Declan Blackwood.

Wrecked. Familiar. Him.

Like the earth cracked open and spit out the truth I never wanted.

The air whooshes from my lungs.

“No.”

I stagger, the ground tilting.

Tears hit instantly.

“You...” I choke. “It was you?”

He flinches.

“Baby, please?—”

“This whole time—you lied. You made me feel crazy.”

My hands shake.

“You followed me,” I gasp. “You touched me. You?—”

My voice breaks.

Then cold: “The murders.”

I cover my mouth.

He watched. Even cleaned them up.

“Oh, God.”

He steps forward.

“Poppy—”

“Stay away from me!” I shriek, backing into the car.

I scrub at my mouth as the other hand fumbles for the door.

His face twists.

He grabs both arms.

“Please, don’t go,” he says, voice breaking. “Let me explain.”

“No. You’re a monster,” I spit, gripping the handle like a lifeboat.

“I love you.”

It tears me in half.

I slap him before I realize I’ve moved.

The sound cracks like a whip.