Page 33 of Rune
“You could. I did. But you’re not going to.”
He was right about that.
Because as inconvenient as his little drop-ins were, and as much as my mind and body were at odds about his presence, he’d been harmless so far.
If he wanted to hurt me, I figured he would have already. There was no reason to complicate things more than they already were by bringing the police into it.
“Why are you here again?” I asked, sounding about as tired as I felt.
I hadn’t slept in days. I would pass out, then jerk awake flooded with adrenaline, my mind whipping up fears and anxiety until I was too nauseated and dizzy to fall back to sleep.
“Because we’re not done.”
“Trust me, we are,” I said, storming past him to make my way to the coffee machine.
What I really needed was a drink to deal with him again. But I got chatty when I drank. And I didn’t want to say something stupid. So coffee was going to have to cut it.
I could feel the impact as Rune turned, his gaze falling on me, watching me as I picked a mug, then added some cream and sugar to my cup before pouring the coffee.
Only after I had my first sip (which was perfect, damn him), did I glance up to find him watching me.
“Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“That’s not really my policy when someone tries to murder me, baby.”
“I’m not going to try again.”
“I know.”
“And yet you’re here again.”
“Because I can’t put this to bed until I have answers. Give ‘em to me and I’ll get out of your hair.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Why are you being so fucking stubborn?” he asked, but without any heat. He was more exasperated than angry. “You’re clearly pissed at me about something. Tell me what.”
“So you can, what? Apologize? I don’t want your apologies. There’s nothing you could do to make this better. You ruined… everything.”
My voice caught, betraying me, making me turn my back on him as stupid tears flooded my eyes.
I didn’t know he moved until his next words were asked from right behind me, his tone soft, coaxing. “Carmen, what did I ruin?”
He was too close.
He was sucking up all the air.
I couldn’t breathe.
The mug slammed down with a crack on the counter just before I turned and ran toward my room.
I wouldn’t do it.
Break in front of him.
I didn’t even let my sister see me falling apart. I damn sure wasn’t going to let the man who was responsible for all the tears witness them.
I heard the old steps creaking under his weight as he followed me upstairs, could feel my heartbeat syncing with his footsteps as they drew closer and closer to my door.
