Page 101 of Kiss of Deceit

She cleared her throat, catching my eye. “You know the rules, Kole. You have to talk during these appointments.”

“I know how it works.”

She frowned, tapping her pen against the folder. “Is your bar having issues?”

“No.”

“The intern?”

My heart skipped. “What?”

“Dani,” she said, a small smile forming on her lips from getting a reaction out of me. “Your roommate. From what others say, you also share a bed with her.”

“That’s none of your damn business,” I gritted out.

“Everything in this town is my business.” She flipped through some papers in the folder. “Tell me about Dani.” I let silence fill the air, and after a couple seconds, she glanced up, narrowing her eyes. “Are you dating her?”

I checked my watch. “Is the hour over yet?”

“You’re not leaving until?—”

“You’re new here,” I cut her off. “I understand it’s your job to see which of us are the lucky few who get to earn freedom again. I know I won’t be leaving, so this is pointless.”

“Do you want to stay?” she pressed. “Because you like the intern?”

“I’ve been here longer than anyone here,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “This has nothing to do with her.”

Lies.I didn’t give a fuck if she could see through my bullshit or not. Natalie had been tolerable. She treated me more as an acquaintance than a patient. Even with her, it didn’t matter how nice she was, the people in this town didn’t trust her. The therapist was the only way out. If they wanted freedom, they had to convince the person in this room.

Susan’s first statement had been spot on. I was more than agitated. It had been more than a week since I found Dani in the woods. When she admitted she killed Tristin and Leon the next day, and we spent hours just talking, I believed something changed. We connected. I revealed some of my past because she was the first person I wanted to open up to.

But now? She was attempting to be subtle, but there was no denying it. I could count on one hand how many times she initiated a conversation with me in the last eight days. If I was inthe kitchen, she’d make an excuse to go to her room. Every night, she still came to my bar, but was back to sitting with Miles and the other interns instead of at the counter with me.

I didn’t fucking understand it. Did she regret telling me what happened with Tristin and Leon? Was she worried I would tell her secret?

Susan clicked her tongue, her eyes trailing down my tatted arms before she met my gaze again. “Natalie’s notes reveal you were never much of a talker. But I’m not Natalie. I run things differently.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Do you?”

“Yes,” she clipped out, unnerved by my sudden confidence. “My notes will reflect that you refuse to talk to me.”

An arrogant smirk grew on my lips. “I’m sure Natalie already did that. Yet here I am.”

Her glare turned frigid. “The others in this town respect you. For some reason, they want you to remain here.”

“They?” I cocked my head. “Who? Your bosses?”

She ignored my mocking question. “You’ve been spending a lot of time at the station.”

“Harry made me a deputy. It’s my job.”

“Do you enjoy working on the case?”

“Sure.”

“Does it excite you?” She studied my expression as she asked her questions. “Does it make you think of your own crimes you committed?”

I scowled, disgust crawling through me. “You think I’m getting off on the murders?”