Page 86 of Ruthless Intent

“Then why ask?”

“Because if I’d murdered them, the knife would have been in my left hand.”

“Your left hand?”

My gaze focuses on the bowl he’s holding … in his left hand. I think about him playing and pausing the videos. He’d used his left hand then, too.

Oh god … his dominant hand is his left. If he’d been attacking someone, that’s the hand he’d have used.

He places the bowl down, and moves behind me. My wrists are free a second later.

“Eat your breakfast.”

He walks out of the room.

The bowl in front of me contains oatmeal.

I hate oatmeal.

Almost as much as I hate the guilt filling me up after watching the video.

Why don’t I remember the first interview when I was alone with the detectives? Why do I see Zain holding a knife every time I close my eyes, when I claimed he didn’t have it originally? Why did I change my story? Why did I lie?

Why did I lie?

After watching his recording, I completely understand why he hates me.

Who wouldn’t?

I hate me!

But it also tells me something else.

It doesn’t matter what I do, what I say, Zain will never forgive me. He’s going to continue to torment me, and if I don’t get away from him, it’s going to get worse every single day.

I’m on my feet and across the room, and it’s only when I push open the door leading from the kitchen and into the yard that I realize what I’m doing.

I’m running.

I’m risking my mom going to prison.

And at this moment in time, I can’t stop myself. Because if I stay here, if I allow Zain to take out his anger on me, he will become worse than the monster I painted him as all those years ago.

There’s a gate at the end of the yard, leading out into the forest beyond.

I glance down at my feet.

I’m almost naked, dressed only in my underwear, barefoot, and I’m about to walk out into the trees.

What’s more dangerous? Staying here with a man who hates me, or risking someone seeing me without clothes on?

It’s daytime. It’s early. I should be able to make it to the road and flag someone down.

But then you’ll have to explain why you’re undressed.

One problem at a time. Focus on getting out first.

There’s a stone path leading toward the gate. I glance behind me to make sure Zain hasn't reappeared, then take off.

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