Am I?
He narrowed his gaze at me, cocking his head to the side. “Because my brother is ignoring the fact that you’re the brightest red fucking flag I’ve ever seen doesn’t mean I will. Let’s get that clear first.”
His words were laced with venom and ice cold against my skin.
“We don’t need any more problems,” he crudely added. “And you come with an arsenal of them. That much I’m sure of.”
I looked away. I had to. I couldn’t withstand his hatred for me. I read him all wrong… he wasn’t with me, he was against me, not a friend, but a foe.
He grabbed my chin this time, making me look at him as he spoke with conviction. “You can’t hide from me. I know you’re not scared of me, so just give me a reason to make you be.”
I yanked my chin away because I never surrendered to anyone.
“Kraven!” Julius unexpectedly shouted, abruptly walking into the room. “For fuck’s sake, she just woke up.” He stepped right into his face, getting between us. “Can you give her a minute?”
“I’ve given her two days.”
Two days? Damn, I was out for a while.
“During which she was unconscious,” Julius replied.
“Yeah, well,” Kraven snapped, looking back at me. “Your time is up.”
Julius’s aggression seemed to slightly subside when he glanced at me, ordering, “Don’t mind him, his bark is always worse than his bite.”
“Yeah, and she’s about to find out my bite leaves a mark.”
Little did we know it wouldn’t just be marks. They’d be scars I’d carry for life.
“Kraven, enough!” Julius demanded, not backing down for one second.
“I’m not your dog,” Kraven spewed, standing taller. “You can’torder me around. Try that on your new bitch.” He nodded at me. “She’s the one who needs to learn the rules.”
Julius reacted by shoving him, roaring, “Get the hell out of my room.”
This might have been the first time I felt like a pawn in a game I didn’t understand, but it was far from the last.
Nobody told me that once I learned the rules, they’d change into something unrecognizable.
Over and over and over again.
With one last menacing regard, Kraven shoulder checked Julius and stormed out of his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. As soon as he was gone, Julius’s expression swiftly faded into immediate regret.
“He’s a lot,” he somberly announced, taking a step back to give me some space before acknowledging the IV on the floor. “Roland would have taken that out. He only lives down the street.”
My face furrowed a bit, and he understood my soundless expression, informing, “He’s the doctor who fixed you up on our dining room table.”
My stare widened.
“You’ll be okay. At least physically.”
Did he know? No, how can he know?
“Your backpack is in my closet.” He gestured to it behind me. “I didn’t want to go through your things. It’s why you’re wearing my shirt.”
I stood there, listening intently to what he was saying.
Leaning against his dresser, he coaxed, “You can stay here as long as you want. And not just in my room, but the house. Don’t worry about Kraven. He’s my problem, not yours, alright?”
