Page 30 of Wicked Riddles & Bitter Heartbeats

I get all the blood off me with the help of Lilah and the hose we find in the backyard. It’s easier to do, rather than worrying about leaving my DNA behind in this guy’s bathroom. Not that my DNA is in the system, but with all the new technology, who knows what they’ll find. They could connect me to a long-lost cousin, my mother, or more likely, my brother. I’ve never wondered if cops keep their DNA in databases, but now I need to know. This makes the game all the more dangerous.

On the way home, I make a call to Rex, letting him know I have a job for him, to which he promises to handle. When Lilah and I are back home, I take a proper shower, then clean the entire thing with bleach, making sure to dump some down the drain. Lilah is lying on the bed, browsing through the guide on the TVfor something to watch. She smiles at me when I stop near the bed.

“How are you feeling?” she asks.

“Scoot over.”

She moves to the middle of the bed, and I settle beside her.

“Thank you for today,” I say. The words feel weird coming out of my mouth. I rarely thank anyone for anything. “No one has ever done anything like that for me before.”

“I said it’s you and me forever, Atty. I meant it.”

“Who was that guy?” I ask.

She shrugs, clicking on something and causing the guide to go away and a movie to pop up.

“I just did a search for local pedophiles and that guy was close, so it made sense.”

“I’ve never had a code before. I don’t think I’m capable of that. Sometimes I just… go.”

“Well, you didn’t have me then. I’m here now, and I’ll make sure that you get rid of only the bad guys.”

I shake my head, running a hand through my wet hair.

“I don’t want you having unrealistic expectations.”

“What does that mean?” she asks carefully.

“I have issues.”

She huffs out a laugh. “Don’t we all?”

“I’m serious, Kitten. Ever since I was little, I knew something was off with me. I wasn’t like other people. I didn’t get joy out of things that should bring me joy. I didn’t cry when people were sad. I didn’t love my parents, and I didn’t have any friends. Well, I had one friend.”

Her brow pinches and she turns to me. “I’m not sure whatyouthink I’m expecting, but you’re probably wrong. Give me credit, Atticus. I’m not as dumb as I look.”

“You don’t look dumb at all.”

She rolls her eyes, turning back to the TV, but I grip her chin and make her look at me.

“You donotlook dumb.”

She sighs, and I kiss her lips before letting her go.

“I don’t want you to be too hard on yourself if I don’t listen when I get like that. I’ve never had anyone around me when that happens, so I don’t know anything about it.” I pause. “Well, except for one time, but I’m also worried that you’ll try getting in the way and I’ll hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” she says firmly. “I see the way you look at me even when you get like that.”

“This was one time.”

“This was the second, actually, and I’m sure the other times will be the same.”

I’m not the kind of man who likes to argue his point. I say my piece, and if they want to believe me, they can. I don’t like confrontation, and I don’t like debating. I’ve told Lilah how I feel about this, she can do what she wants with it. Arguing is only going to frustrate us both and make it worse in the end when one of us is wrong. It’s better to leave it alone and see how the cards fall.

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