I hate him!
He grips my wrist to pull me out, and tries to keep a hold on it, but I wriggle so hard I manage to get out of it. Hissing out an impatient breath, he slips his arm around my waist, pinning me to him in a hold that I can’t get out of, no matter how hard I struggle.
By the time we reach the front door, I’m angrier than I’ve ever been.
He must not have gone very far in the house when he brought in Aurora, because now, he pauses at the sight of the kitchen through the half-open door, with its flashes of color.
Dolores blew up balloons and hung up a sign I painted:Happy Birthday, Logan!She’s putting the finishing touches to the cake, then turns around and beams.
She’s very different from the grumpy woman who arrived in Washington with us. These past two years, she’s truly become one of the family. Very attached to Aurora, and to me too. She’s been my only female companion, and she’s become a friend more than an employee.
We started to get close when Logan’s long conversations in the bedroom started last year. She told me all about her life before: how she doesn’t have anyone back home. She was working for an associate who mistreated her, and once beat her so hard she wound up at the hospital. When Damien found out, he paid for her medical bills, got her out of the situation, and later on, offered her a place with Logan.
It suits her to be on the run with us. She doesn’t want the mafia to find her; she’s worried she’s learned too much over the years, and her knowledge could put her in danger. The only reason she protested so much about Washington is that she’s used to being independent, and she resented the way it all wentdown. But now she’s happy, she assures me. Happy to be in this quiet place far from civilization, with Aurora and me.
Another person who owes everything to Damien—I guess he can be something other than an asshole when he chooses.
And I know I owe him a lot too. But I’ll never admit that out loud.
Dolores’ smiles dies down when she notices Logan’s expression, and the way he’s gripping my wrist.
“I guess I’ll…” She coughs. “I guess I’ll take Aurora for a walk.”
“Yes,” says Logan, his voice strained. “I think that’s a good idea.”
She walks out of the kitchen, giving me a tight, pitying smile, then finds Aurora and walks out the back.
I just hear Aurora chirp, “But papa’s surprise…” before the back door closes behind them.
Then Logan faces me. But before he can get a word out, I storm, “Fuck you, asshole! Asshole! I hate you! I did this for you! Asshole!”
I had a whole lot of things I wanted to say, but insults are all I can manage as he leans back against the counter, watching me without an ounce of emotion.
At last I run out of insults, so I cross my arms and stare at him moodily.
“You’re finished?” he asks, his voice cold.
“No—yes. I guess. So what’re you going to do now, beat the shit out of me? Beat the shit out of me for remembering your fucking birthday?”
“I’m not Carmelo,” he says quietly.
“Okay, then, whatever you’re going to do, fucking do it! Get it the fuck over with! I’m sick of you staring at me like that!”
My voice catches in my throat, and moments later, I’m sobbing.Fuck!Right now, I hate that my tears turn him on. Ihate that he views them as silly and childish, instead of proof that I’m suffering. Because ofhim.
I’m crying hard, so hard that I sink to my knees, my stomach hurting, and I clutch at it, hating that I can’t get a hold of my emotions. I’ve never experienced anything like this. I’m struggling to catch my breath.Fuck, what’s happening?
“Lia…”
“Stop! Leave me alone! Go away!”
There’s the rustle of fabric, and I cry even harder, assuming he’s done just that. But that’s what I wanted, isn’t it? No. My body craves his touch, he’s the only one who could comfort me, and I hate myself for needing that. For needing my captor to soothe the pain I feel at being held captive… by him.
“Lia.”
I jump, hearing his voice right beside me, then feeling his arms around me. He sits down on the floor beside me, pulling me into his lap.
“Shhh, Lia. It’s okay.”
