AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How does it happen?” I ask softly, wincing at what I’m saying.
But she folds her arms. “No way. I’m not answering that question.”
“If you tell me, maybe I can help stop?—”
“You can’t.” She holds her hand up to cut off my argument. “Relax, Tor. I live to be very old, okay. There’s nothing you need to do here.”
I exhale, still wary.
What if she’s lying just to calm me down?
“Come eat dinner with me,” she adds and marches off into the kitchen without waiting for a reply.
Alone, I glance down at the plate that lured me out here in the first place. Curious, I reach down and pull the lid off.
The plate is empty.
I huff and straighten, pausing long enough to make sure all my coverings are still in place. Then, I reluctantly follow her into the kitchen.
Kendall’s seated at one end of the table. She looks up and gestures for me to take the seat opposite her. It’s already set for me, complete with a huge plate of spaghetti.
My favorite.
“Sit.”
Cautiously, I do as Kendall says, sitting and taking a bite. The flavors hit my tongue, and I make a sound of appreciation. When I look up, Kendall’s watching me with one lifted brow.
“Sorry,” I mumble.
She smirks. “I’ll take the compliment.”
We eat in silence for a few minutes, and slowly, I relax into the idea that I might co-exist with Kendall this way. If I’m careful. If I don’t let my guard down.
But the relief doesn’t last. My future stretches out before me, lonely and long. A well of sadness rises to the surface.
“Stop.”
Kendall’s tone is sharp. When I look up, I find her glaring.
“Stop what?” I ask.
“Feeling sorry for yourself.”
“I’m not?—”
“It’s all you’ve done since you came home from that stupid bar.”
I set my fork down, suddenly not hungry anymore. “I killed a girl last night.”
“It was an accident,” she reminds me, but I’m not sure that matters.
“One that could easily happen again,” I point out.
“But it won’t. You’ll be careful. We’ll figure this out. Together.”
I shake my head, thoughts crashing one into another as I try to decide how much to tell her. I’ve always kept her from the details of what I do—and the life I live as a professional poisoner. But I’m not sure I can do that anymore. And that breaks my heart.
Kendall is quiet, watching me, waiting—because she knows there’s more.
