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“Keep him away from me! KEEP HIM AWAY!” I shout, my throat raw.
Leon stiffens, scowling at me before flicking his gaze to Thirteen. “I brought you food. Nala said you were hungry, Thirteen.”
“I don’t care why you’re here! Get out!” I scream, ignoring the pain in my throat. I know that he isn’t someone I can talk to like that without consequences, but I don’t care. Fear and anger make me reckless.
“Leon, she’s not ready,” Thirteen implores gently, twisting her body away from me and holding her hands up to Leon like she’s trying to tame a wild animal. He bares his teeth at her, rocking on his feet before glaring at me. I can see the internal struggle he’s fighting. There’s a dark kind of need in his eyes, but also something else, something new, something close to empathy. It’s what holds him back, what stops him from doing what he truly wants. “Please, Leon. Give her time.”
“It’s been three days already. Ineedto talk to her,” he counters, taking a step closer.
“Not now, okay? Not now,” she begs, shaking her head.
“Right now,” he counters.
“Get. Out!” I demand, panting now, my gaze locking with his. I reach for the glass next to the bed, pick it up and throw it at him. He ducks and it shatters against the wall. When he straightens, his eyes darken and the lines between his eyebrows deepen.
“You’ll have to speak to me sooner or later. I’m the only one standing between you and them,” he says before twisting on his feet and striding from the room, slamming the door behind him.
My breaths come out in short, sharp bursts as my chest heaves and tears stream down my face. I swipe at them, feeling unhinged, confused, angry,afraid.
“What did he mean by that?” I ask, pushing the duvet from my legs that Thirteen is trying to cover me with. I slide off the bed, banging into the side table and a leather armchair as I move. My legs feel weak. I feel weak.
“He means Konrad and Jakub. He’s protecting you,” Thirteen explains, rising to her feet, approaching me cautiously.
“Leonis protecting me fromthem?” I shake my head, still backing away. I’m so confused. My thoughts are in turmoil. Something doesn’t feel right. “You’re lying!” I accuse, knowing deep down that he’s the one who hurt me the most. So why would he need to protect me from his brothers if hurting me istheirsole purpose?
“No. I’m not. Leon—”
“Strangled me to death!” I shout, remembering suddenly what’s been just out of reach. My hand flies to my throat, my eyes widening as Thirteen reaches for me. “No! Don’t touch me!” I spin on my feet and run towards the opposite side of the room and to a door that leads to who knows where. Yanking it open, I step into a huge bathroom with a tub the size of a large jacuzzi sunk into the floor, and a vaulted ceiling made entirely of glass situated directly above it. Sunlight streams into the room and I slam the door shut, locking it.
“Christy, please don’t be afraid of me. I’m your friend. I won’t let him hurt you,” Thirteen pleads through the door.
“You already did!” I shout back, my knees buckling beneath me as I slide to the tiled floor. “You already did.” I repeat quietly, staring at my reflection in the mirror opposite as I press against the deep purple fingerprints that ring my throat. Fingerprints he made with his hands.
The hands that killed me.
