He let out a long sigh. “That’s okay. As long as my work is done. As long as you’re safe.” He looked back at me, right into my eyes. “You really are in danger, angel. But once that danger has been removed, you’re free. I promise.”
I sat and bit my bottom lip, mulling it over. Perhaps he was telling the truth. Perhaps he really did love me. Or maybe this was another lie, another manipulation, another game. Something to make me feel better for now and lull me into a false sense of security, when he had no intention of ever letting me go, even once he’d eliminated every Circle member.
When I didn’t respond, Alex crouched down before me again. His eyes were clouded, slightly watery. It seemed like real emotion, though as usual I couldn’t be sure that it wasn’t just the skilled acting of a sociopath. “I really do love you, Celeste,” he said softly. “All I want is to keep you safe.”
I decided to bite the bullet and finally ask my burning question. If he truly loved me as he claimed, he wouldn’t get angry at me for revealing what I knew. “What about the other girl before me? Did you love her too?”
He frowned. “What?”
“Did you love Ev—”
I was cut off by a loud beeping sound, and Alex held up one hand as he grabbed his phone from a front pocket. “Sorry, I have to look at this. Could be an emergency. Give me a second.”
Oh, for god’s sake….
“Shit,” Alex said, his brows knitted. “They’ve brought the surgery forward half an hour. The hospital is thirty fucking miles away; I have to leave now or I’ll never make it in time.”
My shoulders slumped. Typical. The minute I finally built up the courage to ask about the girl he kidnapped before me, something had to come up.
“We’ll finish our talk later,” Alex said hurriedly before standing up and striding toward the door. Before he left, he turned back to look at me. “Take the day to think about what I said. Think about whether you want me gone from your life forever. Like I said, if that’s what you choose, I’ll respect it. When you’re safe, I’ll be gone. It’ll be like I never existed, and you will never see me again.”
I nodded. He didn’t say goodbye. He carefully closed the door behind him, and with that, he was gone.