Page 103 of When I Accidentally Snagged a Serial Killer

“Yes.”

The blade trembles because my arms are shaking. “And what am I? I killed a man.”

“That is not the same thing.” Acid stains his voice.

“I stabbed him twenty-seven times.”

“In self-defense.”

“Part of me liked it!” My voice breaks. “Was that why you stayed? Why you kept watching me? Were you waiting to see what I became?”

Horror moves across his features. “God, no. Jesus Christ, Jules, what do you think I⁠—”

“Did you bring me to your home so you wouldn’t have to hunt me?”

“No.”

“How the fuck am I supposed to know that?”

“Because I’m telling you.” A dangerously low pitch in his voice.

“Because your honesty record is fantastic today.” That one hurts him. The words taste like salt to me. I hate that I want them to hurt. I hate everything.

“You said you purge filth.”

“Don’t.”

“You cut out rot.” My grip tightens. “So what happens if I’m rotten too?”

“I know you,” he insists. His chest is still heaving, but his voice becomes frighteningly steady. “I knew what your father did. I know what you did too. You survived.”

“If you’ve ever looked at me and wondered whether you might have to put me on one of those fucking boards someday, then stop pretending.”

“I never have.”

“Not once?”

“Never.”

The word strips me raw with its certainty. I move the blade closer to myself. Just enough. Gage tracks my movement with a single-minded awareness, his body shaking.

“If you’ve thought about it even once, man up and do it yourself.”

His voice comes out like gravel. “Put the fucking scythe down.”

“No.”

“Princess.”

“Don’t call me that.”

Heartbreak flashes across his face. I press harder, because rage is easier than grief, and I need it right now. “I’m a killer, Gage. Your whole fucking thing is hunting killers, right? So if I qualify, do it. Right now.”

“You don’t.”

“You said you purge filth. Cut out rot.” Fury burns through me. “So cut.”

He moves, muscles flexing with frustration or ferocity, I can’t tell which. I jerk the scythe, and he stops again. “No more lies,” I whisper. “No more games. Just fucking do it and save us both before this goes too far.”