Romeo clutched his hand to his chest as he rushed out of the room in pursuit of Chad.Romeo stopped at the top of the stairs, staring at a frantic Chad seemingly searching the hallway for something.
He whirled around.“Where the hell are they?”
“What?”Romeo asked.
“My car keys.”
“They’re in my pocket.”
“Of course they are!”
Chad laughed, then lashed out, kicking the bottom step.As soon as Romeo could reach him, Chad took off again, rushing into the kitchen.
“You need to calm down,” Romeo told him as he followed.
Blood snaked down his forearm from his hand.
It dripped from his elbow onto the floor.
Chad ran a hand through his hair, pacing the opposite end of the kitchen.
Romeo kept his distance.
“Hand them over.”Chad finally said, coming to a stop.
He didn’t look towards Romeo.
“Handthem over?”Romeo replied, eyeing his gaping slit.Chad flashed the wound a glance, then looked quickly away.His breath came in pants.His gaze darted all over the place, but not towards the knives or anything else he could’ve used as a weapon.
Romeo squinted.“I know you’re not squeamish.You’ve seen plenty of violent deaths.”
Chad shook his head.
“But what is it about my bloody hand that makes you uncomfortable.”
“All ofyoumakes me uncomfortable,” Chad choked on a breath.
“Is that the real reason?”
Chad seemed to struggle with himself, then blurted out, “You’re a god damn serial killer and you’re in my house—”
“Our house.”
“This is bullshit,” Chad grabbed a fistful of his hair.“This isn’t real.”
“I assure you it is.”
“I don’t want it.”
The words stung more than his hand.
“I don’t care what you want.I care about what I want, and what the monster wants.”
Chad brow folded in confusion.“Monster?”
“And what we want isourChad back.”
“That’s not happening,” Chad whispered.“Itcan’t.”
