Page 113 of Petrify

He says these things to get a rise from me, and I can’t deny that it’s working. “If you think she won’t sever your dick from your body?—”

“That timid thing?” Leo laughs. “I could get her on her knees with one word. I’m sureyouknow.”

My eyes narrow. “Could you even get it up again tonight?”

“You’ve become such a disappointment.” His lip curls. “After everything. I’ve brought you how many people now? I’ve covered for you. I’ve never forced you out of the house. All of this, hoping one day you’d realize you could put this urge to good use.”

“To kill for you.”

“For yourself,” he says. As if we haven’t had this conversation endless times. “It’s convenient for both of us, and you know it.”

He thinks I’m stupid. That I don’t know at the first hint of trouble, he’d abandon me for the wolves. Let me take the fall.

“That’s what you have Desmond for.”

“I wouldn’tneedDesmond if you would just cooperate.” Leo shakes his head. “This girl distracts you. We’re getting rid of her.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Mariane and I have already decided. She goes in the morning.”

It’s the mutteredwhoreunder his breath that almost has me losing my grip on my restraint. There’s a sudden pain in my jaw—I’m clenching my teeth together too hard. It takes everything within me not to lunge at him. Not to tear his throat out at just a few words. I let the pain arc through my skull for a few more seconds before relaxing, shaking off the rage. That’s what he wants. He wants me to act out. Give him a reason to send Desmond Mallary’s way.

“I’m not done with her.”

“You’llneverfinish her,” he says with a roll of his eyes. “So she has to go.”

“What about Henri?”

“Since when have you cared about Henri? Whether she leaves or she succumbs to you, he’s going to need a new teacher.”

“Am I not allowed to take my time?”

But I am maskless, and I cannot hide my rage as easily. He’s telling me thisnow—unmasked—on purpose.

“It’s not like you.” He meets my stare directly. “You’ve wasted so much of your potential. First the music, and now this.”

I don’t move. Even though I know exactly what he’s going to say. I’ve heard it a dozen times before. But I don’t turn and leave.

“You know, when you first killed your nanny, I thought maybe,maybe, we could hone you to our needs. You could be useful to us. To the family. And yet.” The slow, disappointed shaking of his head, back and forth. “A girl has you wrapped around her finger and now you won’t let go.”

He knows I wouldn’t have kept her around so long for no reason. Not even for the flood of desire between us. Though, this is the first time sex has ever been part of the equation.

He just can’t fathom that Ilikeher.

“Haven’t we tried enough?” Leo says. “We gave you victims. You play too much with your food. It’s time.”

“And you’ll let me out?” I advance again. He has to look up at me. “I do what you say and you’ll let me out?”

His lip is still curled, and I know he’s lying when he nods. “You kill her, youagreeto listen, and we’ll discuss this with Mariane.” As if she’s the one calling the shots here.

My mother hasn’t cared for me in a decade.

He goes on. “Listen to your head, Arnaud. You’re smart, right? The punishment ends when you listen.”

Punishment.

He never let me out. He never wanted to.