Fuck. That went straight off a cliff.
With jittery fingers, I take out a cigarette and start smoking, hoping to get my chill back.
Eliano lowers his head, his eyes locking back onto the screen.
A normal version of me would probably get defensive, but even I have lines I don’t cross. Mocking someone’s abuse is a hard no-go zone for me.
At the same time, I’m not about to apologize either, so I let it drop, pretending it never happened.
Taking one deep drag after another, I brood gloomily. Maybe I should switch to something neutral? Or at leastonly lightlyprovocative.
"Why do you want to avoid those fights here so badly, huh?" I ask.
Eliano doesn’t look up, no reaction.
"You’re pretty good, I’ve seen you on the bus. Your mood tanks every time they come up. It’s not like you’re scared, is it?"
That last part wasn’t planned, for sure. Words slip again. Cringing internally, I come to the conclusion that I subconsciously want him tohateme.
That has to be it.
Eliano jerks his head up and looks at me, a flash of something close to anger cutting through his eyes.
"I’m not scared, Salt."
I blow a long stream of smoke in his direction.
"Then what’s the problem?"
He hesitates, his gaze moving over my face before he presses his lips together hard.
"Judging by how you see the mafia, you wouldn’t understand."
Oh hell no. I’m not letting him brush me off like that. I stub out the cigarette on the windowsill with a sharp motion, and puff out my lips, irritated.
"But all alphas like fighting, right? Correct me if I’m wrong. Or maybe some of you just aren’t cut out for it?"
No way in hell! Why did I do it again? Why does my tone keep turning jabby? I really have zero control over myself tonight.
I’m weirdly itchy, keyed up, buzzing under my skin. I need something,moreof him, a reaction, a hit ofhisenergy.
But Eliano doesn’t even look at me now. He keeps his eyes on the screen and straight-up ignores me.
The fucker just sits there.
Yeah. It’s working. I’m definitely making him hate me.
"Try me," I push. "Tell me why, Eliano."
He slowly raises his hand and… flips me off!
I almost laugh. This is a language I know. This I can work with.
"Oh no, you asshole!" I shoot back, half amused. "You’re gonna pay for that!" And then I jump him, the laptop sliding off his lap and hitting the floor.
But if I thought I could be quicker than an alpha, I’m in for a fail.
Lightning fast, Eliano grabs my wrist and twists his body just enough while pulling me forward, making me land on his lap.
