To ruin my family.

destroy Jacob

***

Jacob

her hour. The time of

But now?

Silence.

the

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

My stomach twisted.

My voice came out sharper than intended, edged with something close to

everywhere. Shoes. Designer bags. Scattered across the floor like they'd been

My voice rose. "Where

For a moment-nothing.

Then-

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

caught. She was there. Curled up in the corner. Pressed so tightly against the wood that it looked like she was trying

Tear-streaked cheeks.

Red, swollen eyes.

fucking shattered. God! Even that would be an understatement. It didn't just shattered it was fucking ruined, burned and turned into ashes. "Baby—" I was on her in

what happened? Why

shaking so violently

was terrified. More than

shattered. And

Seen Evelyn like this. I

smoothing a hand

of her head, her

to me like I might

murmured, my throat tight. "What happened?

you?"

curling into my

here." My blood turned

a jagged breath, fresh tears slipping down her

going to kill me.

me froze. The

That piece of shit.

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.

clenched, rage simmering beneath my skin, but I forced it

strands from her face, pressing a kiss to her

a knife, Jacob." Evelyn's voice was barely

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

him..." Her breath hitched, her body 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 baby out, and-"

my

pain twisted

me. And do the same

shattered something