Page 167 of Let Me In

Then the gloves.

Then the blade.

But it’s not until his eyes drop to the silencer tucked at my waist that I see it—

Fear.

Not performance.

Not bravado.

Real.

Good.

I move closer. Step by step. No rush.

Just certainty.

He stands, jerky, hands half-raised.

“Listen—”

I tilt the blade slightly. Just enough for the light to catch.

He stops talking.

Eyes wide.

“You—you don’t want to do this. You don’t know who I’m with.”

I rest the blade near his chest. Hovering.

“I know exactly who you’re with.”

He swallows hard.

“Then you know you’re making a mistake.”

I lean in close. Close enough to see the panic jump behind his eyes, to feel the tremble in his breath.

“No.”

My voice is quiet. Dead calm.

“I know you were watching her. I know you tailed her to the field. I know you waited to see if she was alone. And I know you didn’t expect her to tag your car like a goddamn ghost.”

His breath stutters.

“You have no idea who she belongs to, do you?”

He flinches at the word.

Belongs.

I lower the knife—but let him see it stay in my hand.

“I’m only going to ask once.”

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