Page 95 of Bitter Arrangement

“Now, keep your ass in the house, alright?” I kiss her again and drag her into my lap. “Don’t make it even harder to keep you alive.”

“Yes, sir,” she says, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I’ll do what I can, sir.”

I grip her ass and kiss her. This girl is going to get us both killed, and I can’t even stay angry.

Chapter35

Riley

Ifeel guilty about my stupid decision to go visit Brenden. I don’t even know why I did it. I know that it isn’t safe to go anywhere near that other house right now, but I just couldn’t keep myself at home. An impulse hit me, and I’m still powerless to resist it.

Alexan had every right to tear into me. He could’ve yelled and really rubbed my face in it. Lord knows my father would’ve. But instead, he made me understand why I screwed up, and then he got over it. Sure, he was mad, but he didn’t take it too far.

Which is a novel experience for me.

All my life, my father’s been losing his temper and telling me how I’m worthless and stupid. It’s almost like that’s what I expect from men.

That’s not how Alexan approaches me. He’s not exactly patient, but he does seem to understand.

It feels good. Honestly, it feels healthy.

I sleep in the next day and wake up late. Alexan’s already out of bed and probably has been for a few hours. It’s a little past nine when I finally get up, use the bathroom, and head downstairs. I expect to find a note, but instead, my husband is in the kitchen humming to himself. A fresh pot of coffee is waiting, and there’s fresh toast with butter already made.

“What’s all this?” I ask.

Alexan shrugs a little as he pours me some coffee. “Breakfast.”

“Aren’t you working?”

“I will, but our talk yesterday gave me an idea.”

“Our talk?” I raise my eyebrows. “Are you shackling me to the bed before you leave now or something?”

“Not exactly.” He grins at me. I accept the mug and take a long sip of coffee.

“Why do I have a bad feeling?”

“Because you have too little faith in me.” He pushes the plate of toast over. “Eat something.”

I nibble at the corner. “I’d rather you just got into it.”

“Then follow me.” He sweeps away and stalks over to the door that leads into the basement.

“I’m not sure I want to,” I call after him as he descends downstairs. I frown after him. I haven’t been down there many times since moving in, mostly because it’s just storage space and equipment. “You’re not going to torture me, are you?”

“I don’t need to lure you down here to do that,” he calls back. “Come on, quit being afraid.”

“I’m not afraid,” I grumble, clutching my coffee tightly in one hand. “I’m not afraid at all.” Although a part of me is aware that I’m going into the basement with a big violent killer.

The floor is bare concrete, and the walls are water-treated cinderblock. A hot water heater sits in the corner, surrounded by spider webs and ant traps. The furnace is in the other corner, humming softly.

Set in the very middle of the empty space is a folding table. Alexan stands before it, arms spread wide, a big grin on his face.

“Here you go,” he says.

“Are you selling subscriptions or something?” I frown and walk over. A bunch of magazines are stacked in front of him. “What is all this?”

“All thisis how you’ll keep your mind off what’s going on and how you’ll make this place feel more like your home.”

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