Eventually, she’d angered me too. Was it too much to ask that they play their part? I’d told her exactly what I wanted her to do—how I wanted her to behave. I’d explained that I wouldn’t hurt her if she’d be a good girl and do what I said.
It was her fault that she hadn’t. I’d snapped. Maybe gone a little too far.
But she’d live. They both would. I wasn’t a murderer.
Although I’d found myself thinking about it. Wondering if I could.
Wondering what it would feel like to take her life.
I hadn’t. And was anyone going to appreciate my self-control? Of course not. They wouldn’t know anything about me.
I was invisible. Not worth noticing.
But I’d heard the murmurs when I’d been in town. Word was spreading. People were scared.
That was an unexpected benefit. I couldn’t get caught—that was imperative—but a reputation that spread? My lips curled in a smile. I could walk through their towns unnoticed, unremarkable. But I’d know they were talking about me. I was the one making them afraid.
I couldn’t wait to tell Melanie all about it.
After putting the sheet back on the mattress, I went upstairs. I was getting anxious for the real thing—to have my Melanie there, with me.
But I needed patience above all. Soon, I’d start following her, learning her routine. I’d have to be ready at a moment’s notice. The circumstances were unlikely to be perfect. I doubted I’d catch her coming out of a bar alone, tipsy or otherwise.
Which meant I needed to take on a bigger challenge first. A woman in an empty parking lot in the dark was an easy mark. I had to prove to myself I could do it during the day.
Wandering over to the wall near the kitchen, I looked at my photos. I’d framed them, the photos I had of her, and hung them on the wall. A gallery of my passion. My preoccupation.
My obsession.
Who wouldn’t be flattered by such attention? By such wanting?
Such need.
“Soon.” I touched the photo I’d taken of her in my trunk all those years ago. “Soon, I’ll bring you home.”
CHAPTER 28
Luke
I woketo the sudden feeling that I was about to fall off the bed.
My back was right up against the edge, and one foot dangled off the side. Blinking my eyes, I started scooting closer to the middle when I realized why I was about to roll off. Melanie took up most of the bed.
She was on her back, her hair a mess all over the pillow. One leg was jutted out toward me, and I worried that if I startled her awake, she’d punch me in the face again.
She was out—sound asleep—and I was pretty sure she’d slept all night. I’d woken up a few times when she moved, and she’d definitely been asleep. She hadn’t even stirred when I’d softly kissed her temple.
I gazed at her for a long moment. Waking up with her felt good. Really good. She knew how to drive me crazy, but there was so much more than that. She was like the high of a race, without the crash.
I was falling hard and fast for Melanie Andolini. Again. I’d been a goner for her the first time around and it hadn’t ended well. But this time would be different. I was all in. Ididn’t know how else to be. I wasn’t a guy who did things halfway, so like I’d told her, she was mine.
It was possible I was making a huge mistake. But I had to take the risk.
She was worth it.
I decided to let her sleep. She needed it. Besides, I didn’t want to risk another face punch.
Carefully, I rolled out of bed. With a soft noise in her throat, she turned onto her side, squishing her cheek against the pillow. I couldn’t help but smile. Such a beautiful mess.