Because he’d never hurt us.
My hand tightens around his. No. I don’t think he would.
Neo grins up at me, and the delight there catches me off guard. “I fucking knew it. You come up with this yourself?”
I nod stiffly. “You mentioned the arcade near one of your group homes growing up—how it was an escape for you.”
His throat bobs. “I didn’t realize you paid any attention to that.”
“I always pay attention to you.”
He tilts his head, his eyes searching my face. Then he clears his throat and tugs his hand away. “Okay. Where are we going to start?”
12
NEO
I’m in fucking trouble.
The thought rotates through my head for the entire evening. It’s stuck on a carousel, playing an annoying tune, so I can’t ignore it.
I’m in motherfucking trouble.
Everything up until now has been fun. Taunting Wylder to get a reaction. Spending my days organizing his life. Trying to break into Umbra’s servers so I can keep the Buckinghams and, in turn, myself and Ansel safe. Invading Wylder’s bed, watching him snap, and then sucking his cock until he comes down my throat.
Even tonight’s date was meant to be fun. Another way to mess with Wylder. To strip away part of that control he prides himself on. The control I suspect is slowly eroding away his soul.
That’s all it was meant to be. A bit of fun.
I wasn’t banking on Wylder. How carefully he buckled me into that death trap that somehow passes for transportation. The way he held both my hands the entire flight. How he gave me time to recover without rushing me. His consideration as he fed me medicine and ginger ale. The quiet confidence in his belief that I could go anywhere, because I wouldn’t be treated poorly if I was with him.
Because he wouldn’t allow it.
Any one of these things would spell trouble, but combined?
It’s a powder keg, just waiting to explode.
I might’ve been safe if it hadn’t been for the arcade.
Or, perhaps, if Wylder had just randomly chosen it.
But then he said those fuckingwords.
“I always pay attention to you.”
Doesn’t he realize how dangerous that is for someone like me? I grew up with no attention. With people who only cared that I was there if it meant a bigger balance in their bank account. No one ever gives a shit about me, let alone actually pays attention.
But Wylder does.
That’s dangerous.
It means I’m in trouble.
I’m in fucking trouble.
Because now I’m not just looking at this as a bit of fun. I’m not looking at Wylder as a challenge, as an adversary.
I’m looking at him in a whole new light. One that’s so bright it threatens to blind me. That’s what’s dangerous. Wylder might be indulging me now, but it won’t last. Before long, he’ll be tired of my antics. I’ll be tossed aside and forgotten about.
