“Yeah. Maybe.”
“Goodnight.” She makes her quick escape, leaving me with a pounding heart and fury in my stomach lining, burning like acid.
She twists her necklace when she’s lying.
My eyes flick open, my sleep-filled stare connecting with the clock.
4 a.m.
I allow my eyes to close heavily again, feeling exhaustion pull me back beneath its weighty compression.
That’s when a hand skims over the side of my face. My eyes shoot open, and I’m frozen, stock-still, and now commanded by fear lacing my veins.
My breathing picks up, and my heart beats so furiously that it’s all I can hear.
Another touch brushes my ear. “Didn’t I tell you to call them off? Didn’t I tell you that you belonged to me and that you were to listen? I thought we had an agreement, pretty poison.”
I know Allison armed the alarm system, but this man has been watching me for years, taunting me for the same length.
He’s most likely found ways into every aspect of my life.
He grips my hair, tightening it into a fist.
A whimper gets caught in my throat. “You did.”
“Then why is it that I watched you run for them? Watched you show them what belongs tome?Are you trying to make me kill you sooner?”
Sooner.
It clatters through my brain like the tail of a rattlesnake.
“Do you want me to kill her and make you watch?” he asks me.
Allison. He means Allison.
I’d gone to bed so fucking angry with her lying to my face, but I could never want anyone dead.
That’s not who I am.
I didn’t even wanthimdead.
I still don’t. Even though that sounds fucking delusional.
“No. Please, don’t. I’ll be good.”
“Poisonous words from a poisonous girl. I don’t trust you. I think you’re lying.”
“I’m not. I swear it.”
“Prove it to me.”
“O-okay.”
His lips drop to my ear. “Be a good girl and get your things. You’re coming with me.”
I knew this day would come, and I’m prepared for it. I left fail-safes for Allison to access all my accounts; everything is in my will and left to her.
Ever since his first note showed up in my mailbox, I knew one day he was coming.
