Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 114775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
I never really thought about what was behind that door. But, in my wildest imagination, I never thought it was this.
“An-and…” I carefully bring my eyes back to him. My stare catches on his scars. I never normally see them; they don’t stand out to me because they’re a part of him.
But, now, I’m seeing them.
I lift my eyes to his and gulp. “Di-did you…have anything to do with their…deaths?”
His eyes flicker with something…fear maybe?
He blows out a breath. It sounds resigned.
When he looks back at me, the look in his eyes is wary. “I think you know the answer to that as well.”
“Oh, Jesus.” I back up a step and bump into the desk, making the knives and gun rattle.
Kas’s eyes go straight to them and then back to me.
I sidestep the desk, moving away but not too far away that I can’t grab a weapon if I need to. “You killed them both.”
“Yes.”
Oh God.
“And you’re going to kill Damien.”
He doesn’t answer. He just stares steadily back at me, like he’s weighing up how to answer.
But he doesn’t need to answer because I already know.
Damien’s picture wouldn’t be pinned up on that wall next to theirs if Kas weren’t planning on killing him.
“How will Damien die?” I whisper.
“Painfully.”
“Oh God. Are you going to kill me, too?”
“What?” He looks stunned, like I just punched him in his face.
His whole demeanor changes. His arms drop from the doorframe, and he steps forward, eyes wide with shock. “Jesus. No. Of course not. Why would you ever think that?”
And it’s this moment that my brain chooses to explode out through my mouth. “Because you have guns and knives in here! And you’ve killed two men already—who, of course, deserved it—and you are planning to kill another man—who also deserves it! But you’ve killed people, and you have my picture all over your goddamn wall!” I slice a hand in the direction of the pictures. My chest heaves with fearful, angry breaths as the echo of my words silently reverberate around the room.
Kas drags a hand through his hair, his other hand crossing his chest to cover his heart. “I would never hurt you, Daisy. Never,” he states emphatically. “This”—he moves a hand, gesturing to his wall of fame—“is just a part of my life that I never wanted you to find out about.”
“Jesus fucking Christ!” I pinch the bridge of my nose, taking deep breaths in and out. “I’m in love with a killer. Only I could fall in love with a killer. God, what the hell is wrong with me?”
“What did you say?”
Dropping my hand, I scowl over at him. “Sorry, should I not call you a killer?”
“You’re…” He blinks. Shaking his head, he takes another step forward. “You’re in love with me.”
Oh. Shit.
Did I just tell him that I was in love with him?
Am I in love with him?
Oh God. I am.
I’m in love with Norman Bates.
Well, he’s not exactly a psycho. He’s a man out for revenge. But he’s killed people. And it’s not exactly the ideal time to tell the man you’re dating that you’re in love with him moments after finding out he’s the real-life version of The Punisher.
“I…I…it’s not really the point right now,” I utter dismissively.
“It’s the only point.”
When I look into his face, I see tenderness. It curls around my heart and squeezes tight.
I shut my eyes against the feeling. “I don’t even know you,” I whisper. “I can’t be in love with a man I don’t know.”
I feel him move closer.
“You know me, Daisy. You’re the only person who truly knows me.”
I open my eyes and stare up into his soulful eyes. The hope in his gaze makes me ache.
I shake my head. “No, I don’t. You’ve lied to me from the second I met you. You knew me before I even knew you.” I point at the picture of me and Jason on the wall, but his eyes don’t leave mine. “How did I end up working for you, Kas?” My words are quiet.
His eyes close briefly, his brows drawing together, as if I just yelled at him. “I made it so that you would come work for me.”
A sick feeling unfurls in my stomach.
“Why would you do that?” I think I already know, but I need him to tell me. I need to hear this from him.
He takes a step back, putting much-needed distance between us. “Because I’ve been trying to pin down Damien Doyle for a long time. But he has this fucking amazing ability to disappear. And, when he disappears, he goes completely off the grid, and there’s just no finding him. Believe me, I’ve tried.
“I just needed an in with him. That’s how I get close enough to kill them. They don’t remember me. I look very different to the kid they tortured in that park seven years ago. I get in, and then I kill them.