“Eddie…we’refriends.”
Rage flared in those familiar amber eyes. “You’re mine. You promised me.”
Confusion swept through me. “I promised you?”
“You promised after Megan died. Promised you’d always be there.”
“And I have been…as yourfriend.”
Fury burst through Eddie, and he slammed the water bottle against the wall. “No! You told me you loved me.”
I froze, fear pulsing deep. I’d told Eddie, Noel, and Jordan that I loved them countless times, but I didn’t mean it like that.
“You get coffee and treats just for me. You take care of me. You make sure I eat and sleep. You said we’d always be together. You promised. But you broke that promise.” He snarled. “You can’t be trusted. Gotta keep you here until you remember.”
My mouth went dry. Eddie’s mind had twisted. Maybe from the trauma of losing Megan, but maybe not. Maybe it had always been this way.
“I can’t stay here, Eddie. I need to go to work. See my family. I need my insulin.” My pump beeped as if to punctuate my point.
Eddie glared at the device at my hip. “You don’t need that. You’re strong without it. You always have been.”
That panic was back. “If I don’t have my insulin, I’ll die.”
“You will not,” he growled. “That’s the people in your life trying to control you. I see it. How annoyed you get when they ask about it. When they say you can’t handle things.”
Blood roared in my ears. Eddie had taken me without any preparation for the things I needed to stay alive. I glanced down at my pump. It was already running on empty. How long did I have before I started feeling the effects? Maybe an hour if I was lucky.
“Eddie, please. At least get me some insulin. You can sneak into my house. There’s still some in the fridge.”
“That’s not your house!” he screamed. “This is your house. You’re home now. With me. We’re going to be happy here. You and me. I’ll take care of you.”
“Were you the one at my house? Outside my window?” It hurt to ask, but I had to know. Had each and every occurrence been Eddie and not Gabe?
Eddie’s jaw tightened. “I just wanted to make sure you were safe. I miss you when we aren’t together.”
My eyes burned; the urge to cry was so strong. “Did you take my pajamas?”
“I needed to feel close to you.” His voice had gone almost childlike, and it turned my insides. But that innocent tone disappeared as anger flashed in his eyes. “But then you had to let him touch you.”
I swallowed as my mouth went dry. “Eddie…”
“He shouldn’t be touching you,ever!” His voice vibrated with fury as he started pacing. “I had to set the fires then. They help me let out my anger so I don’t hurt you. I don’t want to hurt you, even when you make me mad.”
“The pictures?” I croaked.
Eddie turned those furious eyes in my direction. “You had to know that it wasn’t okay. That you couldn’t be with him.” He tapped his fingers against his legs as he paced. “You’ll learn. Once you realize we’re meant to be, everything can go back to normal. Once you realize you were always meant to be mine.”
“I’m not yours,” I whispered.
He charged, shoving me hard against the wall. “You’re mine! Say it!”
He slammed me against the wall again, making my ears ring and my head spin.
“I’m yours,” I croaked.
Eddie shoved his forearm across my throat, making it hard to breathe. “I don’t believe you.”
“Can’t. Breathe.”
