Page 148 of I Never Stopped Loving You

“What?”

“I…I didn’t mean to kill her.”

“What did you think would happen? You strangled her,” I say as he pulls the photo down and runs his fingers over his wife’s image.

“I didn’t mean to. She just made me so mad. She just wouldn’t stop fighting me on everything.”

His voice is low as he seems to be remembering that horrible day. Normally, it takes a few more photos and a lot more blood to get them to feel remorse for their sins, but not Rayes. He cracked from the first photo.

“It was something stupid that started it that morning. I think it was something about Angela. She always said I spoiled her too much, and maybe I did. She was my princess after all. But then she wouldn’t stop. She just kept yelling and nagging me on and on and on. She just wouldn’t shut up. I hadn’t slept. I’d been up for over thirty-seven hours. I just…wanted her to stop.”

“What about all the other times you beat her? Did you just want her to stop then, too?” I ask as I take another step closer.

“Yes,” he says, his voice almost a whisper.

“Men like you are why I do this. You think you can hurt other people and get away with it, but you can’t. Not while I’m still breathing.”

I want to chase. I want to hunt. I don’t want to just kill him here. This isn’t as satisfying as I wanted it to be.

“You swear you won’t hurt my daughter?” he finally asks as he turns back to me.

“I won’t go near her ever again,” I promise him.

“There isn’t a way to escape, is there? At least not one that I can find. It’s probably hidden so that only you can find it. Am I right?”

“Yes.”

“Figures. Welp, you better get to it then.”

I cock my head to the side. Is he really accepting his death already?

“Run, Rayes.”

“No.”

“No?” I ask.

“No. I’m done running. Just kill me here.”

“No. You don’t deserve a quick death,” I snap, pointing my knife at his throat.

“Fine,” he huffs as he lowers his head.

My knife is still pointed at him. There’s barely enough room for him to move around me in the narrow path without my knife nearly biting his flesh. He stops with his back to me before taking a deep breath.

“Run.”

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly.

“What?”

“I’m sorry,” he repeats before turning and lunging at me.

I don’t get a second to react, still stunned by the way this man just gave up so easily. I can’t move my knife away fast enough. Can’t pull it back before it pierces his flesh, deep into his throat. I can’t stop staring at his eyes and that fucking smile on his face.

“No,” I gasp.

“Thank you,’ he gurgles.