Page 50 of Infernal

“A motel?” His smirk morphed into a grimace. “You think I’m going to allow you to run off to some fleabag motel?”

I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t remember asking for your permission.”

His shoulder pushed off the wall, though he didn’t step out of the doorway. “And that’s precisely the problem with you, love. You don’t ask my permission nearly as much as you should.”

Mother—

I opened my mouth to fire something back at him, and then realized what he was trying to do. He was trying to get a rise out of me—to slow me down—and I didn’t have time for this.

“Just move,” I said as I tried to squeeze by him, but he stepped to the right, putting himself directly in my way again.

“Dominic!”

“Yes, angel?”

“Are you going to let me leave?”

“Alone? With Lucifer running wild?” He laughed as though I were an amusing little child, but it died off just as quickly as it started. “Not likely.”

I stepped back and glared at him. “So, what then? You’re just going to keep me prisoner here?”

“The thought has crossed my mind.” He smiled darkly.

My sadness over Tessa’s betrayal quickly morphed into a blind rage that was consequently directed right at him. “Get out of my way!” I screamed, ramming my open hands into his chest.

He stumbled back, but barely. “Have as much of a tantrum as you want. I have yet to sit by and allow you to get yourself killed, and I’m certainly not going to start today.”

“You can’t keep me here,” I shouted, still trying to move him. “I’ll run the second you turn your back on me.”

He exhaled. “I’m sure you will, angel, but that isn’t what I’m trying to do.”

“Then get out of my way!” I tried pushing again, and when that didn’t work, my pushes turned into slaps, and next thing I knew, I was wailing on him with closed fists. And still, he didn’t move.

“God damn you!” Out of gas and defeated, I shoved him one last time and threw my bag back on the bed as tears rolled down my cheeks. I wanted to scream, break something, hit him, but none of it seemed to be worth the effort.

Every time one door shut in my face, there was always somebody standing in the doorway of the next one.

“I’m only trying to help you, love.”

I scoffed at him as I slapped away my angry tears.

“Angel, come on now,” I heard him say quietly. “You know I hate it when you cry.”

“Yeah, well, get used to it,” I said, still feeling sorry for myself. “I have.” And I had a feeling I was going to spend a good number of my remaining days crying my eyes out. My life just sort of sucked that way.

After a few beats of silence, I felt Dominic move up behind me. His hand came up, but he hesitated and then lowered it back to his side again. I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering what he was doing back there.

“I meant what I said yesterday. I’m here for you, angel, in whatever capacity you need me to be.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

He leaned in closer to my ear. “It means get your bag. We’re leaving.”

My back straightened, certain I’d heard that wrong. “We’releaving?” I asked and then slowly turned around to face him.

“Yes. As in you and me. Do you have a problem with that, kitten lips?”

I seriously couldn’t help but smile at him. Shaking my head, I said, “Not a one.”

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