Page 60 of Beautiful Prey

“They didn’t tell me you were coming…Is it my birthday or something?”

I smiled, remembering his date of birth from his record. It was in the spring. “No, sorry.”

He shrugged. “That’s okay.” He waited for me to respond and when I didn’t, he said, “I took the meds yesterday and didn’t get sick. I think it’s getting easier now. At least a little.” He shifted on his feet. “Is that why you’re here?” He laughed softly. “Didn't think I’d have the balls to take them on my own?”

“I knew you had the strength to do it without me,” I said. “I didn’t have a doubt.” I took a step closer, choosing my next words carefully. “And I know you will have the strength to keep going still even with me gone.”

Confused, he kept staring at me, then the realization came. His eyes hooded as he went perfectly still. “You're leaving…”

I winced at the pain in his voice. “I’m sorry, Emery.”

His gaze never left mine as he searched my face as if he could find the reason in my expression. When he couldn’t, he croaked, “Why?”

The truth was so hard to accept. “I learned so much from our sessions, and you did so well. You overcame your troubles and surprised me. I’m thankful for them now.” I took a breath. “But they’ve become too personal for me. My past makes it…too difficult to be around you now.”

He turned his head on instinct to listen to the ghost of his sister at his ear, then shook her away. “Tell me,” he said. “Tell me what makes it difficult.”

I shook my head slowly. “I can’t. I’m sorry; it’s too much.”

I saw the panic in his gaze and his composure beginning to slip. “No, I…I need you, Evee. I can’t do this alone. I can’t…”

“You can. I know you can,” I said, my throat tightening. “Just keep doing everything I taught you. Keep taking the medicine and I promise I’ll come visit one day.”

He tried to move closer but couldn’t. I heard the pole straining behind him. Unable to reach me, he bent forward and dropped to his knees before me.

“Tell me what I can do to make you stay?” he said in a low voice. “Just a little longer. Even if only for a week. Just don’t leave me now. Please, Eve.” I heard the fear in his voice, his shoulders shaking. “Not like this.”

Tears stung my eyes. I went to open my mouth and heard a slow clap behind me. I whirled around and saw Ethan there by the gate, a bright, excited look in his eyes and an awful smirk on his face.

“Wow, Eve,” he said. “You really know how to work a guy up, huh? Got this poor bastard wrapped around your finger. This was the revenge you were really after? Making him beg like that for you. Don’t you think the guy got what he deserved already after what he did?”

“Ethan,” I said, fear laced in my voice. “What are you doing?”

“Just stopping you from playing this guy any longer, Eve,” he answered, walking toward me.

I turned around. Emery was now standing again, his head bent as he fixed Ethan with a cold, murderous glare. “What the hell did you say?”

“She’s been playing you,” he repeated.

“Ethan—”

“No,” he snapped. “You’re done, Eve. I let you drag this out, feeling sorry for you, for what he did to you, but you clearly aren’t right in the head either. What you're doing is wrong. We both know it. I think it’s time you let this go.”

I shook my head in disbelief.I turned to Emery, horrified.

“What I did…?” Emery said softly, confused.

“It’s nothing, Emery,” I tried to pacify him.

“I don’t think killing your dad and brother is nothing, Eve,” Ethan mused, shaking his head as if he was disappointed.

The silence was deafening. I could hear the birds out in the trees and the dull clatter of pans in the kitchen nearby. A chill breeze picked up, but it wasn’t responsible for the cold now setting in my bones.

I stared at Ethan, too shocked and furious to move. “You bastard,” I said.

“No need for name calling, Eve,” Ethan said. “If anything, he’s the bastard for what he did, right? Slicing your dad up like he did?” He tried to put a hand on me, and I smacked it away. Offended, he glared. “Relax, Eve, he should know. That’s the revenge you wanted. Letting him think you cared at all. Well, there you go. You got what you came for. Now it’s time to go.”

My face twisted. “You have no right to—”

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