Page 56 of The Psychopaths

Either she’s developed a death wish or she wants this confrontation as much as I do.

A twig snaps under my foot—intentionally. Letting her know how close I am. Her shoulders tense, but she doesn’t speed up, and there’s no fear in her movements.

She merely continues her unbothered pace toward what used to be the botanical research center like she isn’t being hunted by a monster.

Where are you taking us, Lilian?

The predator in me should be satisfied with this hunt. Instead, I’m increasingly unsure who’s hunting whom.

Time to end this charade. I catch her in the shadow of the old research center, my hand closing around her arm as I spin her to face me. She doesn’t scream. Doesn’t struggle in my grasp. She just stares up at me, her blue eyes shining with honesty and rawness.

“Didn’t I warn you about following me?” My voice comes out rougher than intended.

“I wasn’t.” A slight smile plays on her full lips. “You were following me.”

The confidence in her tone throws me off. I don’t like this change. The control I was so sure of only a couple of days ago feels tenuous.

“Playing dangerous games, Little Sister.” I press her back against the brick wall, using my height to loom over her. “Did our last chat not make an impression?”

“Oh, it did.” Her pulse under my fingers is steady, controlled. “The bruises are still fading. Would you like to see them?”

The invitation in her voice—dark, challenging—catches me off guard. This isn’t how prey is supposed to act.

“What’s changed?” I demand, fingers tightening on her arm. “A few days ago, you could barely breathe when I touched you.”

“Do you ever get tired of playing the same role? Tired of pretending?” She doesn’t try to break my grip, but her free hand moves to her pocket. “Because I am, and right around the same time I decided to stop giving a shit, I discovered there are far worse things out there than a psychotic stepbrother.”

Brothers,I correct automatically. “I’d tread very carefully because you have yet to see me lose control. And I promise, you have no idea of the dark, cruel things I’m capable of.”

“Don’t I?” Something rustles in her pocket. “In fact, I know more than you think. Maybe even more than you.”

I narrow my gaze. “Explain.”

“I know why you hate him so much. I know what they did to you.” Her gaze holds mine steadily. “I know aboutNorthstar.”

That single word hits like a punch to the gut. My grip on her tightens involuntarily, but she doesn’t flinch.

“What do youthinkyou know?” My voice is a dangerous whisper.

“Enough to understand why you’re doing this. What your motive is and what your endgame is.” She leans closer despite my punishing grip. “I know other things, too, things you didn’t know. About Mother. About all the others they made disappear.”

Others?My mind races. I knew about a few cases—heard rumors in the institution about otherproblem childrenwho vanished into the system.

But the way she says it...

“You’re lying,” I growl through my teeth, but uncertainty creeps in as I continue. “This is a ploy. Another attempt to save your precious stepbrother.”

“Are you sure?” That small, dangerous smile returns to her lips. “If that were true, then why did I lead you somewhere private to talk? Why am I standing here with my head held high instead of cowering with fear?”

Because you think you have leverage,I want to say but don’t.

It hits me. She’s not bluffing. And suddenly, I’m not sure who has the power right now.

“Prove it,” I growl, shifting closer until I can feel her breath on my face. “Prove you know anything worth my time.”

“You’re hurting the wrong person,” she says, still maddeningly calm despite our proximity. “Aries was just as much a victim as you were. He just wore prettier chains.”

“Shut your fucking mouth.” My free hand finds her throat, and I press my thumb against her pulse point. “I think I’m done listening to you talk. Maybe I should end this game now. Fuck you until you beg me to stop, until the tears are running down your cheeks, and your screams become faint. I could record the whole thing so my dear brother could see what he made me do to your sweet little cunt.”

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