Reckless Passion. Part 5

The image of Alex's sneering face, even in death, was etched in his mind, haunting him.

And Laurie, her skin already turning blue, was also a constant presence in his thoughts. Landon tried to calm his nerves, wondering if this was how it felt like to take someone's life.

On movie screen, murder always seemed like a cathartic release, but the reality was far from it. Landon got up and with shaking legs and hands, made his way to the liquor cabinet, reaching for yet another bottle of rum. It dawned on him that he had become an alcoholic, despite Laurie's pleas for him to quit.

Alcohol had consumed his life, becoming his ultimate pacifier. When everything revolved around liquor, he knew he had hit rock bottom. It used to thrill, excite, and satisfy him, but now it was just a crutch, a friend in the absence of Laurie. It numbed his fears and offered him solace.

The moment Landon's fists had struck her, and ignored her cries for help, until he was satisfied with beating