In Love With A Sociopath

Chapter 22

Mary's POV

Celia begins to squirm in my arms, but my hold on her is firm. We are getting out of here and away from Kevin, and we are leaving right now.

"Say goodbye to daddy, baby girl.", I hiss.

"Mary, wait.", Kevin catches up and stands in front of the door, holding up his hands to appease my anger.

"Kevin, get out of my way!", I almost shout,"You're deranged. Rebecca was right! You're so fucked!"

He gives me a strange look,"Who the fuck is Rebecca??"

Rolling my eyes,"It's complicated. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that she's right."

He smirks,"And you think I'm deranged."

"Oh shut up, Kevin.", I try to reach across him, but he quickly stops me.

"Are you really leaving on our anniversary?", he asks, soothingly.

"Ah ha!", I point at him,"See! There you do it again!"

He looks confused,"What are you talking about?"

"Manipulation.", I say, succinctly,"You're manipulating me! You're trying to make me feel bad about leaving today, but you'll do this every day. Well guess what, buster. Manipulation is a key symptom of sociopathy. And I now have every damn right to diagnose whoever the hell I want."

He looks at me, face glimmering with what I can only assume to be amusement,"God, you're so adorable when you get frustrated with me."

"Ah ha!", I repeat myself,"Charm! Now you're showing me charm. Something else that is a symptom. You're just digging your own grave now, Kevin."

His smile grows bigger and he pulls out the pack of mints,"Alright, you want me to take this? Fine I will."

Before, I can object and intrude by saying something like 'you're lying', he takes a pill, puts it into his mouth and swallows. He then opens his mouth wide and shows me that he did indeed swallow the pill.

"Get ready, Mary.", he says, his smile begins to diminish,"My life is gonna be hell. But I did it for you."

"You did it", I begin,"To keep me here. Kevin, you want me here because there is something that you want from me. I'm your supplier. So what is it that I'm giving you? Money? Because it's not like you don't make a lot from the bar you're working at. It's the most popular pub in town. Is it sex? Because I'm sure you'll be able to obtain that without my help as well. So what is it?"

He puts both his arms on my shoulders and leans in close to me,"I want you here because I just do. The reason is intricate and you won't understand. But just take it as love, will ya? But I'll take this pill in front of you everyday now. Hell, you can fucking feed me it yourself, but just don't go."

There's a brief pause between us and by now, even Celia is quieted down. Her eyes are glued to her parents to see if this is the end, or just the continuum of a story that has been going on for the past 6 years. 

"Alright.", I whisper,"Okay. But I have questions to ask you."

"Anything.", he says, in complete seriousness. However the integrity of the answers will remain an enigma to everyone in the exception of Kevin, himself.

"Let's drop Celia off at your mothers first.", I say and pick up the car keys,"Can I trust you to drive without speeding tonight?"

He smiles and takes the keys from my hand and goes behind me to bring back the dozen red roses that he gave me when he first came home today.