Page 152 of Hateful Games

BIANCA: Not so respectfully.

ME: You were willing to miss classes when you thought I killed him, Iris.

IRIS: I cook daily. Burying a dead body… not so much.

BIANCA: Text me the address. I’ll come.

I slap my phone down on the counter after texting her and hear a wet tapping sound come in my direction. Lifting my head, I see a drenched Bunny barreling toward me with his tongue lolling out to the side.

My boy looks happy.

He never had this much freedom to roam around in my parents’ house as he does here. Even the anxiety I felt is missing. No dark corners and icy hallways. Confined to a cage and forgotten until I was worth something.

My dad would be pissing in his boots if he saw the way I was being treated by Nova and his family. The devil worshippers… as he derisively calls them. The evil enemies who’ve tainted his world.

Yet I can’t risk letting them in past the walls around my heart.

My thoughts are cut short when Bunny slams into me, rising on his paws to reach my face and lick with affection. I bump into the island behind me from his heavy weight but I can’t stay mad.

“Heya, Bunny… Are you enjoying yourself?” I ask him in a baby voice. Dogs have the tendency to make grown-ups sound like idiots. Their faces too cute to resist. People scram away after one look at Bunny’s face. Their first instinct is thinking he’ll attack them. In our country, they’re given such a bad reputation, it hurts my soul.

It is true he killed his last owner and was being condemned with the same brutal fate. But what people don’t know is that he did it to defend himself. The police were able to get the horrific footage where his owner could be seen tying him with a rope and attempting to hang him. Even malnourished and abused, Bunny fought and saved himself.

I had seen over the internet when the news spread like wildfire.

Immediately, I knew I had to save him.

After a lot of trouble and paperwork, I brought him home, much to my father’s dismay. It took me months to earn his trust and loyalty, but it was all worth it. It’s the reason why he’s so protective of me. He’s remotely coexisting with Nova because I’ve given no inclination my husband will harm me.

I thought I would have to keep them separate but it’s like Bunny could sense I’m comfortable around Nova, which left me flabbergasted. It was an alarming realization that raised questions I didn’t want answered.

Was he seeing something I was missing?

Do I even want to know?

“Want to go back to the pool?” I amusedly ask Bunny, who bites the skirt of my dress and pulls. “Want me to come with you?”

He jumps, tugging harder. “Woof!”

“Let me change first!”

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

“Go on, I’ll be there, Buns.” I nudge him until he lets my dress go. Then I watch him run down the hall, leaving a wet trail. Quickly cleaning it up so nobody has a bad fall, I rush upstairs to change into a bikini.

It’ll be a while before Bianca shows up anyway and I’ve been meaning to explore the depth of the pool. Yesterday was spent decorating my library, which is almost done. Admiring my reflection in the full-length mirror in our closet, I twist to stare at my behind. The bottoms are held by knots on the sides, showing off my lean legs and ass department. I’m blessed in the ass while my boobs are a B cup. However, with the halter style of my bikini, they look even perkier and bigger.

Tying my hair in a messy bun, I take the stairs and reach the pool in two minutes. I expected chaos, and that’s what I find.

Maggie is lounging in the shadows and props her head up upon hearing me. Meanwhile, Fire circles around the edge of the pool, barking at Bunny who is repeatedly diving in and out. Without a care that the water is splashing out of the pool.

“Bunny, out!” I shout. He ignores me. I walk closer and yell again. He turns his head and stops before jumping again. “Good boy. Go with Maggie.”

He gazes at the pool with doe eyes but when I say his name in warning, he follows my command. My fireball also calms down. As soon as the pool is empty, I dive straight in and sigh in pleasure when I’m enveloped by the cool water.

The world quiets down until it’s my heartbeat I hear in my ears.

When I come out to the surface, the sunlight soothes me.

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