Page 147 of Wicked Little Secret
MAKE YOU MINE- MADISON BEER
“I’m not afraid of you.”
I challenge Professor Adler with a brave glare. He’s let go of me, backing up a couple steps to slide fingers through his hair and catch his breath. He’s never looked more out of control. More deranged and insane.
He’s lost all composure. All restraint.
Every principle he lives his life by has seemingly disappeared.
He’s operating off impulse and adrenaline.
The rough breaths he husks out tell me he’s right on the edge of truly snapping. I’ve driven him to the brink.
…and, as shameful as it is to admit, there’s something darkly sexy about him like this. There’s something strangely empowering in the most fucked up way. I’ve pushed a man known for his intellect and cool—if not icy—demeanor to such a point that he’s transforming into some kind of crazed monster before me.
It’s just more confusion at a time where I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what to believe.
I could be locked inside this glass cell with a man whomurdered my mother. The same woman I’ve been avenging all along, even if initially I wasn’t aware who truly was my mother.
Or he could be telling the truth—he didn’t murder my mother, but hedidlove her.
Trying to get a read on the situation feels impossible.
After the web of lies I’ve found myself tangled in, what’s real and what’s not has become relative.
Seconds stretch into a full minute as heavy silence hangs between us. Professor Adler works to catch his breath while I search for any clues.
I swallow against imaginary cotton that’s materialized in my throat and force myself to remain calm anyway. I’ll deal with the trauma of everything I’ve been through later.
Right now, it’s more important I stay sharp and focused. Professor Adler’s smart and quick-witted, but so am I.
I just have to come up with an exit plan.
“Professor?” I say cautiously, softening my tone. “What are you?—”
“Silence!” he snaps, then he starts pacing back and forth. “You don’t believe a word I’ve said. You think I took her life? Do you realize what that does to me? No. But you will. You know what to expect by now, Miss Oliver. Punishment’s on the menu.”
“But what if…” I gulp down some air, taking a step toward him. “What if… maybe I do… maybe I could believe you?”
He stops short, looking over at me, a stray hair curled against his brow. “You believe me?”
“Of course I do,” I say gently. “The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. You’ve been nothing but protectiveof me. I’m sure you were the same way over my mother.”
“I tried to be. But she was hardheaded. It seems she and her daughter have that in common.”
He starts toward me, his energy so ambiguous, I’m not sure what to expect. I flinch as he smooths his palm along my cheek and slides his other arm around my hips. “I know you’re afraid of me. I even know you don’t truly believe me.”
“No, I meant it when I?—”
“You really think I don’t know when you’re lying, Nyssa?” He gives a laugh, his dark eyes gleaming as they peer into mine. “But it’s okay. Because I care so deeply for you, I’ll get you to see things my way. I’ll prove it to you. I have to leave for a couple hours. You’ll remain here until I can return.”
“Please don’t leave me in here?—”
“But first,” he goes on, “as some insurance, I can’t have you getting loose.”
He’s slipped something from his pocket that he slaps onto my wrist before I can even object. It’s a leather cuff attached to a chain.
“Why don’t you get some rest while I’m gone?”