Page 88 of Oliver

“Because he would have paid me to do far worse if he was,” Hate says, and I glance at him sideways.

He grins with all his teeth, and I roll my eyes. “Just remember your heart.”

He touches his chest with a weird glint in his eye and I shake my head when he says, “It’s still stone cold. Don’t worry about it.”

Oliver wrenches open the door and says, “Out.”

While I slide from the seat, he points at Hate and growls, “Stay the fuck away from her.”

“Or what?” Hate sneers. Oliver’s jaw clenches and I grab his arm to prevent a fight, although Oliver deserves to get a good beating.

Oliver grabs my hand and I move aside as he shuts the door, ignoring Hate when he says, “See ya around, lover boy.”

Apparently uninterested in Hate’s taunt, he spins and pulls me toward his vehicle. I dig in my heels, but it does nothing compared to his strength and when we’re at the door, I say, “Oliver!”

“In the car, now!” he bites out and I cross my arms.

“No.”

“No?” The softly spoken word sends a shiver across my skin but I refuse to back down. Ever.

“That’s right.”

He cocks a brow, I imitate him and then suddenly, I’m in the air and he’s spanking my ass.

“Oliver!”

“You put yourself in danger,” he roars.

“From who? You’re the one who’s been threatening me,” I scream at the top of my lungs, and he drops me to my ass.

With a wince, I roll over on the grass and jump to my feet. His glacial stare freezes me through, but I ignore the warning and poke him in the chest.

“It was you. You! You got Hate to give me those…pictures. Were you there?” I suck in a breath at the full ramifications and drop to my knees. Shit.

This fucker was full on stalking me. Why?

“I did what I had to do to protect you, but you just can’t leave it alone, can you?” he bellows.

“Protect me from who? You?” I sneer.

He raises his arms wide and laughs out loud. “Yes, Penny! Me and any other fucker out there who would hurt you. Is that so bad?”

“Why?” I sob. “Why would you hurt me?”

He drops his head and exhales, his shoulders slumping. “I’m not a good person, little one. I’ve done things…”

“Did you kill my sister?” I ask, wiping my tears.

“Of course not,” he grunts.

“And the hunting?”

“It’s complicated,” he says and my heart sinks because it seems pretty uncomplicated to me.

“Did you help Dixie?”

“Help her what? With her little games? No.”

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