Page 64 of Brutal Obsession

Let’s see how he likes my silence.

My feet hit the pavement as streetlights flicker on. Like a shadow, Cian materializes right behind me. He cuffs his hand around my wrist like a shackle, yanking me around to face him.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” His voice is rough, chaotic.

I tug on my arm, but his fingers might as well be concrete. “Anywhere you won’t be.”

“Harper,” he grates, like I’ve pushed him too far.

He can join the damn club.

“Let me go.” My demand falls between us, sharp enough to cut but flat as paper. I resent the ease with which he intimidates people. Even when I’m battling murderous tendencies, I must still seem as meek as a mouse to him.

His grip tightens. “Will you just shut up and let me protect you for once?”

“I never asked you to protect me!”

A vein throbs in his neck. “I wasn’t just going to let you die.”

“Of course not!” I scoff. “You won’t get paid if something happens to me.”

Rage mottles Cian’s skin, and his entire demeanor darkens like the sky.

But I’m not about to back down.

“This is not about money.” Cian’s even scarier when his voice drops like this. “Can’t you see that?”

“Yes, your silence was very informative.”

Cian flings my arm back at me with such ferocity, I stumble back a step to maintain my balance.

“Don’t give me that, Harper,” he snaps. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”

I resist the urge to stamp my foot like a toddler. “Then maybe you should tell me what the hell is going on!”

He shoves a hand through his curls and then snatches my wrist again. “Come on,” he says while he starts pulling me forward.

“Let go of me.” I dig my heels in as much as I can without stumbling. “I’m not going anywhere with you!”

He jerks my arm once, hard, pulling a surprised gasp from my lips. “You weren’t saying that in the closet earlier.”

My chest tightens, and my whole body must glow red with shame.

He couldn’t have the human decency to just pretend that never happened?

What an asshole.

My nose stings.

So pathetic. Andfoolish,down to the marrow in my bones.

I should have expected this from him.

To distract myself, I attempt to orient myself to my surroundings. I have no idea where we are. Parked cars line either side of the one-way neighborhood street, trees and quiet houses the only witnesses to my shame. The lights of local businesses twinkle up ahead at the intersection.

As Cian drags me forward, my eyes fix on a colorful sea turtle swimming above the wordsBlue Hawaii Motel. He’s heading right for it, so I guess Cian’s decided we’re going to hole up for the night.

Lovely.

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