Page 121 of Pretty Little Lies

“That was morbid as fuck, but true. However, why bother? The headache would be a brutal one.”

Torin leans forward, taunting the closeness with his lips. “Because I’ve never been a pussy and I’m an entitled prick. If I want something, I’m going to get it. Except, you’ve been runnin’ from me forever.”

“For good reason.”

“Give me one.”

“Matteo would’ve killed me.”

Torin freezes at my comment before he gives me a slight bob of his head. The gold in his eyes darkens, but he paints on a blank face. “That bad?”

“That bad.”

“He’s dead.”

“Torin—”

“I’m not gonna ask you for details just yet, because I really don’t want to break this up. If you utter a single word about the shit he did, I will leave this house and come back with his head.”

“You already know he was a fucking ass clown to me,” I argue. “What changes?—”

“Everythingchanges when you’re mine,” he gripes back, his hot breath mingling with mine. “Everything, Bay. I’ve heard stories. I’ve used my imagination. But the moment you confirm it, it’ll be over. So…don’t.”

I solely believe that Torin’s actions are as petty as my own, so I keep my mouth shut. And I don’t want him to leave. “Okay.”

“Good.” Torin presses a kiss to the tip of my nose, and I’m surprised that he doesn’t take it a step further when he pulls away. “Now, where are you going?”

“Home.”

“Can I take you to a Coney Island for French fries and Cokes, or is that too candid for you?”

I roll my eyes. “You’re a fucker.”

“I’d love to fuck her, but she won’t let me get too close. You practically threw Reeve and me out of your house the other night when you were putting Ellie and Mae to bed.”

“I didn’t want you to lose any more of your money to Mae and her goldfish skills,” I retort, even though they played with suckers and he let her win. “And you’re gambling too much, Pretty Boy.”

“I know,” he mutters, reaching up to twirl a piece of my hair around his finger. “But I’d rather risk it with you than leave you alone. I’d rather watch you, get pissed off, than have Emilio take advantage of you.”

“You’re risking a lot.”

“Fully aware.”

I slice my attention to the doors I just exited and jerk my head for Torin to follow. Where I’m going, I’m not sure, but I don’t trust anything or anyone in this house.

Shoot, I wouldn’t even be surprised if I stepped on a trap door and fell into some torture dungeon.

When I get to the small hallway that I remember Reeve guiding me to so I could go to the bathroom, Torin’s hand falls on my shoulder and he gently pushes my back into the wall. And, instead of crowding me like he always seems to do, he leans against the opposite one.

“Why don’t you like him?” I ask genuinely. “You try to ward me off him, but you haven’t done anything to him yourself, so what gives?”

“Who said that?”

I cock my head to the side. “You’ve done something to him?”

“If I answered that question, I’d have to kill you, baby. And I’m very much looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”

“Why do you hate him so much then?”

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