“You don’t like music. I didn’t want to be something you don’t like,” he says sternly and changes the subject. “This doesn’t matter. Don’t think too much about it, okay? Let’s get you back home, Trinity.”
Here we go.I hate closed-off Leonidas. It makes me wonder if I even know him at all. I’ve told him everything, yet he still feels like a mystery to me.
Nodding, I follow him out of his room. Gripping my hand in his, he kisses my knuckles. As he walks me down the stairs, I keep my eyes on the floor, not wanting to see Elijah’s and Amelia’s pitiful gazes.
The pressure immediately rises in my chest as he walks me back home. I want to stop in the middle of the yard and throw a tantrum like a damn baby. I don’t care. I don’t want to go in there. Everywhere I look will remind me of Simba. But I know he’s taking me back home because his heart is filled with gold. He doesn’t want me to create more tension with my mom.
But as we walk through the back door, my mood gets worse.
Mom is standing in the middle of the kitchen with her hands folded against her chest. “Where were you? How many times do I have to tell you that you’re grounded?!” Her eyes land on Leonidas. She turns a scary shade of red. “Out! Right now!” she booms and points toward the door.
She strides toward us, and her hand painfully grips my forearm. She yanks me out of his grasp, her nails digging into my skin.
“Ow, Mom!” I exclaim and jerk my arm away from her.
My skin immediately burns and turns pink as I look up at her in shock. My mom just hurt me for the first time. Pain shoots up my arm, making me rub it in response.
“Don’t touch her like that!” Leonidas says sternly. His voice is deep. Filled with tension and warning. He pulls me back against his body and glares over at her.
“Don’t tell me what to do, you little punk.” Mom seethes.
She advances to grab me again, but Leonidas pushes me out of the way.
“Don’t hurt her. One call is all it takes, and I’ll sue your ass for touching her,” he grumbles and takes a stiff step forward.
Oh no, here come the anger problems he told me about. I can practically see fire coming out of his ears.
Gripping the back of his T-shirt in warning, I tensely whisper, “Please don’t do anything.”
“I won’t hurt my daughter.” Mother gasps in horror, ignoring me altogether.
Rude.
Leonidas turns his body around and gently holds up my arm. “Then, what’s this?” He gestures to the red skin and glares at her.
“Do you blame a mother for getting worried when seeing her daughter in a guy’s clothing?” She laughs and rolls her eyes at my boyfriend. “She’s in your boxers, for God’s sake! Are you kidding, Trinity?!”
If only she knew why.
“You want to know the reason?” Leonidas grits out. He stands in front of me, his body protecting mine from my mother.
“What else could be the reason than what I’m thinking?”
“Where’s your dog?” he says bluntly.
A look of confusion crosses Mom’s face as she glances back at me. “What is he getting on with?”
“Your daughter found her dog dead in the woods because someone forgot to close the door this morning before she left for work.”
Harsh but true. Simba wouldn’t be dead if Mom hadn’t left the door open.
A gasp leaves her lips. “Is this true, Trinity? Simba is dead?” She stares wildly at me.
Nothing can seem to leave my lips as I nod. She staggers back in horror and places a hand to her mouth.
“And the reason she’s in my clothes is that he bled all over hers.”
Tears pour down Mom’s face as she glances around the house. “I’m so sorry, Trinity. I didn’t mean to leave the door open, I swear.”
