But before he can say a word, I complain, “I’m thirsty.”
“Oh?” He walks over to me, his hand wrapping itself around my neck. “Ghosts don’t need to be hydrated. Didn’t you know?”
My voice comes out harsh from the effort of keeping my nerves under control. “Enough with the ghost talk. It’s getting old.”
“Hmm.” His hand is still clasped around my neck, but he’s not squeezing. “You know, Lia, I’ve been thinking. Your husband has quite the pack of dogs, doesn’t he?”
“Uhm…” I try very hard to swallow. “I guess so.”
“I know you’ve heard the rumors. You know, the ones wherehe sends his dogs after his enemies. They rip the victim to shreds. Little piece by little piece. Until the poor guy has turned into a quivering pile of flesh. I can see from your expression you know all about it, huh? Have you ever thought about how painful it must be?”
Fuck. My throat has never been so parched. I reallydoneed a glass of water right now.
“I haven’t,” I lie in a whisper.
“Well, I have. Because I’ve seen it happen. More than once.”
He squeezes my neck very lightly, and I start to feel just a bit dizzy as he continues, “You should probably start thinking about it, because now that you’re Carmelo’s enemy, I have a feeling that’s what he’s got planned for you.”
I close my eyes, willing my heart to calm down.Yes, itiswhat he’s got planned for me. I know it is. And that’s what you’re sending me to!
“I’m going to offer you some mercy,” whispers Logan, his breath hot against my ear. “Would you like some mercy?”
I nod my head hurriedly, tears stinging at my eyes. The Ambien in my pocket is momentarily forgotten as he slides his arm around my shoulders, and I feel all his warmth. All his… safety.
Maybe he’s been fucking with me. Maybe he was never going to bring me back. Maybe he’s still the boy from high school, the only one who could protect me.
A moment later, my illusions shatter brutally when he leans in further and whispers, “I’m going to kill you myself.”
21
Lia
“Logan…”
His name is the first thing I can think to say after he’s let go of my neck. He inches back, and the smile twisting his lips has never seemed so cruel.
“Logan,” I breathe out again. “You wouldn’t. Youcan’t.”
“It’s up to you,” he murmurs, as he brings up a finger to wipe away the tear that I didn’t realize was falling. “Carmelo can do it, or I can. You decide.”
His voice is strangely soft, and I suddenly wonder if those other moments of softness were just tricks. Disguises. Danger, masquerading as emotion.
“Well, Lia?”
I don’t know if it’s because I don’t fully believe him to be capable of it, or because the memory of the pill in my pocket gives me some form of courage, but I blurt out, “You.”
His smirk deepens. “Okay. Lie down.”
“Lie… down?”
“Mhm hmm. On the couch.”
“Do I…” I swallow. “Do I need to take off my clothes?”
“That depends, Lia,” he smiles. “Do you want to die withyour clothes on or off?”
Fuck. If he’s not planning to kill me, he sure is giving a very good impression of it. “Uhm… on, I guess.”