Chapter 96. Flames

CADE

I turned at the sound of my name.

“Mr. Winters.”

He walked slowly, hands clasped behind his back, posture stiff with authority. His voice, when it came, was smooth yet chilling.

“This is just the beginning,” he said, and I found it ironic that the two of us thought the same thing.

I tilted my head slightly; my pulse didn’t even quicken. I’d expected him to act like this already.

“The beginning of what?” I asked. “Your downfall? Yeah, I figured.”

But Mr. Winters merely smiled.

“No,” he said. “Yours.”

He took another step forward, just shy of invading my personal space. His breath smelled like scotch and rot.

“This is the start of your downfall. Of everything.”

“You should be glad you have your parents,” he added with a smirk. “Because quite frankly, you’d be six feet under if you didn’t.”

I reached into my pocket and clicked a button.

Mr. Winters didn’t notice.

He lifted his chin, his voice dropp