Page 14 of Deceiver

“Leave this room, and you won’t like what I do.”

“Remove your hand,” I grind out, my voice shaky.

Colt jerks me closer and it hurts. “Do not fuckin’ dictate to me, lady.”

Fucking pig.

I liked him, until now.

“Let. Me. Go.”

“Release her,” Western orders.

Colt glares at Western, but he does as he asks. He releases me.

“Youwilltell us what we want to hear or we’re goin’ to have abigfuckin’ problem.”

Western’s voice is like a whip.

I’m done.

So done.

I turn slowly, my stomach in knots as I look him in the eye. “You know what, we already have a problem. We have a problem because not once have you stopped to listen to me. Did I screw up? Yes, I did. But I did it because I thought it might just save you. I’m walking out of here with you on my back, but what does it matter, my life is far from safe. The fact that you can stand there and look at me like what we shared was nothing, is heartless. I get it, you had a rough time, but are you so ruined that you can’t even show any kind of emotion for the life of someone you once cared about?”

He doesn’t say anything.

As always.

“I was falling in love with you.” I laugh, bitterly. “Now I say it, it seems pathetic. I was warned, God, I was warned by everyone around me, but I went ahead anyway because I believed that the world had wronged you. Now, you’re no better than them.”

His face flashes with something I haven’t seen before—shock.

“What is it,Nightmare,” I say, tipping my head to the side, “never thought you were capable of being loved? Well, youwere... until youweren’t.”

This time, I leave.

They don’t stop me.

I know I probably shocked them all.

Good. Maybe this time they’ll understand.

I’m not waiting to see if they will.

No, I’m going to finish this, because I have nothing left to lose.

~*~*~*~

AKNOCK ON MY DOORhas me pausing, not sure if answering it is a safe option. I’ve come home, just to get a few things, and Leo is outside. Maybe I accidentally locked him out? I place down the bag of clothes I just packed and walk over, opening the door. In front of me, Leo is standing beside a police officer. He isn’t familiar to me, a face I haven’t seen before, and he’s only quite young, maybe early thirties.

“He showed me his credentials,” Leo assures me when my eyes dart to his. “He’s safe, but I’m here anyway, just in case he’s not.”

The officer looks to Leo, with an expression that is less than impressed.

“Bonnie. My name is Ryan, I’m a detective. I was wondering if you would mind having a word with me?”

A detective.