Page 79 of The Drowned Woman
“There’s only one reason why you’re alive.” He drew a foot back and kicked her in the side. “But there’s plenty of ways to punish you without killing you. You might want to keep that in mind, Leah.”
“Jack, stop it.” Risa shook free of her hood and even in the dim light from the open door her furious glare held the power to make Jack forget about Leah. He stepped toward Risa, a small grunt of pain as he put his weight on his left ankle.
“Haven’t you done enough?” Risa demanded. “Untie me and let her go.”
“When did you know? How long?” He sounded angry that his deception had been discovered.
“I’m not stupid. Or maybe I am. Maybe I should have figured it out a long time ago.”
He pulled a knife from his pocket and flicked the blade open. Leah tried to lunge for him, but couldn’t even make it to standing, her muscles were all twisted into painful knots.
He stopped and turned to scowl down at her. “Don’t make me dose you again, Leah.”
“What did you use? Chloroform?”
“Nothing so crude and imprecise. It was a 6.75 percent concentration of monochloroethane. I had to titrate it precisely as anything over 8 percent is lethal.” He adjusted his grip on the knife. “Relax. I’m not going to hurt Risa.” He stepped toward Risa, focusing on her. “I’d never hurt you.”
“No. You just wanted to cage me like a canary. To sing your praises, something like that?”
He crouched down and cut her bonds, then gently helped her to her feet, one arm wrapped around her waist, keeping the stun gun close to her body. “Maybe. Yes. But only because I wanted to take care of you. I never loved anyone the way that I love you.”
“How can I be sure of that, Jack? When everything else was lies? How do I know what’s true and what’s stage dressing?”
“Me. I’m here, right here. The man you fell in love with.”
“I fell in love with Jack. Not Chaos.”
“No. You see the truth in people, Risa. That’s your gift. So when you fell in love with me, when you saw me, you saw my true self. You fell in love with all of me. I’m more than the man you call Chaos, more than Jack O’Brien.”
He raised his hands, not to strike her, but to emphasize his point. “Robert Louis Stevenson called it Mr. Hyde. But this need, this drive, this urge I have, it isn’t uncommon. Some men turn it on their families, abuse them. Others pick fights in bars. Many allow it to consume them in the form of addiction or being so competitive at work that they’ll ruin lives to climb to the top.” He shrugged. “I found another path.”
As he spoke, Risa leaned her weight so that in order to face her, Jack turned his back on Leah. Leah struggled to regain her feet but could barely manage to breathe through the pain that consumed her.
“You’re saying you’re like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? A split personality that doesn’t know what the other half is doing?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m in complete control at all times. But so was Dr. Jekyll. Hechoseto release Mr. Hyde, to vent all those repressed feelings of violence and rage. He did that so he could be a better Dr. Jekyll.”
“You’re trying to be a better man by killing strangers?” Her voice was taut with disdain.
“Honey, I know this is a lot to take in. But I’m still the man you fell in love with. After all, I could have run. I risked everything to come back. For you.”
“You want me to come with you? As your hostage? As the poor, sick woman who depends on you for everything? Isn’t that just another game, another living lie?”
“No. Come with me as my partner. My equal. I’ve never met anyone as smart or beautiful as you, Risa. You’re wasted here, telling other people’s stories. Isn’t it high time you lived a life worthy of legend? A story people will talk about for generations to come.”
Leah barely caught all his words, focusing instead of getting up. Using the railing for support, she clawed her way upright, despite the pain. Silently she crept up one step, and caught Risa’s eye. Leah continued trying to blend into the shadows so Jack wouldn’t notice the movement behind him.
“My story? Or a bit role in yours?” Risa asked. Then she met his gaze head on, took his face in both of her palms. “What if I want to take control this time, what if I want to take care of you for a change?”
“You mean, keep me safe from danger? Hide me? While you—”
“While I have some fun. I mean, why is it always men who are free to explore their dark side? Why not a woman?”
His breath caught. Leah cheered Risa’s ingenuity—it was exactly the right thing to say to gain Jack’s complete attention. She used the diversion to make it past the halfway mark.
“I could teach you,” Jack said. “So many things I could teach you.”
“And I you. See, that’s what really upsets me, Jack. That you didn’t trust me—”
