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Elliot is on me right away. “No, no, no. Stay with us. Everything is fine.”
“Everything is fine?” I scream. “Nothingis fine.” My eyes widen when the truth hits me. “Oh my god,” I gasp. “It’s Kay.”
“What?” Elliot pushes hair out of my face. “What did she say to you earlier?”
“What she said doesn’t matter. She used the moment to slip the note in my pocket.”
Kay knows what is going around town. People’s whereabouts. What my car looks like. She could have been present every time I was somewhere.
The bitch fucking hit me with her car.
“It’s not Kay,” Ethan jumps in. “Let’s get you home. Somewhere safe where we can talk.”
“It’s Kay,” I fight back, jerking out of their holds and turning to face them. “It’s her. I’m telling you it’s her.”
“Jade,” Ethan says calmly. “You’re panicking, and I get why, but it doesn’t make sense. She needs you.”
“Does she? Or did she stop threatening me while I was working on the van, and now that I’m done, she’s ready to end me. She doesn’t fucking need me anymore.”
“Jade.” This time, his tone is nearer scolding than reassurance. “Listen to yourself. You are not making sense.”
“Why are you defending her?”
“Calm down.” His cool voice riles me up.
“When has anyone ever calmed down when being told to calm down!”
Fuck. Fuck. I’m screaming again. No one is listening to me.
I inhale a shaky breath, but it doesn’t work. I’m not calming down. I’m working myself up even more by the simple acknowledgement that I can’t control my emotions. My heart is speeding, my blood beating in my ears.
I can’t notice anyone or anything else. My vision is narrowed on Ethan and my mind is blaring a deafening alarm.He isn’t listening.
“I’m not defending her.”
“You’re defending her,” I scream, my voice raw.
Stupid. I pull at my roots, attempting to ground myself. But nothing works. I’m stupid, stupid,stupid.
I fucking hate myself when I can’t think straight.
“I need you to listen. By focusing on the wrong person, we’re letting the real threat get away. I’d be putting you in more danger by agreeing to your ludicrous accusations. This isn’t Kay’s style. She would kill you and be done with it. This is stalker shit. They’re taunting you, scaring you on purpose. They’replayingwith you, Jade.”
My head falls back as I let out a sarcastic cackle. “Of course.” I look back at him. “Of course, you’d know because that’s whatyoudo,” I accuse. “This is serial killer territory. You’re in your comfort zone.”
“My love, that’s enough.”
I ignore Elliot. “Do you play with your victims too, Ethan?” I put two hands on his chest. “I bet you’re the kind to terrify them before killing them. You cut the lights, drag your knife against the wall. Maybe stalk them for a few days. You put it on me. On your jealousy. Because they talked to me? Touched me? Insulted me? But it’s all you. It’s you and your fucked-up mind.”
The pain in his eyes should break my heart, but I’m angry. I’m hurt and I want to hurt back. Because apparently, I take a step in the right direction and ten steps back to toxicity.
I’m such a fucking loser.
“I think I’m starting to see what they feel like. Someone is coming for them, and the killer is smart enough to drive them crazy. Smart enough that when they seek help, no one fucking believes them.”
I step back. “I’ll drive myself home.”
“Jade, don’t,” Elliot calls back as I walk away. I flip him off and make sure to go through the crowd. That way they can’t find me.
