Page 3 of Sloth

My jaw clenched. “Do not call me that.”

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Not happening.”

“What do you want, Arlo?” I placed my hands on myhips, not having time for any of this. I had to do something about the body. Iglanced at it, almost forgetting it was there but I would never forget what hehad almost done to me.

“I’ll get this cleaned up,” he said instead,pulling his phone out of his pocket and bringing it up to his ear. “Yeah, Ineed a cleanup,” he told whoever was on the other end of the phone.

I let out a sigh, a part of me thankful I didn’thave to deal with this alone but it still didn’t mean I wanted help from Arlo.He had a habit of showing up at a time when I needed assistance. Didn’t mean Iwas happy about it though.

“Are you going to tell me what you’re doing outhere this late at night?” Arlo asked, putting his phone away. “And why you keepleaving our bed before I’m done with you?”

My cheeks burned, remembering how I was at hisplace a few nights ago. He referred to his place, his things, as my own butthey weren’t.

I opened my mouth to give a smart remark butsighed instead. I was too tired for this. I needed to go home and take a longhot bath. I needed to move on. Or at the very least, try to.

“Ginny.”

“I went for a run,” I told him, suddenly feelingstupid for doing something so innocent that clearly got me into trouble.

“You should have called me.” Arlo’s browsnarrowed in the center. “And you definitely should not be doing this shitalone.”

“I don’t need protection,” I threw at him.

“Yeah, obviously not.” He thrust his arm out. “Giventhe current situation, I’d say that you definitely don’t need protection.”

I scowled. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.” He rubbed the back of his neck. It wassomething he did whenever I stressed him out. I also caused most of those gray hairsin his beard and hair too. “You of all people are good at taking care of themselfbut it’s been busy. And now that this happened.” He glanced down at theunmoving body. “It’s going to make even more waves. You are not safe.”

“I…” Sirens sounded in the distance, sending meon high alert.

“They’re not here for this,” Arlo said gently,coming toward me. “But I’m taking you home anyway. The cleaners don’t need ushere for this.”

It took everything in me not to argue. “Why areyou helping me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” he asked, walking past me. Whenhe noticed that I wasn’t following him, he turned, looking back at me over hisshoulder. “I don’t give a shit how much we drive each other crazy. I willalways protect you and I know for a fact that you would do the same for me.”

Unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong.

There had been a time where we actually got alongand I didn’t fight these feelings or try to push him away. But those times werefew and far between lately. I wasn’t sure what it was like anymore to carry aproper conversation with him.

As soon as we left the alleyway, several guyswalked past us. I didn’t acknowledge them and kept my head down. Which wasprobably for the best. Word would get out soon that it was me who killed one ofthe most powerful men in the city.

Arlo would help me and keep me safe but when itcame to asking him, I wouldn’t. He also wouldn’t do anything until the wordsleft my mouth. Until I begged and pleaded for him to take care of me. We bothknew it would take a lot for me to do that. So until then, I really needed abath and a glass of wine.

“Let’s get you home, Bunny.” Arlo grabbed myupper arm, guiding me out of the alley.

I went to look at the chaos I was leaving behindwhen he caught my chin in a firm grip. I swallowed hard, staring up at the manwho had been my mentor for as long as I could remember. Who had been the loveof my life, no matter how hard I tried fighting it. He was always there for me.He took care of me when my mom left because she couldn’t handle being marriedto a mob boss and he took care of me even more when my dad had been murderedright in front of me. Arlo held me while I screamed and cried and blamedmyself. It had been because of me that my dad was killed. Because I was theonly daughter in a long line of sons. It was my fault. All of it. Was my fault.

“Don’t you dare look back there,” Arlo bit out,that muscle in his jaw ticking.

“It’s my fault.” I tried pulling my head from hisgrasp, but he was too strong for me.

“No, it’s not. If it wouldn’t have been youkilling him, someone else would have done it. It’s about time anyway.” Arloreleased me and continued walking.

He was right but I couldn’t help but be drawn tothat alley. I shouldn’t have killed him though. I should have let him go tojail and rot there instead, but I also knew that if I hadn’t taken justice intomy own hands, he would have gotten away with it. I wasn’t the only woman he attemptedto rape. He was successful with most. Some fought him off like I had but a lotdidn’t. In fact, most didn’t. He usually went for the younger girls. It wassick and disgusting what he was into. Along with everyone else in his community.I wasn’t the age he was normally into, but I knew he went after me because ofwho my father was. He was no longer around, so these men thought they couldtake what they wanted from me. They also thought that if they got rid of me,they could take over the metaphorical throne my father once sat on. But no onecould ever take his place.

Dante Toretto was the epitome of evil, but Arlowas no better. Arlo just never got caught and he didn’t flaunt his power aroundlike Dante did.

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