Page 109 of Compulsion
They did.True story.
“Help me to save these two.Help me to stop him.Help me to catch him.”
Ah, but he didn’t just want the perp caught.Atlas wanted him dead in the ground.
“Please,” Lily added.“Please, for me.”
“As if I could refuse you anything.”He snapped his fingers.“Let’s see how fast they jump.”Voice bored, he added, “And if they refuse, then I’ll just send in my own security to protect your poor, lost lambs.”
“If I’m following along correctly, one of those lambs just got out of prison for armed robbery,” Desmond reminded him.The first time his friend had spoken since climbing off the staircase.“Not so sure that one counts as anyone’s poor, lost little lamb.”
“He’sgonna be the target,” Gage suddenly exclaimed as he whirled and rushed for the door.“Sonofabitch, that makes more sense.You can’t pick, Lily, then fine, I will.Westin Blanchard is already guilty as fuck.He’s the next target.The killer is going after him.”He yanked open the front door.
Sharon raced after him.She darted a few, desperate glances over her shoulder before she hurried outside.
“Thank you for the visit,” Atlas called.“A pleasure to see you both.Do come back.”
The door slammed closed behind them.
Lily blocked his path.“Help me save them, Atlas.”
“Ah, Lily, don’t you know…I’d do anything for you?”Save them…and still kill the bastard who made the mistake of bringing you into this nightmare.He smiled at her.
“Oh, no,” Lily whispered.“Your dimples are out.”
He winked at her.“Let’s kill the bastard.”
“Atlas…”
“Catch,” he corrected.“Let’scatchthe bastard.So sorry.Slip of the tongue.”
She grabbed his arms.Shot onto her toes even as she yanked him toward her.Stunning him, thrilling him, she pressed a hot, fast kiss to his lips.“No, it wasn’t.”Her tongue dipped into his mouth.Tasted him.“Thatwas a slip of the tongue.”
Damn straight, it had been.I want more.
“We’re catching him,” she breathed against his mouth.“We aren’t killing him.We arenotthe bad guys.”
Oh, she could say that as often as she wanted.“Not the bad guys, check.”But…
If he strikes first, he’s dead.
Though, technically, the bastard had already struck first.When he had kidnapped Atlas.When he had taken Lily.When he’d tossed them down the stairs and into that basement…
He made the first attack, Lily.I’ll make the final one.
But she eased away.“We have to go.”Her gaze darted over his chest.“I think it’s my turn to say…you need to get dressed.”
“Youneedto have breakfast.You didn’t eat enough yesterday.”
“We have a killer to hunt!”
“You have a breakfast to eat.Roland already has it waiting.Go in the kitchen.I’ll dress.”Then they’d hunt.Done.“I’ll make phone calls.First.” Before he dressed.“I’ll get the wheels in motion to protect your would-be victims.”But first those victims would have to be located.It would take time, a luxury they might not have.He eased past her and headed for the stairs.
His gaze collided with Desmond’s.“Didn’t see you calling Theodora.”
Desmond’s head inclined.“I texted her.She said for you to please not confess to any crimes.”
He only confessed to Lily.No one else.
