Page 108 of Serial Burn

Her brain hurt. “For what?”

“A couple of things.” He glanced at his phone. “But we’ll get to that in a bit. I have to take care of something first.”

He wanted to play games and she wanted answers. She drew in a ragged breath and tried to think through the fear. First things first. “Are you going to kill me?”

“If I was going to do that, I would have just given you enough of the drug to ensure you didn’t wake up.”

Okay, valid point, but he seemed evasive as well. “But ... but you’ve been trying very hard to do so, and now that you have me, you’re not going to—” What was she doing? Trying to talk him into killing her? She snapped her lips shut.

“No,” he said. “Not at the moment.”

“Why not?” She couldn’t help it.

He laughed. “Again, it doesn’t matter. What matters is you’re here.” He offered her a small smile. An empty one that sent a shiver up her spine. “Enjoy your little ... vacation. I’m not sure how long it’ll last, but I’ll get you some supplies so you’ll be more comfortable until ...”

Until? She held up her hands. “I’m a prisoner. I don’t think comfort is going to factor in.”

“But you won’t be dead. Yet.”

He was infuriating.

Swallowing a scream, Jesslyn studied him, her heart thudding but her fear under control. Her confusion was another story. “What do you need from me?”

“You’re going to pay a debt for me.” He smiled again, but it didn’t reach the flat dark eyes that stared at her. “And I’m not a killer.”

A debt? Somehow she had a feeling he wasn’t talking about money. She also had a feeling he wasn’t ready to reveal exactly what the debt was and how she was going to help him pay it.

“Were you the one who tried to grab me at the restaurant?” He was certainly the right height and everything else.

“Yes.” He scowled this time, that weird smile fading away. “If you had just come peacefully, this would all be over by now.”

Over how? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. “So you just plan to keep me here indefinitely?”

“No.” His frown deepened. “I just need you to cooperate with me for a while, then you’ll know everything. But if you give me any problems, then you’ll have to die—and then I guess I’ll be a killer too.”

“Too?”

He sighed. “I don’t have time for nonsense and drama. I have enough to deal with. Understand?”

“No. I actually don’t. Can you be a little more clear? Who’s trying to kill me?”

“That’s not for me to say.” He studied her. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

“Should I?”

He leaned forward. “I’ll be watching you, Jesslyn,” he whispered.

Jesslyn gasped and recoiled against the wall behind her, her childhood nightmare coming to life and facing her in the flesh. “You were real. You were there. In my room.”

“I was.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. I was ... jealous of you. You got to start over with life. I wished I could do the same.”

She ignored that last part and stared at him while she let his identity sink in. “You killed them.”

“Me?” He laughed, then scowled. “No, of course not. I told you, I’m not a killer.”

---