Page 20 (1/2)

And I can’t promise I won’t commit murder if another man tries to coht beacon of light She’s a sexual boent and optimistic She’d be better off withoutto happen

“I’d go insane without you,” I rasp “I’d rah Louisiana until someone had mercy on me and shot me down But even that short time…the time it took someone to put me out of my misery…would be toopain” My teeth feel glued together “You’re not leaving”

“Yes, I ah I love you”

With an anguished sound, I tear at my hair “Fawn, don’t make me tie you up Please”

At first, when the color leaves her face, I think it’s because of my threat Why wouldn’t it be? I’ve just proven I’m a mad man I’ve just threatened to imprison her, just like she hen I found her And I can’t do anything to stop myself I’m obsessed with her I’m out of my mind I can no more let her walk out of here, out of my life, than I can predict the future

But el turns pale

I realize that when a gun cocks behind me

“You should have checked rits out

My blood stops running Everything inside of , before I knen existed, I wouldn’t have cared if he pulled the trigger Good, I would have thought This earth doesn’t need me anyway But if Frank shoots me and kills me now, he’ll be free to take her He’ll put his evil hands on her perfect skin He ht even form his own obsession Where Fawn is concerned, I’m not sure it’s possible to do otherwise She is thebelongs to me

“Hands up, Benny, or I’ll bury the bullet in her instead”

My hands rise auto me dizzy

“I can see why you would co little thing?” He smacks his lips “Never heard a hter than hell I aim to find out”

My body shakes withire