Her Hidden Secret - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

The guy was getting antsy, nudging me to keep going.
I stretched with an exaggerated yawn, pretending to check my phone while secretly stopping the recording. "It's late," I said, shrugging. "We've got work in the morning. I'll finish the story some other time."
"Man, what a buzzkill!"
A chorus of groans erupted from the dorm.
But as I lay in bed later, rage simmered under my skin, keeping me wide awake.
Monsters.
How the hell were these bastards still breathing?
And how dare they brag about it like it was some sick badge of honor.
By morning, I'd made up my mind—I was skipping work and going straight to the cops.
But the second I reached the construction site gates, a pack of guys cut me off.
"Where you think you're going, college boy?"
The one leading them was a wiry, rat-faced creep—Vincent Lombardi.
I knew exactly who he was. The same piece of trash who'd drugged and assaulted those three girls.
Him and his hometown posse were nothing but scam artists, thieves, and lazy-ass slackers on the job.
My stomach lurched at the sight of him, but I kept my voice steady. "Girlfriend's dumping me. Took the day off to sort it out."
"Sort it out, huh?" Vincent's lips curled into a smirk before he flicked his hand dismissively. "Turn your ass around. City's locked down again. Nobody leaves the site."
Lockdown?
Bullshit.
I'd checked the news—everything was normal.
But with his crew circling me like vultures, I had no choice but to back off.
Call the cops?
Vincent had destroyed three lives and walked away scot-free. That told me all I needed to know.
Frustrated, I veered toward the convenience store instead.
Vivian Langley was leaning against the counter in a white tee and denim shorts, her long legs impossible to ignore. My pulse kicked up.
"Roland, why aren't you at work?" She frowned.
I shook my head, irritated. "Took the day off. Tried to leave, but Vincent blocked me."
Her eyebrows pinched together. "Did you piss him off?"
"No. That's the weird part." I slumped onto a stool, locking eyes with her across the counter.
She squirmed under my stare. "Roland… didn't I give you enough yesterday?"
"Just looking. That illegal now?" I smirked, but my gut screamed that Vivian was hiding something.
The thought killed whatever mood I had left. I dragged myself back to the dorm.
The second I stepped inside, my blood ran cold.
The guy who'd told the story last night was sprawled on his bunk, face busted up.
When he saw me, he flinched and covered his face.
Ice flooded my veins.
Vincent had done this.
A warning—for talking about the girls.
And for me.
But why?
Dread coiled tight in my chest.
Even in the summer heat, I felt frozen.
Then it hit me.
Those girls…
They weren't just assaulted.
They were dead.
That was the only explanation.
Vincent had tortured and killed them. He'd never let that secret slip.
He'd silenced everyone who was there that night.
Even the ones who talked twisted the truth—calling the victims prostitutes dressed like college girls.
But someone screwed up.
My drunk roommate, jealous that I'd gotten close to Vivian, had run his mouth.
Now sober, he'd panicked and sprinted straight to Vincent.
And when Vincent heard I'd taken the day off…
He'd assume I knew.
That's why he stopped me.
Why hadn't they taken my phone?
Either they thought I was clueless—or they were damn sure no one would believe me.
I'd bet on the latter.
It made sense.
Even the safety supervisors kissed Vincent's ass.
His connections ran deep.
I had to get out.
Before this place chewed me up too.
I yanked out my phone, ready to text a friend to call the cops from somewhere else.
But then… I hesitated.