Page 6 of Leif

I shook my head. “My mom and dad, that’s it. And a weird aunt.”

He put his arms on the back of the dining chair and planted his chin on them, staring at me all the while. “You’re supposed to lie, to make me feel bad for you so I don’t kill you.”

My confusion must have shown in my face, because he chuckled. “You think you’re the only one who’s ever been on the force?”

I shook my head. No way this guy was a cop. That would have been in his file.

“My grandfather was an officer. He shot a guy in the face for pulling a knife on him. And was disgraced because the guy was actually a teenager.” His face twisted up in anger. “Apparently, it’sexcessive forceeven if someone pulls a knife on you. At least, that’s what the court said.”

Why was he telling me this? I didn’t believe a word out of his mouth. The guy was a criminal.

“But that’s not why you’re going to prison. You’re going away because of whatyoudid.” I adjusted my hands, hating that I couldn’t feel my fingers. Glaring up at him, I continued to speak. “You were obsessed with that woman, and you killed her. You did that. That’s your crime.”

To my surprise, he nodded his head.

I’d swear all his walls dropped for a second as he spoke. “That’s true. Have you ever had someone just worm their way into your head and just stay there like a little voice constantly telling you what you’re doing is wrong, or not good enough, or that you’re a fucking failure?”

I shook my head.

“That’s what she did. She just… got in and wouldn’t shut the fuck up.”

I lifted both brows. “You could have walked away. You didn’t have to kill her.”

A wicked grin crossed his lips, and my blood ran cold. “I guess I didn’t.” he leaned in closer to me. “Want to know a secret?”

I shook my head no, but he kept talking anyway. “I wanted to kill her. Watching the light leave her eyesfreedme from her. As she slipped away, her voice did too. I didn’t hear her anymore. Just…” He brought all the fingers and thumbs of his hands together before opening them with a little explosion sound. “Silence.”

“You belong in jail.” I knew there was no way I’d make it out of this alive, but I was going to fight until I couldn’t fight anymore.

He nodded. “I know.” With that, his hand lowered to his belt before flashing out. The glint of light on steel before the ropes holding my arm were severed stunned me, and I pulled my arm close. I lowered as he cut my other arm free. Back on my heels, I began to rub my hands before untying the ropes.

“I won’t hesitate to kill you.” He waved his knife back and forth, and I watched it move for a second, rubbing my hands on my thighs to bring the blood back.

He wouldn’t hesitate to kill me, but I had a feeling he was going to play cat and mouse with me first. This wasn’t kindness. It was a new kind of cruelty, letting me have hope before he decided to finally kill me.

“Are you remorseful?” Did he even give a damn that he’d killed that girl? I knew he didn’t, but I was curious what he’d say.

His gaze came to rest on my face while his whole body went still. The easy set of his shoulders tightened before he relaxed. He shook his head. “I’m remorseful that I didn’t take out her eyes. I can still see them, you know? I don’t hear her, but she still watches every move I make.”

This guy was messed up.

I lowered my chin a bit, still on my knees with my butt resting on my heels before him. He still sat in his chair as if considering his next move.

“What are you going to do next?” His low voice told me he really had no idea. I wondered if that was why I was still alive. Was I going to be the new obsession? The new woman that captured his interest until he found some reason he had to kill me too?

“I’m not sure.” But I knew. The second he was distracted, I was going to spring at him, get an arm around his throat, and squeeze until he stopped moving… then for another two minutes past that just to be sure.

I wasn’t a fucking victim.

I wasn’t a weak woman.

I wasn’t a delicate fucking flower.

I was a goddamned warrior.

A police officer.

And he was going to find that out right before I removed him from this earth.

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