Page 23 of Forget Me Not

“You’ve never killed anyone, have you?

He laughs. “Killed someone? Why?” He steals a glance at me before his eyes return to the road. “You think I’m gonna kill you?”

“I didn’t until now.”

“I just said you’re safe with me, didn’t I?”

“Isn’t that exactly what someone who’s trying to kill me would say? Plus, you also answered my question with a question. So, I’ll try again. Have you ever killed anyone?”

“Maybe I’m the one who should be worried. After all, I let a girl who stole from an old lady in my car. So tell me this, Rhea,” his eyes find mine again, but this time there’s a glint of seriousness in them, “have you ever killed anyone?”

Crossing my arms over my chest boldly, I look out the passenger window as the lie seamlessly slips through my lips. “Nope.”

In my defense, those men died before I even touched them. However, there’s a good possibility it was the excitement of the night that stopped their old hearts. There was another time. That one was self-defense, though. A guy got a little aggressive on the balcony at his mansion in Beverly Hills and I may have pushed him a little too hard. I didn’t mean to kill him, but he died nonetheless.

Slowly, I turn my head to look at Alaric. There is no reason why he should ever assume I killed anyone, so his question was just a response to mine. Normal people don’t just go around killing for no reason. And I think it’s pretty safe to assume that even though he’s an asshole, Alaric is a fairly sane person.

“Well, now that we got that out of the way.” I reach over to turn the volume up on the stereo, but I’m taken aback when Alaric puts his hand over mine. “What?” I freeze, letting our hands linger for a second longer.

“I don’t like listening to music when I drive. It’s a distraction from my thoughts, and I have a lot to think about.”

I jerk my hand away and put it back in my lap. “That’s weird.”

“I could argue that listening to music while driving is weird.”

“But it’s not.” I scoff. “It’s normal.”

“Says who?”

“How about ninety-nine point nine percent of the population. Guess you’re the other point one percent.”

“Is that a fact?”

“It’s more of a fact than your notion of it being weird to listen to music when driving.”

“You sure do have a lot to say, you know that?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Am I distracting you from your thoughts? Were you busy thinking?”

My phone pings in my purse, taking me by surprise. I thought for sure I silenced my notifications. I reach inside, turning over my phone while keeping it hidden, and I see that it’s a notification from the Siren’s Call app, which is the app I use—or used—to hook up with clients. It says I’ve got a prospect in the area in search of a ‘companion.’

Curiosity gets the best of me, and when I tap the notification, I see that the client is in very close proximity. I’m a bit surprised that anyone in this area even uses the Siren’s Call. It’s growing in popularity, but it’s mostly used in bigger cities. Not small towns like Lockhaven. I’m not able to see an exact location, but rather a radius within twenty miles. I suppose it’s possible the user is in one of the larger, nearby cities.

It’s nice to know that if I become too desperate…

No! I’m done with that app!

I really am done. It’s been a crutch for years, but I don’t need it anymore.

“Everything all right?” Alaric asks as he reaches into the back seat and retrieves something.

I quickly shove my phone back in my purse and zip it closed. “Yeah. Everything’s fine.”

The next thing I know, a sharp object pierces my skin. I look down to see a needle sticking out of my forearm, and when my eyes drag up to Alaric's, I find him looking back at me, expressionless. “You asshole!" I grit out, fighting to free the words from my mouth. “You fucking played me!”

I try to pull out the syringe, but I'm too late. His thumb presses against it, forcing the liquid into my vein. I feel a stinging burn, followed by an icy chill traveling through me.

Then, nothing.

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