help you.”
I was about to tell him that I’d already done the dishes and the garbage wasn’t ready to go out, so I didn’t need help. But before I could speak, he crossed his arms. My gaze dropped to what he had clutched in his gloved right hand, and I twisted to scan the table before returning my focus to the small knife.
My knife from my kit.
Was I supposed to scream? Or was it not scream? I couldn’t remember, and my brain had decided to turn into a dead fish.
I froze.
Numb.
Lost.
And—just as she’d always said—stupid.
Alexander
SHOW ME, FLOWER. Show me what I want to see.
Studying her expression closely, I wanted to see fear—no, terror. Anger. Outrage. Indignation. I wanted her to scream at me. Or scream for help.
I wanted to see some fight come into her blue eyes because that would mean, in the face of a threat, she’d realized she wanted to live.
But all I saw was confusion and shock. If anything, she was calmer than when she’d gotten home to frantically look for her kit.
What happened today?
Her stunned silence stretched until the first flicker of real emotion crossed her face.
Irritation.
It wasn’t the reaction I usually got from my targets, but it was something, at least.
Her eyes narrowed as she gave an exasperated sigh, as if my being there was simply an inconvenience. “Aria put you up to this, didn’t she? Or was it Derrick? This is some fucking scared-straight therapy method, right? You can go ahead and tell them it worked. Message received. I’ll try harder or whatever.”
“No one sent me.”
That part was the truth. No one had sent me. But the scared-straight description was pretty damn accurate.
I just hoped like fuck it worked.
“Bullshit. How else would you know about my…” Her wide gaze darted from the table to the window, putting the pieces together before shooting to me. “You’ve actually been watching me?”
I lifted my chin.
Along with the cameras in the living room and bedroom, I’d also tapped into her cell—an opportune bonus when I’d accidentally bumped into her the first day. I’d pocketed it when I’d helped her pick up the contents of her purse to install my tech before turning it in. I could hear the calls she rarely made, the voicemails she never returned, and, since she was always unknowingly sharing her screen with me, I saw the shit she scrolled through for hours.
There were advantages to being a tech nerd.
“For how long?” she asked, but there was no venom. No fear. Nothing beyond mild confusion that bordered on apathetic.
“Since the first day at the center.”
“All those times I felt…” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Why?”
Because I’m obsessed.
“Because I like to,” I said.
For the first time since finding me in her home, she finally looked outraged. Shocked, not that I was watching her but that I wanted to. Her tone cut deeper than her blades ever could as she repeated, “Why?”
Because you’re beautifully broken.
I didn’t share that, either.
“Aria or Derrick or Dr. Linda definitely sent you.” She started to laugh. “I give them points for trying something new, but this is too much. You’re—” Her words cut off abruptly as she studied me before finally whispering, “Wait. You’re not kidding.”
“No.”
“Aria didn’t send you.”
“No.”
“I’ll… I’ll scream.” There was no heat to her threat. More like she was saying what she thought was required.
“I hope you do.”
Moving closer, I stopped when my body nearly touched hers. “Tell me to get out. Tell me this isn’t what you want, and I’ll go.”
I would, too. I’d climb through the window I’d left open, getting out before anyone saw me.
But I’d come back. Not to hurt her. But because I was already too damn obsessed to walk away for good.
Doubt filled her voice. “And leave a breathing witness who can identify you?”
“Even if you told them, who’d believe you, Briar?”
I hadn’t meant it as an insult, but her slumped shoulders and defeated expression said the truth hurt.
I never felt guilt for what I did. My targets deserved to die. They were evil. Abusers. Cheats. The worst kind of fucking garbage. They thought their power could buy them what they wanted, and they didn’t give a shit about the destruction they left behind. I did the world a favor each time I got rid of one.
But Briar was different.
Death wasn’t her punishment. It was her reward.
My gift to her.
Or it was supposed to be.
But I’d watched her too long. Too closely.
I’d allowed myself to grow attached.
Obsessed.
It made me a