Page 118 of Kiss of Deceit

“They have measures in place. Cameras. Strict protocols. It’s not free like the town is. If trouble happens, those involved get kicked out of the program and locked down in maximum security.”

This was surreal. The local bartender I came to know was so much more involved than I could have imagined. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

“You have pictures of them?” I whispered, my heart beating faster. “The inmates in the prison?”

“I have everything,” he said softly.

I set down the bowl, reaching for the laptop. The mattress shifted under me, and a second later, Kole’s body pressed against mine when he reached over and grabbed my wrist.

“Not tonight. You need sleep before we go to the station.”

I turned to glare at him, frustration bubbling. “I’m fine.”

“My computer isn’t going anywhere, Dani. Neither are the people in the prison. It can wait one more day.” His grip stayed around my wrist as we stared at each other. “I can guarantee we won’t be sleeping tomorrow night with the message the killer left. You need at least a couple hours tonight.”

He was being logical and while I appreciated it, I wasn’t in the same state of mind. If my attacker was here, then I needed to fucking know. But if he was possibly in the prison, how would I have seen him here in town?

“You must still have questions about the town. Ask me,” he tried to convince me.

“I thought you wanted me to sleep.”

He rolled away from me, getting to his feet. I watched him cross the room, flicking my light off. It took a bit for my eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness as he got back into bed. My curtains were open, but the moon was covered by clouds. He climbed back into bed, laying down next to me, staying above the blankets again.

“Earlier when you first found the room, you told me there was no fixing this—fixing what we had.” He paused. “Is that still how you feel? Or did finding out my truth change things?”

I stared through the darkness as he waited for my answer. Clearly, it changed things since he was laying in my bed. But what could this become?

He spoke up again. “Are you worried about the secrets you’re still holding? You think I’ll see you differently?”

I forced out a small laugh. “Everyone has secrets, Kole.”

“You know all of mine.”

My stomach fluttered. “Really? Everything you’ve told me is true?”

“Every word.”

“Even the story about why you don’t do relationships?”

He sighed. “Yes. For the couple years I had my shit together once I moved, I had a girlfriend. Was it real love? I’m coming to terms that it probably wasn’t. But it was the most normalcy I ever had. I fucking craved it. Then she cheated—for months behind my back.”

An ache settled in my chest. “She hurt you. Differently than your mom, but it hit you the same. Your trust was shattered.”

“Always reading people, aren’t you?” His voice was laced with amusement. “But you’re right.”

“Apparently, I should have chosen a different career path,” I muttered, pulling the blankets over my chest. “I’m horrible at it.”

“I disagree.”

“I am in a town full of criminals, and I never picked up on it.”

“You did,” he argued. “You noticed the small things. Questioned them. No one would be able to wrap their heads around the truth because it’s not a regular part of society.”

My mind raced with all the little pestering doubts I’d had since coming here. “No one else wondered why there are no children here?”

“A couple did. But they were easily swayed. Unlike you, who went sleuthing around the factory at night.”

My stomach twisted. “There are crimes I noticed were absent when I was looking through the files.”