Page 16 of Misery
"Why?"
Because I've been watching you for seven months.
Because I know your coffee order and your favorite song and the way you bite your lip when you're anxious.
Because you're mine even if you don't know it yet.
But I can't say any of that. "You're under the club's protection. That means you're under mine."
"Is that why you're always at the bar? Protection duty?"
Eh, I need to be careful.
The last thing I want to do is reveal too much. "It's a good place to drink, keep an eye on things."
She takes another sip. Liquid courage. "Were you watching me tonight? Is that how you knew about the messages?"
"I saw you drop the glass. Saw how scared you looked. When you disappeared into the storage room, I followed." True enough. She doesn't need to know about the months before.
"What about the blood? The marks outside?"
"Some people needed to learn about boundaries."
"Did you... did you kill them?"
"Do you want the truth?"
She thinks about it. Really considers. "Yes."
"Then yes. Two men were waiting by your car. They had zip ties and a van. They were going to take you." I meet her eyes. "So, I took them first."
She should be horrified. Should run. Should call me a monster.
Instead, she says, "Good."
We drink in silence for a moment.
The fire pops, wind rattles the windows.
Her phone, still in my pocket, buzzes occasionally.
I ignore it.
Let them threaten.
Let them rage.
They won't find her here.
"Can I tell you something?" Her voice is small. Fourth glass, making her loose. "Something I've never told anyone?"
"Yeah."
"When they broke into the apartment—Los Coyotes—I knew I was going to die." She stares into her wine. "Not thought.Knew. Could see it happening. Almost like Ifeltit. And part of me... part of me was okay with it."
"Elfe—"
"No, let me finish." She takes a shaky breath. "They threw me against the counter. One of them, the bigger one, he got on top of me. Started ripping my shirt. Said he'd go slow. Make it last. That they had hours before anyone would miss me."
