Page 95 of Merciless Obsession

“No wonder he’s gotten so many noise complaints,” Ziora said. “Listen to how loud the music is and all that foot traffic. I would go crazy if he was my neighbor.”

“Good thing we’re about to be doing his neighbors a favor then.”

Her head faced me. “Do you enjoy killing?”

I searched her face to see if it was a trick question, but I quickly realized she was serious.

“What if I say I do?” I leaned back in the leather seat.

“I wouldn’t be shocked.”

“No?” I raised a brow.

“No. I saw how your eyes lit up at that barn when you killed those guys. Even when you were trying to get information out of Titan. You never flinched.”

“The first time I held a gun I felt an indescribable rush. The first time I shot someone and saw the life bleed from their eyes I felt like I was high. Then when I got Wilma and used her for the first time, I think I nutted. The moment she connected with flesh, and hearing the bones crack…” My smile grew. “I knew I found my weapon of choice. It was exhilarating. So it’s not that I do or don’t enjoy killing, I just find it entertaining.”

“So do you have the urge to kill all the time?”

My eyes bounced around her face. “No. I learned long ago how to control my violent urges. Do I feel anything when I kill? No. Do I feel guilty because I can take a life without a bit of remorse? No. I like who and how I am. Keeps life interesting.”

There was no need to lie to Ziora. She already knew what I did and was capable of.

“I—” The sound of obnoxious laughing and talking caused her words to halt. We looked forward and saw two guys and two girls walking away from the house. It was clear they all were drunk and maybe even high. The four stumbled to a parked car a couple feet in front of the truck.

I checked the time; it was almost one in the morning.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to even say about that,” Ziora said, circling back to our conversation.

“Does it make you scared of me?”

“I’m not scared of anything.”

I smirked. “Does it make you want to keep running from me?” I reached over and pulled one of her curls that was in a ponytail. “Because we’ve already established I’ll hurt someone for you. I’ll hurt someone over you. But I won’t harm you, you just have to stop pushing me away.”

“I don’t let people get close to me for a reason. And then you’re sointense. When I’m around you I lose focus on what’s important.”

“And what’s important?”

“Avenging my sister’s death.”

“That’s what we’re doing. What’s the problem with doing it together?”

Her lips tucked into her mouth. “How did you know I was at the party and to dress like the Joker?”

I licked my lips and surveyed the area before focusing on the house. Movement behind the blinds showed everyone was still lively in the house.

“If you answer a question for me, I’ll tell you.”

Out the corner of my eyes I watched her cut her eyes at me. “What question?”

“Why did you spend two weeks in a psych ward two different times?”

“How did you learn about that? Wait! Did you have Emmet hack my fucking medical records?”

I faced her and she did not look happy. “I saw the pills in your medicine cabinet and on your nightstand the night I popped up. I was curious.”

“So instead of asking me you invaded my privacy?”