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He stands up, putting significant space between us "Why? Why me?"

"I don’t know," I say honestly

"You can’t do that again I don’t…" He scrapes his fingers over his head "I got the scars on irlfriend was…assaulted"

The way he says the word "assaulted" leads me to believe she was "assaulted" in the sa to me I haven’t kissed anyone since her"

"You kissedhis words, the question apparent

"You’re the first," he states without s his broad shoulders, s sadly "I don’t know Don’t care to analyze it"

"We’re pathetic"

He huffs out a laugh "I agree"

I swivel myself back and forth in the chair, unsure what to say next I’m confused by this entire conversation Link runs hot and cold, changing on the drop of a di all at the sae of the desk and places his hand on the ar my movement My eyes skim over his hand, up his araze locks onHis expression is suddenly vulnerable, open "What’s his nauy that hurt you?"

It’s not like I haven’t said his na Acceptance But for sole to say it to Link I open aze falls away I stare at the desk until I finally close ht

"Garrett Marshall," I whisper

"Do you want to kill Garrett Marshall?" Link asks My eyes blink open

"I already told you I think about it all the tiain, this time without hostility "No, Rocky I don’t want to know if you think about it I want to know if you want it Really, truly want him dead"

There’s so much passion in his words Excitement in his eyes It should bother me Scare er, as I consider his question

Do I really want Garrett to die?

The day he took everything away from me--the day he violated h ne I hear his panting breaths as he raped me

And I know

"Yes," I breathe "I want him dead"

Eleven

Link

"I can help you," I say It sounds far away, as if so My voice is ani this is To feel so alive when I talk of ending a man’s life It’s sick

I’m sick

Rocky stares atin her eyes A burst of hope It’s beautiful She’s beautiful, and it’s overwhel to tip ain To open her ainst hers My cock twitches with the thought I squelch the desire and wait for her response

"What do youit that much harder to keep my distance I haven’t craved a wo

It’s so wrong

I clear hly and sit back "I can help you kill him"

Her dark eyes flick around the rooht answer? A way out? Her hands tighten into small fists Her foot taps the tiled floor nervously Finally her gaze lands onwith an emotion I can’t read

"Why would you do that?" she asks It’s a legitiht she’d ask

"Because he shouldn’t be allowed to live to do it again" It’s the simple truth Monsters like that should never be left to prey on another victi into the ith her suddenabout this We’re not discussinga man No ht" She tries to

I drop ruffly "I knohat it’s like To pretend to live when you feel dead inside When the person responsible walks free I understand the yearning to feel safe And I know the only way to wholly gain control is to take it If you ever decide…just knowto tell me not to tell anyone?" she utters

I shake "

"I don’t understand you"

I shrug indifferently I sure as hell don’t understand me I don’t see how she ever could "You don’t need to"

"Yes I do"