Chapter Text
...Ready for It?
i know i’m gonna be with you so i'll take my time
It was nice to see you today, Joe.
Fuck. He saw me.
Joe slammed the door to his apartment and ripped his black cap off his head. He threw it on the floor with a frustrated shout.
Does a hat really make you
unrecognizable in America?
Joe muttered a dozen curse words as he paced around his living room, trying to think of the best response to Rhys’ mocking message.
He should deny it; respond with something like “what are you talking about? I haven’t left my place all day”, or “why would I be following you?”, but Rhys was sure to see through the lie.
Of course, he was following Rhys today. He needed more information in order to take him down. Rhys’ book, which was filled with sticky notes and marked with deranged notes, was helpful at giving some insight into Rhys’ life, but it was all edited and for show. Rhys had even admitted that, hadn’t he?
He needed Rhys to slip up, and in order to know when he would slip up, Joe needed to follow him.
But if Rhys knew he was watching, he was sure to be much more careful.
I’m flattered, really.
Joe huffed in annoyance and sent a message before he could overthink it.
You shouldn’t be.
He sank onto his couch with an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair. He was out of his wheelhouse with this one. He had no idea what to expect from Rhys Montrose. At least with Love, he was able to pinpoint when she would snap. Rhys is methodical, but he’s careful not to show his hand.
And he’s perceptive.
Ouch.
Here I was thinking I was your newest
obsession. Isn’t that how it usually goes?
Joe gritted his teeth together as his thumbs hovered over his phone, trying to think of what to say. Rhys was constantly having Joe grasp at straws, and this conversation was no different. Rhys knew too much about him and it threw Joe for a look every goddamn time.
What do you want, Rhys?
He probably should have said something wittier, something that hinted at Joe knowing more than Rhys thought he did, but Joe was tired. He had been tired since everything with Candace. He was tired of settling into his life, finally pushing through his childhood trauma, just to be dragged into another relationship (and sure, he might not have handled said relationships in the best way) before it went up in flames, and he was forced to leave his life behind.
All Joe wanted was fucking peace, but Rhys Montrose had other plans.
You know what I want, Joe.
You want a friend. You want some kindred spirit to confide in, and help with your deranged plan. But that’s not me. I’m done killing people. I’ve gotten myself in too many binds in the past, and I’m not about to walk willingly into the flames just because you want a confidant.
I’m not joining your sick revenge plot on the
rich people of London.
Joe allowed himself to lay back on his couch. His head hit a throw pillow at an awkward angle, but he was too worked up to fix it.
That’s not all I want from you, Joe.
What?
What?
Joe could picture Rhys’ smug face reading his clearly-not-thought-out response. He might even be laughing at Joe right now.
It made Joe furious.
I will admit that I have been playing my cards
close to my chest, especially after how you
reacted in the country.
This is you being secretive? You laid out in full detail how you killed Malcolm, Simon, and Gemma, but for some reason, you’re hiding something else. What the fuck?
What more could you be hiding?
You can’t imagine the conflict I’m having
right now.
Do I tell you now? Put you out of your misery?
Or do I make you dig for it yourself? I do
enjoy watching you flounder.
Okay, I’m going to bed.
Fine, you’ve called my bluff, Goldberg.
Joe squirmed on the couch, trying to push down the feeling of a weight being lifted off his chest at someone using his real name. He had settled into Jonathan Moore quicker than he had Will Bettelheim, though that was most likely because he hadn’t needed to kidnap someone in order to obtain the new name. And London was much more livable than L.A.
He still missed his old name. In the beginning, it made him wish he and Love could’ve made it work. He could be himself, not have to think about it when he signed his name or introduced himself.
But he knew everything worked out for the best. He would give up his name a million times if it meant Henry could live a normal life.
So, even when he heard his name from a psychopath who was trying to make them murder buddies, he couldn’t stop the rush of emotion that came with it.
And somehow, he knew that Rhys knew this.
After I found out about your…interesting past,
I admit that my goal was to get you to help me,
but then something shifted.
Joe watched his screen carefully as three dots indicated that Rhys was about to send another message. His heart was pounding in his ears as he thought about what Rhys could be ramping up to. Could it be that Joe made him change his plan somehow? Or Joe has accelerated his timeline? Or he was planning on stopping at just one murder until Joe inspired him to keep going?
As I watched you, I couldn't help but be
fascinated by the way you moved, the way
you thought, the way you spoke. Not only
had you captured my attention, but you
had captured my heart.
What. The. Fuck.
Joe launched into a sitting position, his eyes wide as he attempted to reread the message before it disappeared.
Once the message fizzled away, he quickly stood up and walked to the kitchen. His mouth had gone dry at the message and he needed a drink of water before he figured out how to reply to whatever the fuck he had just read.
As he was drinking, another message popped up.
I will admit that could’ve come out less cheesy,
but I couldn’t find better words to describe
what happened.
I figured telling you I wanted to fuck you
senseless probably wasn’t the best
Joe started coughing and all but slammed the glass of water on the counter as he tried to catch his breath.
This is not happening. There’s no fucking way he’s serious.
After he finally cleared the water from his throat and gained his composure, he picked up his phone and started typing the first thing that came to mind.
Haha, very funny.
Joe’s phone clattered against the counter, the conversation staring back at him as he tried to wrap his mind around what Rhys’ goal was.
Do you think I’m going to fall for some romantic ruse? Did you read the dozens of articles about the Quinn-Goldbergs and think that I wanted someone like me?
No. No. I wasn’t like Love. Love was crazy. You are crazy.
But it might not seem like that from the outside. Do you think this is what I want? That this is the only option to get me on your team?
I’m not joking, Joe.
I’m quite enamored with you. At first, I
believed I was simply fond of the man who
had gotten away with so many crimes, but
once you began fucking Kate, I lost my mind.
The only reason I haven’t killed her in a fit of
jealousy is because I knew that would not
help me win your trust.
Or your heart.
You’re never going to win my heart.
We shall see.
I can wait for you, Joe. Despite what you may
think I'm quite patient.
I know that, eventually, you’ll realize that you
and I are perfect for each other.
That’s what my wife said and look how that turned out.
Don’t worry, Joe. I’m nothing like any of your
past loves. I won’t hurt you.
The chain marks on my wrists would say
otherwise. As would the smoke in my lungs.
In time, you shall see why I had to do what I did.
And you shall accept it, and even thank me.
Goodnight, Joe.
Joe gritted his teeth and gripped the edge of the counter so tightly that he was surprised he didn’t break something.
You have some nerve to tell me you’re…what? Into me? Harboring a crush? Falling in love? It’s all bullshit.
Either it’s a ploy to throw me off my game, or you're being serious and you’ve just shown me your hand.
Either way, I finally have more information on you, Rhys Montrose.