“I think he was serious.”Ari adjusted her glasses and stared after him.
“Well, yeah. He always is.”Sean caught my warning look and added,“Not serious. He’s not serious at all.”
I sighed at his failed attempt to fix it.“I’ll be back.”I waved at them both before leaving.When I reached the street, Dennis was waiting in his new car. I got in and shut the door.“Why’re we driving?”
The engine purred to life and he pulled away from the curb.
“We’re going to the bar andI’mfeelinglazy. Torturing takes a lot outta you.” He shot me a grin as I grimaced. “I’m kidding. It’s relaxing. But I am feeling lazy and it’s on the other side of town.”
“Like that’s far.”I scoffed. This town is too small for its own good.“Hey, wait a second. That’s by where you killed Kiro, right?”
“No. Well, kinda. I started somewhere else, but I did most of the skinning where more humans go. It’s a lot better that way, y’know what I mean?”He glanced over to make sure I was following, which I wasn’t at all.“I decided to leave him out for a while before he’s buried. Let the breeze blow through his hair one last time. I thought he might appreciate it.The corpse,I mean.The man is dead.”
“You’re insane.”
“Not really. Legal insanity requires no understanding of or appreciation for the consequences of your actions. A lack of knowing right from wrong when the crime is committed.”
“I didn’t mean legally, and I disagree. You soundcompletelyinsane.”
“Well, what’s the fun in killing someone if you don’t leave a trail?”he asked earnestly.
I shivered before deciding to change the subject. “How long have you guys lived here?” I asked the first question that came to mind.
“In the condo?”
“No. The town. It’s kinda weird that I’ve never seen you around since I used to visit all the time. Until I got on probation and house arrest. I couldn’t come after that.”I snuck a peek at him to confirm my fleeting thought: I definitely would’ve remembered seeing him.
“We moved here after college. I’m guessing that’s why you never saw us.” He glanced at me with a smug smile.“You’re really that sure you would’ve remembered me?”
“Stop doing that.I was thinking about myself.”
“You weren’t, but it doesn’t matter. I would’ve heard you either way.”
My mouth dropped as he turned into the bar’s parking lot.“So youcanhear me all the time? I knew it!”I undid my seatbelt and scrambled to get out at the same time he did.“Why can you always hear me?”
“Who said I can always hear you?”
“You know what I mean. Not always, but when it’s not about you. You just said you would’ve heard me either way,”I pressed.“So were you lying about only hearing things about yourself?”
“Of course not. I would never lie to you.”
“Denniiis!”
“Viiixenn.”He imitated my whininess, similar to the way he’d taunted me while I was tied up. He took one glimpse at my flushed cheeks and started laughing.
“Leave me alone.” Icrossed my arms while we walked.“I’m not used to this.”I kept my eyes on the ground, hoping I would stop blushing and everyone would forget this moment.It was so weird hanging out with a guy after sleeping with him.
“We already talked about this, you know.”
“Talked about what?” I tilted my head and stopped walking.
“You asked how I hear you so often, and I said I think it’s because of your disorder. Your brain wiring is different.”
I racked my brain but came up with nothing. I did not remember a single word of this. “I don’t remember,” I finally said, wondering if he was messing with me. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. We talked about this two nights ago, after your first time hunting.” He waited for any trace of recognition but there was none.
I kept staring, trying so hard to remember the conversation we apparently had, but I had no idea when it happened or what he was even talking about. “I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s not my fault. I promise I was listening, I just—sometimes my memory sucks. Sometimes it’s nonexistent. My doctor calls it bipolar brain fog, I think? I can’t help it.” I frowned. “I’m sorry.”
