Page 65 of He Sees You

She traces patterns on my chest—letters, I realize.

Writing words on my skin.

"What are you writing?"

"Mine," she says simply. "If I'm yours, you're mine too."

"I've been yours since the moment I read your first book. Since I recognized a kindred spirit hiding behind fiction."

She's quiet for a moment. "Tell me about them. Your parents."

I tense, but her hand continues its soothing motion. "They adopted us when I was thirteen and Juliette was eleven. Everyone thought they were saints. Rich couple taking in damaged foster kids."

"But they weren't saints."

"They were monsters wearing human masks. Richard liked control. Patricia liked to watch. They had very specific ideas about discipline, about teaching us to be grateful for their generosity."

"They hurt you."

"They tried to break us. There's a difference." I pull her closer. "Juliette was younger, more fragile. I made sure most of their attention was on me. Better me than her."

"How did they die?"

"Carbon monoxide leak. Tragic accident. All the windows sealed shut, no way to escape once it started." My voice is flat, emotionless. "I was away at school. Juliette was at a friend's house. Perfect alibis."

She doesn't ask if it was really an accident.

She knows.

Just like she knows about Roy, about the others.

And she's still here, naked in my arms, choosing me.

"My turn," she says. "Tell me about Rebecca Harrison."

I'm surprised she knows the name. "Juliette told you?"

"She warned me you were intense. That Rebecca left town because of you."

"Rebecca left town because I showed her what her boyfriend really was. David Reese liked to hurt women but was smart enough to make it look consensual. Rebecca didn't believeme until I showed her the videos of him with other girls. Unconscious girls."

"You killed him."

"Car accident. Brake lines are so unreliable on old cars." I stroke her hair. "Rebecca couldn't handle knowing what I'd done for her. She was grateful but terrified. So, I let her go."

"You won't let me go."

"No. Because you're not terrified. You're not grateful. You're complicit." I tilt her chin up to look at me. "You know what I am, and you're choosing to stay. That makes you mine forever."

"Forever's a long time."

"Not long enough."

A sound outside makes us both freeze—a car engine, getting closer.

I move to the window, careful to stay out of sight—Sheriff's cruiser.

"It's my father," Celeste says, quickly pulling on her clothes. "How did he?—"