Page 117 of Love Undecided
“Mind your own business,” both Brad and I say to Bauer at the same time.
Bauer holds up his hands as if in surrender, and backs away down the hall.
“Let me go.”
“No.”
“You’re being ridiculous, it’s totally safe. He’s chained to the freakin’ floor for God’s sake.”
“If you aren’t going to be safe for you, then at least be safe for us. We just found each other again,” Brad says.
“I’m not not being safe,” I say turning toward the door.
“Don’t do this, Kat, or —“
“Or what?”
Brad stays silent. His teeth clenched and gaze hard.
“That’s what I thought,” I say. Even though I actually have no idea what that thought really is.
* * *
“You came,” Gil says softly.
“Didn’t you want me to?”
“Yes, but I didn’t think it would actually happen,” he says.
“Why did you do it? Why did you take those girls? Did you rape them?” I ask him, getting right to the point.
“No! I never touched them, not like that! I only took them because I couldn’t help myself. I never wanted to hurt them, I just needed something more to curb the cravings. Something that was just my own. I’m not that kind of person. I just like to watch, to look, that’s all.”
I look at him with what I’m sure is total disgust on my face.
“I shouldn’t have come here,” he says. “This was a mistake.”
“Come here?” I ask. “You didn’t come here; we captured you.”
“Only because I let you, I needed you to. You caught me because Ronald practically told you where to look.”
“Who’s Ronald?”
“Ronald called in the tip. I’m not mad at him for that, I’m kind of relieved to be honest. I’m tired of hiding.” He sighs and deflates back into his chair.
“Ronald knows about this?”
“He’s known all along. But he looks out for me. Even if I was capable of hurting the girls, he would have stopped me before I’d gone too far, I’m sure of it.”
“Are you saying he watched you with the girls?”
“He watches everything.”
“And you let him? He doesn’t stop you?”
“He can’t stop me, I’m stronger than he is,” Gil says.
“He’s not stronger than I am. I just let him think he is.” It’s still Gil talking, but his voice has changed and his entire demeanor is different.
