Page 67 of Die for You

Side to side.

The faces of every life I’ve taken flash before me, their mouths twisted wide open, screaming for help.

This is hell.

This is where I belong.

“Come back to me,tesoro mio.”

But I can’t.

Gianna’s blood runs through me.

And it runs through Lettie’s veins.

What does that mean?

Have I created a monster, for I am a monster?

I am the spawn of the devil.

I thought nothing was worse than being the daughter of a serial killer and a nun.

This, however, is so much worse.

“Lettie? Who’s Lettie?”

Her name brings me back to the now, and I’m refusing to slip away because I can’t. I must fight. It’s a mother’s job to protect her child.

I won’t be my…mother.

I won’t.

Now, it’s my job to be the mother Gianna was not.

The noise softens, and I focus on Lettie’s innocent smile. Her trusting eyes. I focus on the feeling of being her mom.

Peering up at Lenny, I release the guilt and anger and whisper, “She’s your daughter.”

And now, it’s Lenny’s turn to question everything he thought he knew.

“My da-daughter? What?What? No. I don’t…understand.”

Tears stream down my cheeks because the truth is supposed to set one free.Yet all it’s done is confirm that I’ll forever be repenting for my sins.

He doesn’t speak.

I hear his determined footsteps pace back and forth. I need time to compose myself before I look at him.

He mumbles incoherently.

It seems we’ve both been delivered a bombshell.

I can’t comprehend any of this.

It seems so far-fetched. How could Gianna do this? If what my “father” says is true, I’ve been siding with the person I’ve been hunting my whole life.

That’s the reality check I need to measure my breaths and calm the fuck down.