Page 203 of The Carnage We Keep

A few minutes later, Bella is back in bed with her book when I walk into the bedroom.

She glances up at me and flashes a devious little smile at me.

“Did you achieve optimal toothpaste density?”

I raise my eyebrows at her. “You do remember that I’m very good at killing people and making the bodies disappear, right?”

“Please. I’m way too cute to murder.” She winks at me before her brows arch mischievously. “Do you weigh your floss, too?"

"Floss is measured in length, not weight."

She stares at me. "Oh my God. You do."

"Forty-five centimeters."

"Damiano!!!”

I lean against the doorframe and gaze at the mess of hair piled on top of her head as she giggles and returns to her book.

“I have other weird things.”

That gets her attention immediately.

Bella grins impishly as she closes the book and sits up straighter in bed.

“Fuck yes,” she giggles. “Tell me everything. Gimme gimme gimme!”

So I do.

I tell her how my shower water has to be exactly 112 degrees, and that I check it with a thermometer. That after I take them off I fold every piece of dirty clothing before it goes in the hamper. That I always wash my body in the same order, then go over every inch of my skin with a scraper, then shave most of my body with a straight razor, then do it all again with an exfoliating mitt.

"The dirty clothes?" she whispers in breathless delight. "You fold your dirty clothes?"

"They fit in the basket better."

“Wow…” She shakes her head. “I legit am at a loss for words.”

“Well, that’s a first.”

She grins and flips me off as I walk over to the bed and sit on the edge of it. But then she must notice that I’m struggling to get the next words out, because her smile fades.

“Hey…you okay?”

“There’s…” I clear my throat. “There’s a reason for all the shit I do.”

Bella slides her hand over the sheets to entwine her fingers with mine.

“Cenzo mentioned my baptism in blood,” I continue haltingly.

“Dame, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t⁠—”

“I do, though,” I murmur. “I want you to know everything. Not just the weird shit, but the reasons for it.”

She nods slowly, her brow knitted.

"I was thirteen when it happened,” I say slowly. “I already knew what I was. I’d already killed before.”

Bella doesn’t ask, but I tell her anyway.