Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #2)

by H.D. Carlton

“Something funny?” Rick asks. I squash the grin and shake my head, but all I can think is that even though I may die, so will all of them. And their end is going to be so much worse than mine.

That’s the good thing about being a writer, I suppose. I’ve built and crafted so many imaginary personalities that it doesn’t take much to figure out the ones in real life.

Already, I’m changing, and the old Addie is unrecognizable. I’ve never wanted to hurt someone until now. Never

“You have any advice?” I ask, my voice weak and hoarse from all the screaming. I watch her freeze from the corner of my eye. She collects herself and then resumes blending her concealer, clearing her throat. “Cover your tracks,” she says quietly, her Russian accent prominent. She has a beautiful voice, and Rocco's friends thinks so, too. “And run only when necessary. It isn’t about how far you can get; it’s about making sure they never find you.

You can throw glitter on a snake, but the bitch still bites.

And there is a difference between those who are needlessly evil and those who do bad things hoping that something good will come out of it. I'll let you decide for yourself which one I am.”

He succumbs to me like the Titanic did the ocean. Indestructible—unsinkable—to everyone but me. I’m the raging sea that conquered him and sunk him to his very knees, and he was helpless to stop me.

“I don’t care if I need to set this world on fire until there’s no one left but you and me. The world will burn around us, and I’ll gladly live in chaos with you as long as the only person that is a danger to you is me.”

you’re going to tell me you want the old Addie back. But she’s gone, Mom. And I know Dad disapproves of the new version of me, but I hope one day, you both will relearn to love who I’ve become.”

“You’re trying to make taking away people’s free will sound virtuous.”

Heaven isn’t a place you go to when you die, it’s inside the person that’s worth dying for.