She scowls, then turns back to Alf. It’s starting to irk me she’s finding comfort and reassurance in him when I’m the one talking. Choosing to believe what he says over me. I should have just let him explain it. Would’ve saved all this clearly wasted breath.
Alfie nods, offering her a gentle smile. “One fair shot, El. It’s a promise.”
Her tight features go slack, and she looks back to me. “I want a one-way ticket to anywhere I want. I want an untraceable phone for free, and I want a suitcase. Filled with my own clothes.”
I grit my teeth at the snide demand but incline my head. “Fine. But in return, Elodie, if I win, you have to stay and be a good wife for me. You have to let me take care of you.”
There’s an ominous glow in her glare now. “Of course.”
I get to my feet and extend my hand to her. “Deal?”
She stands on the sofa, not dropping next to the dogs. She’s eye level with me this way, so I hold that scheming gaze as she takes my hand. “Deal.”
Fiz appears with one of my duffle bags containing my emergency medical kit. “Maggie’s done her little disappearing act, so it’s down to us.”
I keep my gaze on Elodie, eyes dropping briefly down to her neck. “Sort her out first.”
Fiz frowns. “You’re soaking through the towel.”
“Alf can stitch it while you mop her up.”
Elodie grimaces. “I’d rather Alf.”
“Tough.” My glare makes her defiance flicker a little.
Fiz hands Alfie some supplies, then sits down next to Elodie, tugging her down with him.
Alf sees to my arm but I don’t take my eyes off Elodie, who keeps her own eyes glued to me as Fiz wipes at her neck. It looks like she’s only nicked herself a couple of times. She made careful work of the collar. Luckily.
Feeling a weird sort of relief fill my stomach as Fiz gets all the dried blood off her neck and I see no serious injuries, I say to her, “You can go now.”
She doesn’t move, her eyes breaking our intense stare-off to peer down at the dogs still surrounding the floor by our feet.
Resisting the urge to huff, I give a sharp whistle and order, “Out,” and the dogs trot off.
Turning my gaze back up at Elodie, she gives me a single nod and then climbs off the sofa, disappearing from the room.
Fiz clears up all the bloody wipes. “Boy’s got it ba-ad,” he sings.
“Please… I just wanted her out of my space.”
He chuckles, getting to his feet. “Alright, lover boy.” He stalks off.
I can feel Alfie’s unspoken jibes thickening the air. “Don’t start.”
“I said nothing.” He pokes the needle through my skin.
I grit my teeth against the pop. “Good. Keep it that way.”
So what if I got rid of the dogs? She wouldn’t have left otherwise. It means nothing.
CHAPTER 15
FIZ
That went better than I thought it would. Piece of cake. Don’t I just have the best ideas? She’s guaranteed now. Do I think for one moment she’ll uphold her end of the deal? Absolutely not. That’s what makes it so perfect. We’ll get to beat her into shape for the rest of her sorry life.
My contribution to that can start this morning. Cade’s making Alf go back to work, but he still doesn’t trust Elodie to stay in the house on her own. Alf tried to get Cade to agree to letting Elodie go to work with him, but he said no. Cade’s jealous as fuck at the way she is with Alf. There’s immediate compliance with him. If Cade and I had that sort of patience, she’d probably be like that with us too, but we don’t. Far from.
