Page 21 of Once I Find You

“No. Do not bring me anything. You can’t be here, alright? I thought we went over this last night.”

“I know you’re annoyed with me, I totally get it after talking to my friend that maybe I didn’t plan well⁠—”

Is she shitting me? “You what? Your friend? She fucking knows too? Who else have you told?”

“Don’t worry! No one else knows I swear! She would never tell anyone either because she knows how much you mean to me. Sorry, she also said not to word vomit my feelings too fast but I’m not good at holding back when I’m excited.” She has a soft blush on her face, and she looks down as she tries to put some hair behind her ear, but the short pieces don’t comply.

I need to stop noticing everything about her. I need to create a distance, now.

“Look, I don’t know how to spell this out any clearer. I do not have an interest in relationships. You seem nice, I just don’t do them. So maybe you’ll be able to move on eventually and we can put this behind us, yeah?” I have to let her down gently. Imagine I upset her and she threatens to tell the cops.

“You’re saying you don’t do relationships?” she asks, tilting her head, and I nod. “So, it isn’t because of me?”

What does she mean? Does she even understand what’s going on here? I shake my head, hoping that this means she gets it now.

“I’m relieved! I mean, I thought maybe you just weren’t attracted to me. I know I’m not…I mean you’re so well-built, and tall, and handsome, so I guess I’m aware I’m not in your league. But I want to work out more, and I’m…” She keeps talking but I feel lost.

Not in my league? I can’t imagine what the fuck is going on in her head. She’s one of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen. Her hair is a bit out there, but it suits her. It flows perfectly down to her supple breasts. Her brown eyes are impossible to look away from. Full lips. Thick thighs. Her stomach the perfect size to hold onto when I’m⁠—

“Sorry, I’m word vomiting again, aren’t I?” she asks, probably noticing me in my trance as I stare at her.

God, this girl is clueless. Too fucking innocent for her own good. Is she really undercover? “Look, you seem nice. But you do realize I’m probably almost twenty years older than you, right?”

She nods, biting her lip. Fuck.

“And you realize I’m a serial killer?”

“But you kill bad people. You’re not just mindlessly murdering.”

Okay, maybe scaring her might work. “I kill them, and I enjoy it. I love watching the life leave their eyes. I love seeing them fight and cry and beg and I feel no remorse. I’m a trained killer from the U.S. Army Combat Forces. I can’t even tell you the number of men I’ve killed between those.”

“Did he cry?” she asks quietly, disregarding anything else I said.

“Who?”

“My uncle.”

I think for a second, my eyes shifting to the side. Does she really want to know? “He begged, tried to reason with me. Once he saw I had no intention of listening, he tried to stop me.”

“And?”

And? She wants all the details?

“And I overpowered him. I put him in a headlock and brought him to the ground. I held him still while I took the garrote and wrapped the cord around his neck. He begged until I pulled so hard that he couldn’t speak anymore.”

Just as I think it was enough to make her finally question me, she nods. Her eyes are watering, but she smiles softly at me. “I know it’s probably messed up to say this…but I’m really happy to hear that. I guess knowing that makes him seem…small now. It might help me forget the memory I’ve always held of him. He used to feel intimidating and larger-than-life.”

I don’t know what it is about this girl. She’s strange. But I can’t help the small grin forming on my face at her words.

I’m so fucked.

CHAPTER TEN

Careful What You Wish For

LAYLA

He stares at me like he’s trying to piece a puzzle together. My face heats under his gaze, and I suddenly wonder if I look okay. Is my hair messed up from all the wind? I had to walk six blocks because the second bus line was down, and I probably sweat too. “Uh, so, you really don’t want it?” I ask awkwardly, looking down at the forgotten cupcake in my hand.