Page 131 of Obsession

I freeze. I didn’t expect his response to hit me so hard. I turn and give him a curious look. My heart beats rapidly, and my palms are sweaty. A sudden feeling of nausea fills my belly.

“Why would you lose me?” My voice sounds distant, as if it isn’t my own.

“Shit’s about to hit the fan. We’re going to find the people responsible for your parents’ death. And after that…”

The same thought’s occurred to me. What happens when the purpose of my being here’s resolved?

“You’ve never killed anyone, Violet.”

I look at him in shock, cold fear trickling down my spine. “You don’t know that.”

I watch him slide his hands on his hips and fix me with a curious stare. “Have you?”

“I… haven’t killed ahuman.”

A small smile spreads across his face. “You’ve killed… what, aliens? Sea creatures? Ghosts?”

“Well, no. I killed… I killed a rabid dog once.”

He looks a bit stunned. “Did you? A rabid dog?”

“It was harder than it looks, and it was only for safety reasons. I was fifteen.”

“Why did you kill it?”

“It was… I was staying at Candi’s house.” Candi, my best friend, is a local Salem police officer who can hold her own with a gun these days. Back then, though, she was terrified. “Her dadhad guns, but he was traveling, and her mom was out. They lived kinda far from the city. We were babysitting her younger brothers. There was this crazy dog, foaming at the mouth. And I just… shot him.”

Cain’s brows rise, but he doesn’t respond. Finally, he nods.

“So when it comes to protecting the people you care about, you can pull the trigger.”

I swallow. “Yes.”

I think?

“I’m ready. I’ll handle this just fine.”

He faces me, his gaze so intense I can’t look away. My mouth goes dry, and I lick my lips. He’s got something to say.

“Come here.”

Of course he gives me an order. I refrain from rolling my eyes.

“Yeah?” I walk to within a pace of him. He reaches one large hand around my lower back and drags me closer to him, then tips one finger under my chin.

“Violet, I…” his voice trails off. Is that fear in his eyes? I’d have sworn a few weeks ago there was nothing Cain feared, but I know now that’s untrue. He fears the people he loves getting hurt. He fears letting people down. He fears my being in trouble and not having the ability to help me.

And now… he’s afraid I’ll leave him.

“Cain, I—” I’m not even sure what I’m going to say. “Can you…” His mouth slams on mine, and I moan into it. The frissons of awareness that light my body ignite, and I respond withoutthinking. My hands on his neck, his hands on my ass, I reach for his belt to anchor myself.

Too soon, we break our kiss. His forehead meets mine, and his voice drops. “I love you, Violet.” He breathes a sigh as if relieved when he finally says it. “God, woman, I love you. And I don’t want anything to come between us. Not now, not ever.”

He loves me.He loves me.

My throat gets tight and my nose tingles. I feel hot and cold and light and heavy all at once. I want to cry, long and loud and ugly, and I don’t know why.

“You love me?” I ask, and he smiles that crooked smile. “I know, I know, that’s not what a girl should say after a profession of love.”

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