Page 67 of Unhinged Kallie

“You must think we’re monsters. It’s like you got dropped into a house of devils,” she said, covering her mouth as it finally occurred to her what it must be like to grow up, not wanting to kill but forced to watch someone new die every week. “What the hell do you think of me?”

Why did she keep asking me these loaded questions?

“I don’t see you as a monster. I’ve lived here since I was two. I was there when you were born, and we grew up together. But that doesn’t mean I want to head down to the basement with your dad and have a skinning session. With someone else or me on the table.” I smiled at my joke, but Kallie burst to her feet, hot chocolate spilling over the side of her cup.

“Oh my god. You’re not safe here, Carter. My dad will kill you at some point. I know he will. I can’t let him do that.” She paced from one end of the room to the other. “I need to find a way to stop him and make him see reason.” Tears filled her eyes, and I had no idea what was going on in her head. What I just said wasn’t news. Had something happened? “I don’t know if I’ll follow all his rules, and what if he decides to teach me a lesson by killing you or….” She looked up, and her beautiful eyes found mine. “No…he’d make me do it. I won’t. I won’t do it.”

I put my mug down and walked over to Kallie. Her hands were shaking badly, so I grabbed her cup and wrapped her in my arms before she made a complete mess.

“Trouble, if he were going to kill me because you randomly did stupid shit, then I would have been dead long ago.”

She snickered into my chest. “Asshole.”

“Maybe, but it’s true. Do you remember when you accidentally set the house on fire? Or how about when you thought you would help decorate the house and used crayons all over the walls so they were pretty? Or what about when you told that old woman at the grocery store that your dad was a serial killer? Thankfully she thought you were making a joke about his eating habits.” Kallie laughed and wiped away the tears.

“You’re really not concerned?”

“Some days, and when it comes to you, yes. Look, I know your dad doesn’t show love like anyone else, but you’re the single most important thing to him.” Leaning back, I looked down into blue eyes that could capture anyone’s soul. “It’s why, no matter what, we can’t be any more than what we are right now. I’ve tried to tell you, but I think you’re finally understanding.”

“I’m happy you’re going away to school. Maybe the space will make things easier,” she said, but there was no joy in her eyes, and I felt the same way. “Will you lay with me? I don’t mean sex. I’ll be under the blankets, and you can have the throw.” She pointed to the bed. “And I promise to be good. If I’m not, you can get up and leave. I just…I don’t want to be alone.”

Of all the terrible ideas…but I knew my answer.

“Yes.” Her entire face lit up, and my heart soared. I would do anything to make her smile like that. “But first, tell me what happened tonight.”

She stepped back and put her hands on her hips.

“Oh, I didn’t like how Claire was treating you, so I followed the two of you to dinner. I couldn’t believe she slapped you over nothing. I mean, you two have been dating for a blink. She was the one that needed slapping, so I killed her.” All rational thought stopped. She killed Claire because she slapped me?

“She was a snotty bitch, right up to the end and then started begging and telling me I could have you. I mean, seriously, thanks.” Kallie rolled her eyes. “Anyway, my dad followed me and didn’t like how I cleaned up.” She finger-quoted cleaned up, like avoiding arrest was a nuisance.

“We ended up scrubbing the entire place down for an extra two hours, even rooms I was never in before, and he insisted on ruining the fucking awesome way I had her displayed. I cut her up good and had a rolling pin shoved in her cooch and knitting needles in her eyes. It was perfection. You should’ve seen it. But nooo, my dad couldn’t confirm there was no DNA, so he dragged the bitch home in his truck to dispose of her.” She crossed her arms. “So annoying. I know what I’m doing, and I was careful. I could’ve been more careful, but still, what an invasion of my privacy to follow me like that,” she said, obviously offended.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. I should’ve known Kallie followed me, and the fact that I didn’t feel anything about what she did should’ve fucking worried me.

“Oh shit, sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s fine.” Walking over to my mug, I chugged the rest of my now cold hot chocolate and wished I’d put a crap load more alcohol in it.

“Ugh, I’m such a jerk.”

“No, seriously, it’s fine. I mean, you can’t kill everyone I date, though,” I said.

Her eyes narrowed, and I could tell she was clenching her jaw, trying to contain her anger. Fuck why was that so hot?

“We can argue about that later. Come lay down.” I stretched out on her bed, which felt amazing even though we had identical beds. How could I be mad at her? I secretly loved that she was jealous over me. It was sick and disgusting, and yet….it was the truth.

She crawled into bed under the blankets while I stayed on top, but I took the opportunity to wrap my arms around her and pull her into my body. I took a deep breath of her hair and leaned over to look at her face.

“Did you get cinnamon shampoo?”

Kallie smirked over her shoulder at me. “What if I did? Do you like it?”

“Fuck, you’re so much trouble, Trouble.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

KALLIE