Little Stranger (The Web of Silence Duet, #1)

by Leigh Rivers

He was trying to take what was mine. “I’m not yours,” I reply and regret it instantly as a shadow falls over his face.

No. You were mine when we were kids, and you’re mine now. You’ll always be mine.

“You can’t ignore me for weeks then just crawl back into my life, Malachi. It isn’t fair.”

You want to chase me around a cemetery? The woods? Make me terrified while you fuck me?”

Because I can’t talk? Because I can’t tell you how fucking breathtaking you are every second of every day? Because I can’t breathe without being near you? Someone like me… I’m different—I can’t be normal for you. I can’t defend you without using my fists or my bat, and I can’t touch you at the same time as telling you that you’re everything to me. I can’t whisper sweet nothings into your mouth and I can’t fucking marry you because not only am I your brother, but I’m defective.

Believe me or don’t, but you’re the only person in my life, and you always have been. And when you take your last breath, or I take mine, that won’t fucking change. You. Are. Mine. My goddamn property, do you understand?

I never saw the big deal about Halloween, but my sister has always loved it. She likes to be scared, and I guess the entire theme of this holiday is to be scary. Fine, I’ll be scary.

I tip my head towards the cornfield. “Run, little stranger.”

“I found you,” I whisper against her ear. “I’m never letting you go now.”