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Istaggered.Checkingfor cameras didn’t cross my mind.
“Theyear after, you blew up your uncle’s car while he was at work.Therewas a witness,"Damonrevealed.
Ihad completely forgotten about that incident.UncleMilanoften visitedMomafterNeilwas born, mostly to dump a crying baby onMomor me ifIwas around.Once, he left the baby in the freezing cold car, preoccupied with bringing in his shopping bags and showing off his newest purchases toMom.Momran outside to retrieveNeilafter finding out.Naturally,IsoakedMilan’sprecious car in gasoline the next day and lit it on fire.
“Whatdid you do to the witness?”Iasked curiously.
“Paidthem off,"Damonreplied. “Thepoint is that you aren’t always as careful as you should be.”Hepaused for a moment before a hint of a smirk appeared on his lips. “Butthat's alright becauseIlike watching over you.”
Silencehung heavy between us asIprocessedDamon'swords.Slowly,Isat up.Mymind was still filled with his revelations when my gaze landed on something on his desk.ThepictureDamonhad stolen of my parents and me skillfully restored in its original frame.
“Howdid you”
“Ibroke into your mom’s house earlier today and grabbed it,"Damoninterrupted. "Thoughtyou might prefer it in its original frame."
Wasit wrong thatIfound all this to be insanely romantic?
Breakinginto my house, especially whileIwasn’t there to defend him if he got caught, was a life-threatening risk for aMaxwell.Therewas an unwritten shoot-on-sight policy against them.
Plus,Ididn’t realizeDamonhad been playing the role of my fairy godfather for years, covering up my mistakes with his invisible magic wand.
Itried to poison my biological father at least once a month.Iconstantly locked up my cousins and family members when they annoyed me, pretendingIdid it by mistake.Itortured my uncle endlessly.Iwas the absolute worst, yetDamoncovered up my messes.Heenabled my terrible behavior instead of telling me to become a better person like everyone else.
Noone had coddled me like this in years.
Itdidn’t bother me that he had been stalking me.Itshould.Instead,Iwas grateful someone covered up my tracks.Besides,Istalked people wheneverIneeded to put them in their place.Stalkingwas necessary for gathering vital information on someone.ThefactDamondid it for years without detection was… admirable.
Mygaze shifted back to the picture on the desk. "Whydid you start following me?"Iasked softly.
“BecauseIsaw you that day, at your father’s funeral.Youlooked so damn lonely.”
Alightbulb went off in my head. “Youwere the man hiding behind the tree.”
“Icouldn’t let you grieve alone,”Damonconfessed. "Atfirst,Ijust wanted to ensure you were alright."
“Andlater?”
“Icouldn’t stop watching you.”
Myheart slammed violently against my chest. “Mycar,” was allIcould muster.
“Whatabout it?”
“Whydo you own the same car as me?”
Hechortled. “Honestly, it made me feel closer to you.”
“That’sall?”
“Andjerking off inside the car made me feel like you were there with me.”
Ihuffed, though an unwilling smirk graced my face. “Thatdoesn’t explain why you helped me all these years?”
Damonshrugged. “Helpingyou gave me purpose.”
“Butwhy?”Ipressed.
Helooked at me for a long moment. “Youmight not believe yourself to be a very good person,Poppy, butIwouldn't be the personIam today if it weren't for you.You’rethe reasonI’mgood.Helpingyou gave me solace, andIthoughtIcould feel that again by doing the same for others.”
