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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbBH7TcROu
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJlNJULZlO
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k1Mhr02jS
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoGmry4Wau
“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.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkSjzRAOyK
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLdj2NK2RK
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—403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbrUmfovni
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10bVqRisKh
“I have to go,” I said, rising. I blindly reached for my phone, taking it from her hand and leaving her office.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUp9oRKHGl
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX9Gf5fHBj
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKOfLXABHM
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoyDaXMNeC
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSghRwkr9g
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrup3OCjfD
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvnKLKenqj
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNec7bVMS8R
The mattress sank as someone sat down. They said, “I made you some tea. You look like you could use it. What happened, Kendall?”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGqmUOxzm7
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgEXeB46T5
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlibj0X9VG
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGIyXrIR0L
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVDO3SOV99
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSr0C0GXJD
“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.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVL0Q0uCkz
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtY3xRsOUC
“It was just a dream,” Christian murmured, his hand in my hair. “It wasn’t real.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvxNhhRloS
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6DL8tphJ4
My next words were very tiny, almost inaudible.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXRSmn0O29
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqyVyXu2kT
“I think it was. I think I killed him.” 403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqTS0mvarx
