Page 70 of Make You Mine

My wife,

You said you wanted a ring, so I got you one.

How’s that for romantic?

I had a lot of fun picking it out for you…can’t say the same about the guy I got it from.

But, hey, this is what happens when you play with my feelings, Madelyn.

People get hurt.

You should be more aware of that.

He touched what’s mine.

And let it be clear, I won’t let others touch you.

Last night, it was his turn. Next, it might be someone you actually care about.

Start behaving.

Love,

Your husband.

I lick my lips, but my mouth is completely dry.

What the fuck does this guy want? Why me? From everyone in the whole damn world?

I refold the paper and toss it into the drawer along with the very real human finger in the box.

The ring that seemed familiar before is now crystal clear. Lucien was wearing rings.

The same Lucien that Joseph was asking about, fearing he had gone missing.

Fuuuuuck.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Pressing my hands to my temples and massaging them, before realizing I’m touching my face with the same hands I touched a severed human finger.

I jump out of my seat and stand up, rushing through the halls and into the bathroom.

My stomach swirls. I open the tap and push as much soap out of the dispenser as I can, rubbing my hands clean until they hurt.

He has crossed a line. The psycho that’s following me killed someone.

Because of me.

I keep rubbing the soap, trying to scrape away every single memory, every single thought that’s haunting me.

The silver lining, if there is any, is that Joseph isn’t my stalker. He wouldn’t hurt Lucien and then come to me asking about him if he did it. That’s fucked up.

There are things he’s done that have made me wonder if he’s that bad. If he weren’t so creepy, I may have even found it thoughtful. But this last trick crossed every line possible.

I have no idea what to do. I can’t go to the police. I’ve got no suspect, and I bet you anything I was the last person to see Lucien, as Joseph said.

It could all fall on me. After all, they say that often, criminals try to insert themselves into the investigations.

No. I have to keep my mouth shut.