Page 117 of The Rat

“Please endthis.”

Sebastian held his throat, andhe tilted his head back, exposing it, giving Sebastianmore space to workwith, a better grip. He knew it would hurt, he might even panic andtry to stop it from happening, claw at Sebastian’s hand, but in theend, he’d get weaker, he’d accept the inevitable, and letgo.

Sebastian didn’t apply anypressure, hedidn’t squeeze, or suddenly clutch with force. He’d didn’tdo anything, and it made Rory’s heart pound, and his head spin. Helistened to the wind, could taste salt on his lips, and smell thesea. He waited for it, bobbed his head in encouragement, pleadedwith the twitch of his brow, and the wobble of his lip.

He wanted Sebastian to doit.

ChapterTwenty-One

Thepressure on his throat vanished, andRory slowly opened his eyes.

Sebastian was still looking athim in the same horror-struck manner. Eyes huge, frown denting his brow,and lips slightly parted as he panted for breath.

“Youthink I’m gonna kill you?”

“That’s why we’re here,isn’t it?”

“No!”

“The gloves, the bag, thesecluded area out of sight of the road…You hate me.”

“I don’t hate you. I putthe gloves onbecause it’s cold…”

Rory licked his lips. “You’vebought me downhere, out of sight.”

“There’s a bench overthere, quiet, where we can talk.”

“The bag?”

“It’s been rainingRory, thebench will be wet. I bought the bag so we could sit onit.”

“You keep asking to knowthe time?”

Sebastian scrunched up his nose.“And why doyou think that is?”

Rory ducked his head. “So youknow when the tide’s going out—”

“So I can what? Make sure ittakes your body away? You think I’m gonna strangle you,shoveyou ina bag, and throw you in the sea?”

“I dunno—”

“Jesus Christ!” Sebastiantook a fewsteps away and clutched his head. “Are you serious right now? Youthought I was gonna kill you, and you went along withit?”

“I don’t blame you for wanting medead. Ikeeptrying to apologize, to explain, but you cut me off.”

“I don’t want anapology.”

“Then what do you want?”

Sebastian cursed at the sky, thenadvanced on Rory. He snagged his wrist hard, then dragged him upthe beach. “I want you to come here.”

Rory spotted the bench ahead. “Totalk?”

“For me to talk. For me toexplain.” Sebastiansighed.

“I don’tunderstand.”

“That’s theproblem.”

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