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I looked her up and down. I had observed Sofia enough to know when she was lying, and this was definitely a lie.
I reached out to her, cupped her face in my hands, and watched as she tensed her jaw in defiance. ”I don’t like lies, Sofia,” I said. ”You’re not a good actor. Tell me the truth.”
”I don’t want to.”
”Why?” I asked, not letting go of her.
”Because I think you’re going to kill me if I do,” she replied in a whisper.
It almost made me wince. I had no problem killing people, usually, but hurting her? Killing her? It was unthinkable. It was insulting.
I let go of her, scooting closer to her on the bed. ”Tell me why you think that.”
”I saw the pictures,” she said, her voice low and tight.
I froze. She had seen the pictures in my drawer. I knew it was a stupid mistake to leave them there, but I hadn’t even thought about them the night before. All I had thought about was the way she looked. I didn’t even take care of myself on the couch, no matter how much I wanted to, because I didn’t want her to walk out there and feel like she needed to do anything.
”It’s not what you think,” I said.
She hugged her knees to her chest, closing her eyes tightly. ”Are you going to kill me now?”
I shook my head. ”No,” I said. I reached out to stroke her hair, but she recoiled away from me. ”What was your plan?”
”I was going to keep it to myself,” she said. ”But I guess I’ve gotten into this habit of blurting things around you. I think fearing for my life makes me talk too much.”
I wanted to smile, but I didn't. It didn't seem appropriate. ”I promise you, it's not what you think.”
”What do you think I think?” she asked, her voice small, thin.
”I didn't kill them,” I told her. ”I...I couldn't have.”
She stared at me, her eyes wide. It was clear that she didn't believe me.
”I can prove it to you.”
”How?”
”You can't tell anyone,” I said. ”Ever. For any reason.”
She nodded, her lips pressed tightly together. She was obviously still scared. I leaned over her and opened my nightstand drawer, pulling out my multitool.
”Don't worry,” I said, looking up at her. ”This is for me. Not you. I said I wasn't going to hurt you and I meant it.”
I popped the blade attachment out of my multitool and slid the sharp edge against the top of my forearm, feeling queasy the moment that I saw blood on my skin.
Sofia gasped as she watched the blood trickle down my arm, her eyes widening in shock. ”What are you doing?” she asked, her voice shaking.
”I'm showing you that I didn't do it,” I said, holding my arm out to her, then looking away from my arm. The queasiness was turning into nausea and I knew that if I didn't sit down straight away, I might actually faint. ”I can't kill anyone because I pretty much faint at the sight of blood.”
Sofia stared at me, her eyes locked on the small wound on my arm. I knew I had her attention now, and I took advantage of the moment.
”I know it's hard to believe,” I said, trying to steady my voice. ”But I've never killed anyone. I couldn't even if I wanted to.”
Sofia was still staring at the cut on my arm, but I could sense her skepticism. ”You're right, Teo. It's hard to believe,” she said, her voice trembling. ”I've seen the pictures. I know what you're capable of.”
I shook my head. ”I don't get my hands dirty,” I said. ”I have people for that. I'm not proud of my past, but I'm not a killer.”
”And the pictures?”
