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The couple started screaming at each other again. This area was so depressing, I wasn’t sure how anyone could live here by choice. But most people probably didn’t have a choice.
I headed back into the house before my mood could take a further downward spiral. The dogs were still busy near the fence.
“Bandit, Coco, come here!” I called, and surprisingly they both obeyed my command without hesitation and ran into the house. I closed the door and with a deep breath, turned around to face the house. It was bleak and almost felt like an enemy in itself. No decoration, no cozy furniture. This place was only meant for the barest needs. I took a look into the fridge but except for a carton of eggs, and a few cans of coke, that too was empty. I considered preparing an omelet, though I’d only done that once before. I wasn’t really hungry anyway.
I returned into the living room and sank down on the sofa. A spring dug into my butt and the old thing squeaked under my weight. I’d never had to watch TV all day. I’d always been busy with school, friends and hobbies. I leaned back slowly. The only other items in the room were a TV, a TV board, which looked like Growl had found it on the side of the street, and a small table. There weren’t any cabinets, pictures or anything else. Growl couldn’t possibly spend a lot of time here.
I needed to figure out a way to get out of here as fast as possible.
I grabbed the remote from the table and turned the TV on. I zapped through the many channels, but there was nothing even remotely interesting on. I put the remote back down, letting the nature channel run in the background as I got back up to discover the remaining rooms, but I’d pretty much seen them all already. There was the bathroom, my room and that of Growl. He hadn’t locked it despite the weapons decorating his walls.
There wasn’t even a single book in the house. Nor did I see a computer anywhere.
Frustrated I settled back on the sofa and left with nothing else to do, I eventually fell asleep again.
The sound of the lock woke me and I jerked upright. Goosebumps covered my skin. The AC was simply turned too cold. I searched the room for a clock but even that was missing.
It was still light outside, so I knew at least that it wasn’t night.
The dogs were yapping happily and then Growl’s steps sounded. He appeared in the doorway, scanning the room quickly before giving me a once over.
“Everything okay?” he asked suspiciously.
“No,” I said. What a stupid question.
Growl held up a milk carton. “For your coffee.”
My lips parted. “Uh, thanks?”
We stared at each other. He seemed as unsure about the situation as I was. I began rubbing some warmth into my arms. “Cold?”
I nodded. He went away and the AC stopped blowing cold air into the room. Why was he being this way? It made me suspicious of his motives.
“Any news?” I asked when he came back.
His expression tightened. Then turned around and headed down the corridor toward the kitchen. I pushed off the sofa to rush after him. He stood in the open fridge. “You haven’t eaten anything.”
Was he daft? “I’m not hungry.” That was a lie. “What about my question? You met with Falcone, did he say something about my mother or sister?”
“You need to eat,” Growl said. “Starving yourself won’t change a thing.”
“I don’t care! Answer my question, goddammit!”
Bandit let out a low rumble but Growl silenced him with a movement of his hand.
I stiffened. “Not dangerous, hm?”
“What do you expect when you’re screaming at their owner?”
“Come on, it’s not like I’m a danger to you,” I said mockingly.
He glanced down at his bandaged arm, then shrugged. “You’re not, but you’re being disrespectful.”
“You don’t deserve my respect.”
Growl closed the fridge, tilting his head to watch me. Again I could tell that he didn’t know what to do with me. “I’m going to order pizza. I haven’t had anything for lunch. What kind of pizza do you want?”
I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe. “I’m not going to eat anything until you answer my question.”
“And I’m not going to answer until you eat something.”
“Does that mean you know more?”
“I do,” he said simply.CHAPTER ELEVENCara
My fingers shook at the prospect of news about my mother and sister. “Ok. I’ll eat the pizza. Just tell me what you know.”
“What kind?”
I blew out a breath in exasperation but I couldn’t lose it again or he might decide to tell me nothing. “Tuna and onions, I suppose.”
Growl picked up the phone and ordered the pizza for six. That left more than one hour.
He must have seen the dismay in my expression because he said, “Coco and Bandit need walking. If you come along, I’ll tell you everything I know.”
