Page 128 of Pretty Poisoned

"I need you to get off of me for a second; I can't breathe."

He rolls off of my body, and I sit up, bringing my knees to my chest.

"How much do you know?"

"What do you mean? I told you; I know everything."

"So, like…my date of birth."

"June 27th."

"My address?"

"Yeah, former and present."

"Number of murders witnessed?"

"Yes. We clarified that already."

"Number of murderers fucked?"

He relaxes and laughs a little, running his fingers along the outside of my thigh. "Two. Unless there are more that neither of us are aware of."

"And what about medical history?"

He isn't smiling now. "Yes."

I feel it again—that thing I hate. Chest tightening, eyes stinging. I suck in a breath and get out of bed. "Okay. I think I'm done with this conversation."

"I know what you're thinking, but you're wrong."

"You picked me because I tried to kill myself…after what happened at school. Because that's what you like."

"Teagan, that's not why." He steps in front of me, placing his hands on my arms. "You can't really think that."

"You fucking got me," I say, shaking my head. "Iknewbetter—I'm not one of those stupid girls, and youstillfucking got me. You should be really fucking proud of yourself."

I fell for it—his tortured soul, his gentle touch. I knew what he was doing; I was explicitly warned. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself, though—Declan is a master at his craft, and I'm the perfect victim.

"I picked you because of your eyes…and your smile. Because they're so fucking beautiful but never quite matched, and I wanted to see if I could fix it. I think I did fix it, Teagan. Aren't you happy?"

"Not really," I tell him. "I've had a couple of really bad fucking days. But not that bad, so don't get too excited. I willneverdo that again."

"Teagan, I don'twantyou to. I just want you—that's all."

"I trusted you."

"You can still trust me."

"You had me at a handicap—you realize that, right? It's not fair for one person to know everything about the other one and not tell them!"

"I get how you would see it that way, but I don't."

"Youhurtme," I cry.

"I've been good to you," Declan says. "I took you home and gave you a family. You're free now—isn't that what you wanted? What's the problem?"

"I don't believe you."

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