Vicious

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, child abuse, physical abuse, and bullying.

In California, Vicious hatches a plan to confront Jo. He asks Dean to throw a large party at Vicious’s home, which he later explains is so that he will have an alibi while his father’s mansion burns. He retrieves the LeBlancs, escorting them to a hotel that he has booked and having their possessions moved to a storage facility. Charlene, Emilia’s mother, slaps him for mistreating Emilia. Vicious does not resist the blow but promises that he will “take care of [Emilia] from now on” if Emilia will allow it (284).

Back at the mansion, Vicious confronts Jo, telling her that he knows that Daryl murdered his mother and that she covered it up. Jo tries to bribe Vicious into remaining quiet. He urges her to leave the house that evening or else he will tell the police what he knows. He retrieves Emilia’s childhood belongings and then turns on gas burners so that the building will burn after he is in Los Angeles with witnesses to confirm his alibi.