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“Thank you,” she says quietly as I take her by the hand and lead her into the kitchen.
Chapter Five
DEMI
He’s so dang nice that it’s almost overwhelming. It puts me at ease until I remember I’m going to be indebted to him too, which means my debt is stacking up. Too bad my body isn’t opposed to the idea of owing Curt.
There had only been terror at paying back the Shapovals, and I was trying to find an exit plan from the start. With Curt, I’m sitting here letting him make me breakfast, not wanting to go anywhere. When I think about how he might want to demand payback, my face heats, and a rush of heat floods through my body, pooling between my thighs. Something is seriously wrong with my head.
“Bacon?” Curt asks, placing a plate full of fluffy pancakes in front of me.
“If there’s extra…” I lick my lips as he pours the syrup.
“There doesn’t need to be extra, angel.” My heart does a silly flutter at him calling me that. It’s sweet, and I enjoy it way too much. He’s going to make it hard for me to leave.
“Thank you.”
“You’re a guest. You don’t need to thank me for feeding you.” I open my mouth to say thank you again but quickly close it, making him smirk. He’s a bit more relaxed today, and it makes him even sexier than I already thought he was.
When I woke up this morning, I was sure I was in a dream. My first thought was to go find Curt when the reality of what really happened yesterday came flooding back to me. Anxiety made me want to panic, but for some reason I knew if I got close to Curt, it would fade away.
I can’t hold back a moan when I take a giant bite of the pancakes. The second the sweet taste hits my mouth I’m done for, and I don’t stop eating until I clear my plate.
“Careful, angel. I want you to eat, but don’t make yourself sick.”
“Oh gosh.” I cover my face with my hands, not wanting to know what I looked like when devoured my plate in a matter of seconds.
“Don’t get embarrassed. I’m happy you’re eating. Someone needs to do a better job of taking care of you.” When I drop my hands, I see a scowl on his handsome face.
“I’m an adult. I should be taking care of myself at this point. I’ve been doing it for a while.” Really it’s been most of my life. I can remember being four and making my own meals. The idea of someone taking care of me sounds almost ridiculous.
“And how is that working for you?” He turns the scowl on to me.
“I’m trying.”
“Getting involved with the Shapovals isn’t trying.” My heart drops, and all the air leaves my lungs. How does he know that name already? “Fuck.” He grabs my face with both hands, tilting it back to look up at him. “Breathe,” he orders, and my body follows his command.
“I have to leave.” I try to push back from the kitchen island, but he doesn’t let me go. “I have to,” I plead with him, and he finally drops his hands from my face.
“You’re safer here.”
I’m not sure I’ll be safe anywhere, but the more distance I can put between the Shapovals and myself, the better.
“Did you tell them I was here?” Tears form in my eyes. I know I shouldn’t have this sense of betrayal, but I do.
“No.”
I slowly start to relax, but it doesn’t last long. “Me being here could put you in their sights too. I can’t stay.” I try to push back from my chair again, but his hand comes down on the back of it. He’s done so much for me that I hate the idea of bringing any kind of trouble to his door.
“And where would you go?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I could get on a bus or something. Go to another state and find a women’s shelter?” His eyes roam my face. I’m not sure what he’s looking for.
“You’d never make it. Someone would snatch you up.” I swallow, not sure if he means the Shapovals or someone else altogether.
“I don’t have much of a choice. I can’t go back to them.”
“Why is it that they have their hooks into you to begin with? How long have you been…” He trails off, his face hardening with anger.
“I stole from them,” I admit. “I’m not blameless.”
“How much?” he grits out between clenched teeth. I hate his anger because when he’s sweet and trying to take care of me, it makes me feel precious.
“I don’t know. I stole some lunch meat and a few cans of food from one of their stores.” He’s silent for a long moment, his eyes never leaving my face.
