Page 27 of Psychotic Faith

My gun safe sits in my closet, the combination my mother's death date. The lock clicks open, and the weight of the weapon feels both foreign and right in my trembling hands. All that legal research, and here I am reaching for my gun like some vigilante. Like Luca. The thought makes me sick. Am I becoming him? But Janine is in that theater right now, in the dark with T.N., probably confused why his hand keeps moving higher on her thigh, probably too polite to say stop.

My phone explodes as I shove the gun into my purse.

"What are you doing?"

I ignore it, searching for my keys, my hands shaking so bad I drop them twice.

"Faith. Answer me."

How does he know? Cameras. Of course there are cameras. Part of me hates the invasion, but another part feels safer knowing he's watching. Even now, even as I'm about to do something stupid.

A third text message arrives. "You're putting on the dress. Why?"

Still ignoring him, I grab my phone and keys.

"Where are you going?"

"That's your gun from the safe."

He knows everything. Every move I make, every breath I take. But he's not here. He can't stop me.

"Wait for me."

The texts come faster now, still controlled but urgent:

"Faith, stop."

"Whatever you're planning."

"Three minutes away."

"Do not leave that apartment."

"I'll handle Neumann myself."

"Just wait."

But I can't wait. Every second I hesitate is another second Janine is alone with him. Another second for him to do to her what he's done to all the others. What he did to my mother.

I burst through my apartment door, heels clicking against the hallway floor as I run for the stairs. Three minutes, he said. That means I have maybe two before he's here, before he stops me, before his protection becomes imprisonment.

The parking garage echoes with my footsteps, the red dress making it hard to run but I don't care. I've already lost too long. I won't lose another minute.

My phone vibrates nonstop as I fumble with my car keys.

"I see you in the garage."

"Stop."

"Faith, listen."

"He's dangerous when cornered."

"Let me handle this."

"Get back here. Now."

"FAITH."