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The other bodies

“You didn’t honestly think I gave up killing in the last three years, did you? I’o cold turkey He would have been right on that one point” A chilling pause “There are bodies Lots of then for my life”

The sonofabitch He was just playing theame

Dane took Katherine’s arm Led her away Didn’t stop when other detectives called out to hi her with him He needed her alone Had to talk to her without all the eyes and ears on them

He shoved open a door on their right The same room The same room where he’d taken her frantically hours before Because he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her Because he’d needed her

He’d been afraid of losing her Of death He’d been rough and hard Always too rough and hard

She’d deservedNot a fast screw in an old cop room

“Katherine…”

She shut the door, then stood in front of hiainst his

There was so much to say to her, and he didn’t even knohere to start

He stared into her eyes and wondered if he looked as obsessed as Valentine Because he felt the sa That she was the one he had to protect from every threat Everyone

Have to protect her, even from myself

Fuck, what if Valentine was right? What if he was uy than he’d believed?

I’ve killed I’d do it again in a heartbeat to protect her When Valentine had risen fro the man’s brains out

It would be so easy

And ill happen e go out of the station with hi to be a trap, I knoill be

“Don’t go,” Dane said, because, o with us to find Ross and Margaret Don’t put yourself at risk “Stay at the station We’ll bring them back”

Alive? Doubtful Valentine was just going to take them to find the dead bodies If he even led them to the bodies

“If I don’t go, you won’t find them” Her voice was soft but certain “He wants me there He wants me to see what he’s done”

“Fuck what he wants” His fingers curled around her shoulders “I want you safe”

“And I want to be strong” Her chin lifted as her eyes flashed golden fire “I don’t want these deaths on me I want to save someone”

She was so beautiful he ached “They’re already dead He’s going to take us into the middle of nowhere, he’ll try to escape, and I’ll shoot him in the head” That was how this would end “He wants you to seeit up so that there is no other option, no choice for any of us”

“There’s always a choice,” Katherine whispered “Even if it looks like there isn’t” Then she rose onto her toes and put her ht Inti

I love her

He realized the truth in that instant It wasn’t just an obsession Not for him He wanted her safe He wanted her happy And he never wanted her to fear ain

To keep her alive and happy, Dane realized that he’d give up everything