Page 75 of Give Me Perfect Love

“You two are hilarious, but not so smart. Leaving your bedroom window open for me to climb inside.” He looks back at Claire. “And you thought you were good enough to land a chef’s position.” He leans his head back and laughs out loud. I’ve never loathed a laugh so much—wait, yes, I have. My mind jumps back to the memory I just had. I shake it off, trying to stay focused. I need to think, dammit!

Cain’s attention turns back to me. “She was always cooking, dreaming of having a position like the one she so luckily landed. You didn’t find it odd, Kathrine?

“You didn’t think it was far-fetched that your best friend’s dream job just fell into her lap?”

My eyes jump to hers.

She was right.

Oh my God, she was right.

This was allhim.

He set this up. How crazy is this guy?

Jesus Christ. He had to be the one who texted her and told her the party had been changed.

“It’s funny, you know.” He snickers. “How easy it was to buy this little place and not even have to show my face.”

“Cain,” Claire says desperately on the floor. “Let’s go. Just you and me. We can leave Kat here. She won’t say anything to anyone. She’ll forget about this. She wants me to be happy. You make me happy, baby. Let’s get out of here.”

Her words make my stomach twist, but the shake in her voice tells me she’s terrified. I hope in his insane state he can’t tell.

He smiles at me. “She’s cleaver, isn’t she? Thinking we can just disappear.”

So much for that.

He laughs, sending chills down my arms. I shake with fear.

“You see, we’d already be on our way if your little boyfriend wouldn’t have set his dogs on me.” He turns and the light catches his neck. An ugly twisted scar shows against his skin.

What,my boyfriend’s dogs?

What the hell is he talking about?

He looks back at me. “See what they did to me?” He taps it with his knife. “I was almost gone, but they caught me leaving town.

“They put me in a chair just like the one you’re in.” He grips my throat. “The one with the black hair broke my hand. This one right here,” he says, squeezing. I cough, my head throbbing fiercely.

Black hair?

Who is he talking about?

Ben doesn’t have black hair.

“It’s not a hundred percent yet, but I can still use it. You see, pain fuels me.” He chuckles. “Maybe I’m sick, but I like it.” He grips tightly and I wince.

Claire moves on the floor. “Cain,” she says. He removes his hand and looks back at her. I cough, trying to inhale air back into my lungs.

“You just don’t know when to shut up, do you?” he seethes. He lifts his boot and kicks her in the ribs. She bends and cries in pain. “That was always your problem when we were together, baby. Why do you make me do this?” He stoops down, gripping her face in his hand. “Don’t you remember how many times I went over this with you?” His voice goes softer, dirtier. He trails the knife over her exposed flesh. The tip invades her private area.

I turn my head in disgust. “You used to like it rough, didn’t you, Claire? Remember how good we were? Remember the rope burns and the cuts over your beautiful skin?”

She weeps and I look back, seeing he’s cut her thigh. Blood stains her white flesh and drips onto the floor.

I swallow, my throat burning. He leans down and licks the cut. I scrunch my face in disgust, gritting my teeth together.

I look around, trying to find something. Something to help us get out of here. I move my wrists again, but it’s no use. It has to be a zip tie.

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