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He slaps his hands together and I cry out like he’s hit me. A hint of a smile crosses his face, and I get the feeling that we’re sharing an inside joke. I let my sobs taper off until the room is silent—and I hear footsteps walking away from the door a moment later.
Javi heaves a relieved breath.
“That was smart,” he says. “You’re a good actress.”
I shrug. “My motivation is strong when I just got punished in public. Would much rather pretend to be punished in private.”
He glances at the door, then back at me, tapping his foot on the ground. A split second later, he’s striding toward the bed. I tuck my knees up around me, trying my best to keep myself covered even though I know he’s already seen it all. He kneels at the side of the bed, reaching out and taking my hand.
“I was serious,” he says. “I’m sorry.”
I blush. “I actually kind of…”
No—I can’t tell him I liked it.
“What, Peach?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I say. “I was just gonna say…it was cruel of him to make you share those things about yourself. He shouldn’t have done that.”
I squeeze his hand, feeling the callouses there. He’s got the palms of a sailor, rough with rope burn. But his knuckles are scarred too, and I have to wonder if he got those scars in Miami. I rub my thumb over them, gazing down at his big, strong hands. I suddenly remember how his palm felt when it slapped against my bare skin, and I consider begging him to do it again.
He jerks his hand away.
“I’m fine,” he says. “And take off the damn collar. I don’t want to see you wearing it in here.”
I reach for the clasp and taking it off, placing it on the side table. I don’t understand his mood swings—how he seems kind one second and grumpy the next.
He sighs and tugs on his beard. “We need to figure out what we’re going to do about this situation with Gideon.”
“What do you mean?” I frown.
Javi shakes his head. “He’s not gonna settle for a few fake beatings, Peach,” he says. “And I’m not immune to…”
My face falls. “Don’t tell me you believe him.”
Javi’s brow furrows. “Of course I don’t. Your father is a conman.”
“But he’s promising you a lot,” I say. “A position in his pack, power, pleasure. And me…” I bite my lip. “You could do whatever you wanted to me. We both know that. And if you hurt me, everyone here would think I deserved it. They would beglad. You act like we’re both prisoners, but you have everything to gain and I have everything to lose.”
Javi grits his teeth. “I don’t like thinking about you getting hurt—least of all by me.”
“I’m just asking that you…” I take a breath, wondering how to phrase this. “…that you don’t turn on me, I guess. When Gideon offers alphas everything, it’s easy to yes to him. But you should know it’s a deal with the devil.”
“I’m aware,” he says. “Because…”
I raise my brows. “Yes?”
He shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter. We should talk about what we’re going to do next.”
I nod. “Okay. What are you thinking?”
He sits down on the bed next to me, leaning in and lowering his voice to a whisper. “I passed Boyd a note asking him to go back to Austin.”
My lips part at his confession. “Wow. Um…great!”
“You don’t seem that happy.”
I frown. “They just don’t have resources for something like this. A rescue, I mean. They’re great people and they’re my family, but they have mates of their own and babies and families and…well, it’s really just me on my own with them.”
