“Desi, I—”
“You went to the library?” I shook my head. “You think I’m a psychopath?”
“No!” She leapt up and tried to touch me, but I stepped out of her reach.
There were so many, all with the same theme. Criminals and their mental status.
“Well, I don’t know,” she answered honestly, finally finding words. “You just seem so cool and collected about—”
“About my job?” I sneered. “That pays for everything? That keeps you comfortable?”
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to understand you more.”
“There’s nothing to understand.” I grabbed my shirt, pulling it on. “I’m not fucking psychotic.” I stormed out, not waiting for her to follow me. I put my shoes on and fled to my car. I pulled out of her drive and got onto the road. I drove with no direction in mind.
She thought I was crazy. Heartless.
How could I be heartless, when everything I’d done, I’d done with her in mind? Every bullet I’d put in someone’s brain, I was thinking of her and the money I’d spend on her. The life I was saving up to give her. And yet, she was worried that I was psychotic?
I drove until the gas light came on, and then I stopped and refueled. I pulled out and found a park nearby. It was dark and empty, much like my soul. I sat on the hood of my car and tried to process everything.
Scout thought I was psychotic because of how quiet I was about my new career path. But I was only quiet because I didn’t want to involve her. If only she knew what I was saving her from. Not just police or other humans, but my family, Aleida’s family, and any other vampire clan that I may have pissed off.
How could I prove to her that I wasn’t cold and unfeeling? That this was just a job and nothing more? I needed to show her what it was like. Only then could she realize it wasn’t as scary as she imagined.
I got back in my car and started the trek back to her house. It was nearly four in the morning when I pulled into her drive. Her living room light was on, which gave me hope that I wasn’t waking her up. I knocked, and after a long moment, the door flew open and Scout threw her arms around me.
“You came back!”
“I did. And I’d like to talk about the books.”
“Desi, you’re not a psychopath.” She hugged me as tightly as she could.
“I know that, but I don’t think you do.”
“What are we going to do then?” She pulled away.
I nodded to my car. “Come on, I’m going to take you on a job.”
