Page 33 of The Dark Obsession

Well, so much for brutal honesty.

And weirdly enough, I appreciate that.

“Is it the danger, their pain or just the act of killing someone itself?” I ask.

His eyebrows furrow and I can tell he didn’t see that question coming. But there is something perversely intriguing about what he’s implying.

Something must be really wrong with me that I’m this invested in figuring out this insanely unhinged and complicated man.How at this moment I want nothing more than for him to let me in.

“Huh, I haven’t thought about it that way.” Tyson absently runs his calloused palm up my calf to the sensitive skin below my knee. “Would it make a difference to you?”

I don’t know what to think, what to feel at this point.

“Being able to take fate in my own hands, having the final say over someone’s life. It’s a craving. This need to prove to myself that I’m no longer a helpless…” His hand on my leg flexes almost painfully as he cuts off like he’s revealed something that should have remained buried.

“The way I do it is irrelevant. Rifle, gun or switchblade, it’s all the same to me. Only indulging in torture if I require information out of someone. Otherwise, it’s a nuisance to deal with the mess.” He says matter-of-factly.

“As for the danger, I’ve never been scared of death. Never really cared for my life to begin with.” The man pauses briefly. “The only thing that kept me going all these years was my vengeance.”

As he speaks the last words, Tyson’s piercing black eyes sweep over my body before settling on my face.

“Now however, you’ve tempted with my priorities, little one.” His voice lowers dangerously, making me shudder, aware of the intensity with which he’s looking at me.

He can’t mean what I think he does.

No, I’m just a pawn in his game, nothing more.

A very well cared for prisoner, but a prisoner nonetheless.

“W-what about your family?”

It’s a weak attempt at changing the topic that my racing heart can no longer take, but to my relief, he takes the bait.

“I have two half-brothers and some cousins I barely know.” He recounts indifferently. “The rest is dead.”

My teeth click shut, the chilling coldness in his tone instantly stopping the question that was at the tip of my tongue. This is a line I’m not going to cross unless he wants to tell me himself.

“Your turn. Tell me something about yourself.” His demeanor changes back to neutral without a trace of the hostility that oozed out of his very being just a few seconds ago.

“And here I thought you already knew everything.” I counter with a little smile, nudging my foot against his thigh, thankful for the change in his mood.

“I don’t know the important stuff. The things that go on in your pretty head, all your dreams and wishes.” Tyson’s whole body shifts towards me expectantly, making my thoughts turn to mush under his undivided attention.

“I always wanted a sibling.” I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind since we were on that topic.

“An older brother who could take the brunt of my mom’s expectations, someone who’d be in my corner when I needed it. Or just someone to hug when the loneliness got to be too much.”

I know it sounds pathetic, but I don’t remember the last time someone held me.

Well, besides that time I rammed a pair of nail scissors into my stalker’s neck.

“You have me now.” Tyson brushes an unruly strand of hair behind my ear, gently running his thumb along the shell while his other hand still has my feet trapped possessively in his lap.

“A-are you serious?” My voice turns into an incredulous whisper.

“Deadly.”

I search his eyes for any trace of doubt or deceit, only to find pure determination burning in the black, bottomless pools.

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