The phone slid from my hand and fell to the floor, so I never heard Detective Hudson’s words. I didn’t have to. I knew. I knew he was going to tell me what my subconscious allowed me to see in my dreams was true.289Please respect copyright.PENANAHBTrRCcHON
289Please respect copyright.PENANA0vbHoPKl3M
There was gargled noise and static as Dallas reached toward the floor for the phone. She pressed it to her ear and, as I watched her, her eyes widened and she put a hand to her mouth, shaking her head.289Please respect copyright.PENANA5i83i7B3wI
289Please respect copyright.PENANAxfBmDVMEm1
“Thank you,” she said calmly before hanging up, and then she turned to me. “John Monroe was found dead in his office waiting room. He was shot in the chest twice.”289Please respect copyright.PENANAsQ9D1sTGV0
289Please respect copyright.PENANAOIz4N60RZx
I couldn’t look at her. I didn’t want to listen to what she was telling me. All of this was too crazy. I couldn’t have been the one that—289Please respect copyright.PENANAOCdV6S6AuE
289Please respect copyright.PENANASVpt1piErV
“I have to go,” I said, rising. I blindly reached for my phone, taking it from her hand and leaving her office.289Please respect copyright.PENANA7xsc0Xw6CF
289Please respect copyright.PENANASn2PswWbF8
Christian stood at once when he saw me, and I didn’t have enough energy to say anything, so I collapsed against him and cried. The last thing I remember were his arms tightening around me.289Please respect copyright.PENANAAU6AOnZBbr
289Please respect copyright.PENANAEqiZ4pzNoY
289Please respect copyright.PENANAX1qLcK4TtD
289Please respect copyright.PENANAYHQOdCsQiv
Something shrill woke me. It took me a few moments to realize that I was splayed across Christian’s bed and that the noise I was hearing was a tea kettle. I squeezed my eyes shut and placed a pillow over my ears.289Please respect copyright.PENANAgsqtlezrSz
289Please respect copyright.PENANA1n0nazdyeZ
The mattress sank as someone sat down. They said, “I made you some tea. You look like you could use it. What happened, Kendall?”289Please respect copyright.PENANA6l2cf6DvmY
289Please respect copyright.PENANAEi8sitlGWk
I gazed at Christian and realized very quickly that he was the only stable, trustworthy, good thing in my life right now. He was real, kind, loving. Reaching out, I touched his hand and moved until he had room to lie, then I nestled myself into his body.289Please respect copyright.PENANAkM1iWTkBNX
289Please respect copyright.PENANAMDNqOgceU5
He had one arm around my waist, his fingers stroking my hip. His other hand was tucked under the pillow, his hazel eyes cool as he looked at me with a frown on his face.289Please respect copyright.PENANArTBicVZwPl
289Please respect copyright.PENANAWYuGHDOahl
“In the dream I had I killed someone,” I said, my voice trembling. I smelled the tea far off in the distance of the kitchen but it did nothing to calm my nerves. “I remember pulling out a gun and shooting the person, and then something fell from his hand. It was a name plate. Monroe. John Monroe was my old therapist and he died today. He was shot in the chest twice.”289Please respect copyright.PENANAvAve9kqKJ6
289Please respect copyright.PENANAA7CfCfZWbi
“It was just a dream,” Christian murmured, his hand in my hair. “It wasn’t real.”289Please respect copyright.PENANACcBRiikxe1
289Please respect copyright.PENANAy3Dz06AmfY
My next words were very tiny, almost inaudible.289Please respect copyright.PENANALhUOjOyrM7
289Please respect copyright.PENANAli8l6mFxUE
“I think it was. I think I killed him.” 289Please respect copyright.PENANAbITUKq7QsB