Page 69 of His Pet

“How much did you hear?” he asks, no hint of surprise in his tone.

“Enough.”

“Amelia, can you please take the blanket off?”

“No.”

Lorenzo sighs, and I hold the edges of the blanket tight, anticipating it when he goes to yank them off me. It slips through my fingers, and Lorenzo tosses it to the floor.

I sit up and back myself into the wall, pulling my knees up to my chest. It seems ridiculous even to me, but I’m mad at him. Not for kidnapping me. Not for getting me into this mess. Not for letting me try thebestI could to convince his mom I was his nurse.

For lying to me. For preparing to send me off into the world where I wouldn’t know the dangers that lurked.

“I need to know.”

“Why?” I ask with trepidation.

Was there more?

“Because I want you to know the truth, and I’m not sure what you’re unaware of yet.”

I pull my eyes to him and study his features. Gone is the impassive man from this morning. Now he seems sincere and concerned. Thoughtful. He’s a good enough actor, I’d never know which was real.

“Well, I heard the part where your family wants me dead.”

He nods, his expression never changing. “Okay.”

“Okay?” I laugh incredulously and sit up straighter. “That’s what you have to say about that? Okay?”

“I’m not going to let them hurt you.”

“Didn’t really sound like you have a choice.”

There’s a long pause. Lorenzo tilts his head and ponders something while staring into my fucking soul like only he can do. “If you believe that, why are you still here?”

I open my mouth to answer but then close it. I don’t know. I never fucking know why I react the way to him that I do. I’m fucking crazy, is that what he wants to hear?

Lorenzo shakes his head. “I always have a choice, Amelia. I’m not a fucking robot, and I’m more than my last name. I respect my family. Ilovemy family, and I am fiercely loyal. The one thing that can stand in the way of that is my character. I always repay my debts. I chose to give you your life back when you chose to save mine.”

“So that’s all it is? You’re paying adebtto me.”

I scoff, throwing my legs off the bed. I stand and begin to make my way toward the door, taking him up on his offer. I don’t know if I would actually make it out of the cabin or not, but I don’t get the chance to find out.

Lorenzo grabs my wrist and pulls me into him. I struggle and he wraps both his arms around my front and holds my back to his chest while still sitting.

“Stop,” he says, to no avail. I kick my heel into his shin, but he’s unaffected.

“Amelia,enough.”

It’s been days since he’s usedthattone, and I forget the effect it has on me until I freeze.

Lorenzo sighs and removes one arm from me to smoothe back my hair. It feels good, and my body relaxes like a fucking animal being coaxed. I don’t care right now, though. I close my eyes and fight the wave of emotions that threaten to take me. I rest into him and let him protect me. From myself. From the world. From his family. Even from him.

“I’m tired of seeing you hurt.”

“Angry,” I correct, holding onto my pride.

Lorenzo strokes my hair and plants a kiss on my head. “I know what I said, Kitty.”

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