Page 110 of Darkest Deception

He starts to clean me up, washing me as my head rests back against his chest.

“You know, I’ve never let anyone take care of me like this before,” I murmur, moving my hand through the water, watching it ripple.

“Really?” he murmurs, his chin on my shoulder as he raises my other arm and runs a loofah over it.

My voice turns quiet. “Yes, it was always me, and only me. My parents were too busy, and I didn’t have a friend to look after me on my bad days.” I’m not ashamed, but it’s weird admitting something so personal to him.

“Do you have friends now?”

There is a moment of silence from me.

Then I shake my head.

“Have you always looked after yourself when you were sick?”

I nod, my eyes trained on the water in front of me as Helia moves the loofah to my back.

“Is that why you do yoga after a long day?”

I freeze in the tub.

My blood runs cold, as does the water.

No one knows that.

I’ve done it with my doors closed.

I’ve never—

“Yes.” My voice is scratchy and small.

The full force of betrayal hits me deep in the heart.

“Do you enjoy baking things?” Helia’s questions continue, simple questions that don’t take time to think.

Right now, everything has been lit by flames.

No.

It can’t be.

I won’t believe it.

But what good will denial do?

Helia is …my stalker?

He’s watched me for months.

Terrified me to the point I wanted my own death?

He’s the one who has sent me letters?

Killed men who were after my hand in marriage?

Helia killed? With his own hands?

He did all this?

---