Page 76 of The Psychopaths

“This is kidnapping,” I say as he carries me down the stairs, but there’s no real fight in my voice.

“No.” His grip tightens possessively. “This is protection. This is keeping you alive. This is?—”

“This is you needing control,” I finish for him, watching upside down as other students scatter from our path.

He stops abruptly, setting me on my feet but keeping me pinned against the wall. His eyes search my face, looking for something.

“You want this,” he accuses softly. “Want to be taken, controlled, caged. Want an excuse to let the darkness out.”

The truth of it hits hard. I do want this. Want him. Want the freedom that comes with captivity, the release of giving up control to someone as beautifully broken as I am.

“Maybe.” I reach up to touch his face, trace the scar along his jaw. “Or maybe I just want to watch you try to cage something that’s already free.”

His pupils dilate at the challenge. “Last chance to run/ Walk away now, and I’ll handle them another way.”

We both know I won’t, that I can’t. That deep down I don’t want to.

“Take me to your warehouse, Arson.” I press closer, feeling his heart race against my palm. “Lock me in your cage. Keep me safe.”

His kiss is bruising, claiming a preview of the possession to come.

When he pulls back, his smile is all predator.

“Remember you chose this,” he says, throwing me back over his shoulder.

As he carries me to the car, I catch our reflection in a window—the psychopath and his willing victim. Except I’m not a victim, am I? I’m choosing my cage, choosing my captor, choosing to fall into darkness with someone who knows exactly how dark I can be.

The Hayes family’s perfect daughter, willingly walking into a monster’s lair.

Mother would be horrified, and that makes it even better.

Arson

The warehouse security system beeps as I enter the entry code, hyperaware of Lilian’s presence behind me. Aries sits in his cell while his stepsister follows me into my private space.

I never considered that I’d have both of them under my roof at the same time. It just doubles the chances of this all going to shit.

“This way.” I lead her through the converted living area, watching her catalog everything with those too-observant eyes. “Touch nothing without permission.”

“Quite the setup,” she comments, trailing her fingers along my kitchen counter like I didn’t just warn her not to touch anything.”Very... domestic for a psychopath.”

I twist around and grab her wrist, squeezing just shy of pain. “I know your ears work so don’t play games with me. I told you not to touch anything, so don’t.”

Challenge fills her eyes. “Going to punish me already?”

Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t fucking know.

What I do know is that I need to focus. I need to stay on top of things. I release her and move into the bedroom. She followsme like a curious cat. The space feels different with her in it—smaller, charged with energy.

“This drawer is yours.” I empty one of my dresser drawers methodically, trying to ignore the way she exploresmyspace, making it hers. “Bathroom is through there.” I point to the left. “And the security system will alert me if a door opens.”

She runs her hand along my bookshelf, examining the titles, blatantly ignoring my previous warning. “Quite the collection.Advanced Security Systems,Chemical Restraint Methods,Corporate Espionage...just a little light reading?”

“Lilian.” My voice carries a warning.

“Oh yes, sorry. Just getting to know mynew... roommate? Or should I call you captor? I guess we never really established what to call this little arrangement.”

I need to draw the line, make her understand that while I don’t want them to hurt her, that doesn’t mean I won’t do whatever the hell I want with her. I stalk toward her, and instinct makes her walk backward.

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