Page 55 of A Twisted Arrangement

Mortification has my fists clenching and my arms wrapping around myself in protection. It should’ve been me that put space between us.

He’s already turned and walking into the kitchen by the time I get my thoughts together.

I approach the counter cautiously, the smell of bacon making my stomach growl.

“Sit.”

“No, thank you.”

“Why do you have to fight everything I say?” He slides a coffee toward me, and I look at it dubiously.

He chuckles, a small grin pulling at his lips. “If anyone here should be worried about being poisoned, it’s me.”

My head still hurts, and my brain is still foggy. Actually, that’s probably why I’m acting like a fool. I lift the coffee to my mouth, surprised that it’s exactly how I make it. I refuse to let on that I’ve noticed. No reason for him to see that he’s impacted me in any way. He’s playing a game that I don’t know the rules of.

I lower the cup too hard, hot liquid sloshing over the side as the ceramic connects with the counter with a loud clack.

“Woah, careful.” Matthias reaches out, pulling my hand toward him across the counter and under cold water from the tap.

I jerk it back, narrowing my eyes. I need answers, and I need them now. “What the hell were you thinking?”

He leans forward, hands planted in front of him. “I had to do something. You’ve been so stubborn these past few days that you left yourself wide open to be kidnapped. I’m done playing it your way. You may be fine getting yourself killed, but I’m not.”

“You were so afraid I’d get taken that you kidnapped me yourself? That doesn’t make any sense, Matthias.”

A low growl escapes his throat. “I can’t kidnap what’s already mine.”

“You are nuts.”

“I’ve never said I wasn’t. Now, eat.” He hands me a plate. There’s a cheese omelet, bacon, and hash browns.

My mouth is already watering, and I haven’t even taken a bite.

“You’ll feel better once you get some food into you. You’ve been asleep for nearly two days.” He slides over a fork and knife.

I suck in a quiet breath as my hand wraps around the knife. Never in a million years did I think he’d hand me one. I slide my thumb over it and frown when it’s completely dull.

“You daydreaming about killing me, Little Sparrow?” Matthias’s smirk fills me with heat, which I do my best to ignore.

I stab my eggs with my fork and chew, ignoring his question. I haven’t figured out how I feel about any of this.

The central air clicks on, and I rub my arms against the chill, my fingers catching on a Band-Aid.

My brows scrunch together as I gently peel it back. There is a half-inch vertical incision held together with surgical tape.

I glare at him. “What the hell did you do to me?”

“It’s a tracker.”

“You cannot be serious.”

“I’m so fucking serious. You attract trouble like a magnet.”

Fire licks under my skin as I process it all, and I stand from the table, not stopping myself from lifting my plate and throwing it at his head.

He’s barely able to dodge it, and it crashes against the wood cabinet. It would be a shame if it left a dent.

Matthias wipes a bit of egg from where it landed on his cheek and smiles. “You missed.”

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