Page 33 of Three for a Girl

“Not everyone has skeletons hidden away.”

“They do, just some have smaller skeletons than others.”

Romeo chuckled. “And some have many skeletons that countdown from 5 to 1.”

“Exactly.”

“Look, not everyone is like me.”

Chad sighed. “I know.”

“And not everyone’s relationship is as complicated as ours. Maybe their love was perfect.”

“There’s no such thing.”

“Turn that suspicious mind of yours off for a bit.”

“Maybe I’m jealous.”

Romeo’s expression tightened. “You wanna trade me in for someone younger?”

“That they could be so open with their relationship, but we have to hide away.” Chad clarified.

“We could be honest about it, but I don’t think it would end well.”

Chad spotted the space for his puzzle piece and pressed it down. “There.”

“About the delivery guy…” Romeo said.

His tone was strained, off, and Chad looked up.

“He didn’t snoop around, did he? I told him to leave any packages outside the front door.”

“He did what you told him, and he didn’t snoop, but I think it’s for the best he doesn’t come to the house while you’re not around.”

“Why?”

“It’s a bad idea. Temptation and all that.”

Chad swallowed. “Temptation?”

Romeo hummed. He slotted in another puzzle piece, tapping it down with more force than needed.

“You said, after you got all five, you’d move on.”

“Move on.” Romeo whispered. “You can’t unleash a monster, then expect it to go quietly back into its cage.”

“You said it was a game, it had a structure, rules, you followed them, you completed the game, satisfied your need—”

“It was a game, but I lost … the monster craves more. I didn’t plan for what came next, this is as new to me as it is to you. I told you I was born with that need, and it feels good, it feels right. The same way the detective feels good and right to you, the monster does to me.”

“Four of your victims were innocent, they had families, friends.”

“Who are you reminding, me or yourself?”

Chad shook his head. “They didn’t deserve it.”

“Who does? Their innocence didn’t matter to me, it still doesn’t. Everyone, no matter how good or bad, no matter their shade of grey, should have an equal chance at life, and an equal chance at death. The monster in me has no bias, it has no judgment, only a need, and I fight against it for you.”

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