Page 87 of Her Braun
"Is it? You like him?"
Like him?
Kay wanted to close her eyes and pray that she could wake up from this nightmare, but she knew she was awake and still in that nightmare.
"Chuck, let me help your father."
He shook her again and Kay saw darker spots on the edges of her vision, blending in with the darkness encroaching around her.
"I want to know about that man!"
"Please. Let me help your father."
He let go of her left arm and cracked her across the cheek, snapping her head to the side.
"You care about everyone more than me!"
Kay reached out her free arm and grasped at his shirt and she struggled to lift her head. "Chuck-"
"When you're the one I care about! I love you!"
Kay wanted to cry.
He was unhinged.
She'd always seen Chuck as a simple young man. His father had explained that he'd always been kind of young, innocent. The loss of his mother had thrown them both for a loop, but it had seemed to cast Chuck into deeper, choppy waters.
But without knowing him more, she could only see that those deeper waters were filled with darkness.
"If... If you love me..." Kay had to swallow down the bile creeping up in the back of her throat. "Let me look at your dad, okay?"
"As long as you tell me..."
Kay felt like she was about to throw up as she waited for him to finish his sentence, so she headed him off at the pass.
"I love you, okay? I love you. Please, let me see your father."
Chuck pulled her in and kissed her.
It took everything in her not to push him away or bite him. And yes, she was very close to throwing up on him.
He let her go what seemed like minutes later and she stumbled away from him.
She had to make a conscious effort not to wipe the back of her hand over her mouth.
Kay had a feeling he wouldn't react well to that.
She moved over to his father and got down on her knees, slipping on the tiles.
When she looked down, she saw that a dark stain showed on her slacks.
Blood.
She knew she'd just slipped in the man's blood.
Kay reached out her hands and smoothed his shirt down so she could see the knife in his chest. She needed to know the placement and if she could determine the depth that would be helpful, too.
The older man opened his eyes and looked at her.
