Page 122 of Overcast

“Did I see you guys sharing a snack too?” The corners of his eyes crinkle, appearing to need final confirmation of what he believed he was seeing.

Which wasn’t more than what I already said.

“We were watching Judge Judy.”

“And what?” He actually perks a brow like we got busted making out or something. I mean, if you consider Mills going to second base with the Dorito bag, then sure, however, I was just a bystander.

“Stop,” I deadpan, brows snapped together because this is stupid—plain and simple.

“Stop, what?” I inhale a deep breath, turning my face away. “I know what he did.”

My face scrunches in return.

“He made you food, brought it downstairs when I was gone.” His thumb grazes my skin. “Made sure you had a blanket to keep you warm. Your pretty little face isn’t going to get you what you want here.”

“And what would that be?” I challenge back.

“You tell me,” he coaxes. “Besides going home, which you will eventually. Just not now and not without me taking you there.” I start to pull my face from his touch, but it only locks around my jaw before hauling it closer to his face.

“Why are you freaking out and holding my face like this? I wasn’t groping the chip bag.” I’m hoping I get a smirk or him loosening up on his hold, but his expression remains blank.

“This isn’t freaking out. You don’t want to see me get there, sweetheart, but trust me, you’ll know when I do. Stay away from Mills,” he warns, his tone carefully articulate. “And everyone else but me.”

The alpha male has come out to play.

Except I’m not his to play with.

I don’t bother suppressing the huff that seeps through my lips because he’s the last person I want around. No matter how he can get my heart to accelerate or what words pierce through his lips, he doesn’t own me. He may babysit or “protect” me as he so kindly puts it, but I’m not his.

And no amount of antagonizing or glares that he sends my way is going to change that.

Emric cocks his head to the side to accompany my silence. “Not happy with that idea?”

“Not really, I didn’t ask for a babysitter, Emric.”

“You’re in a new world, sweetheart. Surrounded by demons and monsters that like shiny and bright things. You’re luring in the bait, and one of them may bite.”

“Mills isn’t going to bite me. And, again, we were doing this little thing that normal people do—watch TV. If you find that scandalous—” I size up his face. “—then you need to come to the real world and not the dark, scary one you imagined in your head. You’re becoming delirious.”

“And you’re becoming more of a pain in my ass, but here we are.”

My lips set in a fine line. “Then let me go home.” His eyes narrow, setting off a tick in his jaw, making the black ink of his neck tattoo move.

“Listen,” he mutters, the tone of his voice deepening. “I’m trying here. I went against my own plans and let your father off because you’re so worried about him. But I’m not going to have you manipulating my—” I snap out of his hold with every ounce of strength I possess and broach backward.

“What do you think I was doing?” I fume. “Again, I was watching TV. You set up Mills as my babysitter, which I don’t appreciate, by the way. Just because you know some of my past doesn’t mean I’m a slut who—”

“Shut the fuck up,” he seethes. “I don’t think you’re a whore nor do I—”

“Yes, you do.” My eyes narrow in on him. “You think because you saw Hollis molesting me that I wanted it. Funny thing is, so did he. My father’s friends did too. They thought they could lift my shirt up, haul me into their bodies so I could feel how hard they were for me. They’ve busted my bedroom door open while drunk trying to get to me. I’ve had to climb out my window to escape. My being quiet, was obviously some sort of neon sign that they could—”

“I said shut up.” Emric balls his hands into fists at his sides as we face off against each other for the first time.

The sheep and the lion.

The good versus evil.

But his judging and crucifying me is going to end right here.

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