Page 23 of All Your Hate

So what a fucking delightful surprise to find that she’s got some fire in her.

Watching her try to keep it under control, I could only assume that’s the reason she’s covered head to toe in bruises. Tommaso or whoever else deigned to put their fucking hands on her must have wanted her quiet and breakable.

Fuck, I wish I could go back and kill him myself.

I’m sure as hell going to kill anyone else that’s hurt her.

All I need is for her to tell me the truth, but she won’t even tell me her name. It didn’t help that I was a jerk to her. I just wanted to get her worked up. Push a few buttons to see what she’s really like underneath that quiet facade she puts on.

It’s already midday and she’s not left my room. I suppose it’sourroom now.

I should probably bring her something to eat, especially since she didn’t manage much last night. Being near her makes me feel oddly awkward though and I end up being an asshole to her. I’ve never had a girlfriend. Never even had someone else in my bed before. Anytime I’ve fucked someone it’s been anywhere but here. So I’m not really used to the domestic side of relationships.

Still, she needs to eat. I’m not going to be like the monsters that starved her.

Maybe I could take her some coffee as a peace offering? No, she'd probably throw it in my face.

Why does that thought make me smile so much?

I pick up a banana from the fruit bowl. That’s way too phallic. Jesus Christ. Why is this so difficult?

The front doorbell rings, taking me by surprise and I toss the banana back.

I go to answer it and find Luka waiting outside.

“You didn’t think to call before you turned up?”

He gives me a blank, unreadable expression. “You gave me the code for the gate, didn’t think I needed to announce my presence to enter. It’s not my day off so make it quick, I’ve got to be back at the hospital in an hour.” He checks his watch as he pushes past me. God, he sounds as happy as ever.

“How’s Dean holding up?” I ask as I close the door behind him. This morning my little viper was still asleep so I went to check on him at the hospital. I got a proper introduction to Willow and he seemed in pretty good spirits.

“He’ll be fine. He’s already wanting to go home.”

“I’m not surprised.” We head upstairs and I keep making small talk because I know he hates it.

He doesn’t say anything, just stares straight ahead as we get to the bedroom.

I tell him to wait outside while I check on my little viper.

She’s probably still asleep, so I don’t knock before I enter. Inside I find the bed empty. The whole room feels void of her, the bed doesn’t even look slept in. The thought of her choosing to sleep in the closet again irks me. “Little viper? I’ve got someone here to see you.”

I hear movement from in the closet and I head quietly over to it. The lights are off in there and I know she’s playing games now. I try to hide my smile, but fuck this is fun.

“Little viper?” I sing song as I step inside. “Come out, come out wherever you are.”

Sensing movement behind me, I turn to find her standing in the doorway with a look of pure determination on her face. One of my heavier platform boots flies at my head and I duck just in time for it to not break my nose.

The closet door slams shut and I hear her footsteps as she runs out of the bedroom.

Then I hear her scream.

Fuck.

She’s mine to play with, not his.

“Stay down,” Luka says with irritation. There’s also something else to his voice that I can’t quite place. He sounds different. Like a hint of an accent slipped out.

I brush it off. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is her.

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