Page 88 of Soft Tissue Damage

“It’s okay, darlin’,” I coax her. “Just tell me what happened.”

“I st-stabbed Aunt Astrid. Three times, I think. Maybe more. Aunt Frieda ran away, but she hit her head and fell down.”

That tracks with what I saw on their bodies, but what the hell happened here tonight to make my sweet Elena snap and do something so violent? “Can you tell me why you did it?” I ask gently.

But her confession has turned her white with panic. “I’m never going to see you and Rosie again.”

“Would it matter to you, not seeing us ever again?”

Tears pour down her cheeks. “I’d feel like I were dead. It’s the worst thing I can imagine.” Elena breaks down sobbing as though the shackles are already around her wrists, the jury has convicted her, and she’s being led away to prison for the rest of her life.

I press a kiss to her forehead, and whisper, “What if I told you that you can have both of us, me and Rosie, and I will love you and protect you for the rest of my life?”

Elena stares up at me, her blue eyes filled with confusion. “What?”

“And our baby, too. You’re pregnant, aren’t you? I found the pregnancy test.”

“I am,” she confesses in a scared whisper. “I’m having your baby.”

For a sweet moment, I press my forehead to hers and close my eyes. “Darlin’, those are the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard. We’re going to be a family, the four of us. We’re going to be so happy together.”

Her eyes are red from crying and filled with fear. “But how can we? I’ve committed a horrible crime. The police are going to find out it was me who killed my aunts.”

“Are they? I don’t think so,” I say nonchalantly.

Elena stares at me in confusion.

“I’ll get rid of the bodies for you. No one will ever know.”

“Why would you do that for me? How do you even know how to do that? You’ll get into so much trouble. You’re a good man, and I can’t let you do this.”

I take a deep breath.

It’s now or never.

I take my backpack off my shoulder and reach inside. “You were truthful with me, Elena. I’m going to be truthful with you.”

I pull something over my face and look at Elena through the eye holes. I know she’s seen the Red Mask Killer in the news. Her wide eyes run over my masked face, and her lips part.

“Are you going to run from me, darlin’?”

She thinks about this. “If I run, you’ll chase me.”

“Yes, I will. But I don’t want to. My heart will wither as I chase you, along with my dearest hope.”

Elena reaches up and touches the mask, stroking the shiny red surface with the tips of her fingers. “What’s your dearest hope?”

“That the woman I love can look upon my true face and love me back.”

She contemplates me for a long time. “The people you killed. Did they deserve it?”

I tilt my head to one side, considering my answer. “That’s an interesting question. I’m not some kind of vigilante, if that’s what you’re hoping. I’m not motivated by a sense of justice, but I picked people who I’ve long thought are worthless and don’t deserve to be here. But I’m no better than they are after what I’ve done. I’ll tell you a secret, Elena.” I lean closer, and whisper, “I haven’t felt one touch of guilt. No remorse lives in my heart. Only pleasure.My only regret is that I didn’t start killing sooner, but I guess I needed a good reason to start.”

“What reason was that?”

My eyes caress her face. “You.”

I expect Elena to reel back in horror, but all that registers on her face is mild surprise. “Me?”