“They would have killed her.” Adam squeezes my hand. “You saved her life.”

“But I nearly killed them. I wanted to.”

“Elena, don’t you see? Both times you lost control you were trying to protect someone else. That girl and then Trent…and the cops weren’t even that injured. You’re not going to kill the others or yourself.”

“But what if I lose control again? What if something happens and…”

He puts his hands on my shoulders, staring into my eyes. “You won’t. I know you, Elena. You’re not a killer.”

I want to believe him. But there’s one more thing I haven’t confessed, one thing I’ve held back. My father. And even though I’ve told Adam everything else, I can’t tell him that being a killer is in my blood. He’ll turn away from me, and I want him to keep looking at me like he is now, like he wants nothing more than to kiss me.

But he doesn’t kiss me. He waits for me to make a move, always patient, always understanding. Adam is too good for me, and I’m…I’m a mess.

I pull away from his touch and turn my back to him. “You should stay away from me.”

“Elena…”

“Please. Leave me alone.”

For a long second he doesn’t move. But then he sighs. I hear his footsteps heading back toward the car. Something tightens in my chest at the sound.

I don’t understand how I can have feelings for someone so different from me, someone I’ve known for only a day. Someone I’m completely wrong for. And yet…

“Adam, wait!” I sprint into the rain, catching up to him.

This time I don’t hesitate. I don’t think. I slide my hands up to his neck and pull him toward me. My lips press against his and he responds immediately, wrapping his arms around my waist. Our kiss is desperate, intense, like we know this might be our only chance. He holds me close and his body is warm against mine, igniting something inside me. As water pours down on us, together we’re a bonfire in the middle of a storm. And as I cling to Adam, suddenly, more than ever, I want to live.

13:28

13:28

The others don’t say anything when we get back in the car, but from the looks they give us, I can tell they know something’s changed. Chris has fixed the car’s navigation, and once we punch in Lynne’s name, the car starts forward again.