Page 433

Then to me.

I don't reach for her, even though every part of me wants to.

“You killed him.”

“Yes.” My voice sounds flat.

Her throat moves.

I wait.

This is the part where she backs away. The part I've known was coming.

People don't stay when they see what I am.

Callie looks at Mercer again, then down at herself.

When she looks up at me, her eyes are wet. “I knew you’d come for me.”

My chest tightens as I wait for the shoe to drop. For her to tell me I’m a killer. A monster.

“Callie—”

She takes a step closer.

I don't move.

“You think I'm afraid of you.”

I don’t say anything.

Her eyes narrow. “You do.”

“You just watched me kill someone.”

“I watched you stop the man who kidnapped me.” Her voice cracks. “Who hurt me.”

My jaw tightens. “You don't know everything.”

“No.” She reaches for my free hand.

I let her take it.

“You don't know everything about me, either.”

My breath catches.

Callie looks down at my gun, then back at me. “I know enough.”

“You shouldn't want me. I’m not good enough for you.”

“Stop telling me what I should do.”

Despite everything, I almost laugh.

Her fingers tighten around mine. “I spent the last however-many-hours getting chased through the woods by a psychopath. I'm tired. I'm bleeding. I'm pretty sure I have a concussion. My shoes are ruined. And I really, really want a shower.”

“Callie.”