Page 17 of Unhinged Kallie

“Next time, make sure they don’t have time to scream,” he said.

Chapter Seven

CAIN

I snuck into Carter’s room and stared down at his sleeping face. He looked so innocent, but even though he tried to hide it, he’d been in my room again. That needed to stop.

I spun the large hunting knife in my fingers and leaned down, covering his mouth with my hand. His eyes snapped open, and he let out a muffled scream. He grabbed my arm like he had a chance of pulling it away. I held the knife so he could see it in the night light’s soft glow, and his eyes went to the shiny blade. They were wide with terror, his chest heaving with each breath.

“Stop trying to scream,” I said, and he halted struggling. “Good.” I brought the blade to his throat so he could feel the coolness of the metal against his skin, but not hard enough to leave a mark. I thought he would break down in tears, but he stared up at me and didn’t move. Whatever happened next, he’d resigned himself to his fate.

“I’m going to remove my hand, and you’ll remain quiet. Understood?” He nodded. “Very good.”

I lifted my hand from his mouth and placed it beside his body. I put the knife on the nightstand so he knew he still had nowhere to run.

“Now, I’m going to ask you a question. Were you in my special room again? I will warn you that bad things happen to those that lie to me.”

He swallowed so loud I could hear the effort it took. “Yes, Sir.”

“Even though you know that room is off-limits?”

“Yes, Sir,” Carter said again, his voice hardly a whisper.

“Why?”

He shrugged and looked away from me. I moved fast and had the tip of the knife under his chin. He yelped in fear and lifted his head as he stared at me but didn’t try to escape.

“Do not look away from me. Why did you go in there?”

“I don’t know. I think you’re cool.”

“Cool?” I cocked my eyebrow at him. I’d been many things over the years, but cool was a new one for me. I removed the blade.

“Yes, Sir. But I didn’t see anything I wasn’t allowed to. I stepped inside the door and then left.” This I already knew from my private security camera that wasn’t linked to the house wifi. I’d learned from my mistake and wanted a backup.

“But you know I do bad things, which puts me in a difficult spot. Kirby doesn’t want me to kill you, and that is the only reason you’re still breathing. Unlike other people, I don’t care how young you are. To me, you are a threat to be eliminated.”

He shook his head. “I’m not a threat, I promise.”

“Just you knowing is a threat,” I said.

“No. I wouldn’t say anything. I promise.” He crossed his heart which was ridiculous. What was that supposed to do?

“How come?”

He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth as he thought. “Because you and Aunt Kirby are my home, and I love Kallie and want to protect her.”

“You love her and want to protect her, you say?”

He nodded furiously, his mop of hair flopping as he did. “Yes, uh huh.”

“Okay, I’m going to trust you to hold up your end of the deal to protect Kallie, which means protecting everyone under this roof, including me. I’ll protect you, and you keeping quiet protects me. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

I stood up, twirling the blade for show, then put it through my belt. “I want you to remember this conversation. My Sunshine and Angel are the only two things that matter to me. If you ever do anything to hurt either of them, it will be the last thing you ever do.” Reaching out, I ruffled his hair like Kirby did. “Goodnight, Carter. Sweet dreams.”

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