Page 23 of Sweet Obsession
“You were drugged,” he said. His voice was even, but his jaw ticked once, like it cost him something not to break something in half.
“Your boyfriend was about to make decisions for you.” He said flatly. The word boyfriend dripped with contempt.
I stiffened.
“He’s not...” I bit the rest off.
What was the point?
“Why help me?” I asked, throat dry.
He pushed off the wall and took two slow steps toward me.
“Because you’re under my protection now,” he said, voice low, almost bored. “And I don’t let anyone touch what’s mine.”
My heart stuttered. “I’m not yours,” I snapped.
A flicker of something crossed his face. Annoyance? Amusement?
I couldn’t tell.
“No,” he agreed. “Not yet.”
The air thickened, charged with something too heavy to name.
I took a step back without meaning to.
His eyes dropped, just for a second, to my bare feet, my wrinkled dress, the way I wobbled slightly.
“You shouldn’t have gone to him,” he said. “You’re smarter than that.”
“I didn’t know he was going to drug me,” I shot back, shame creeping up my neck.
Misha’s jaw flexed.
“You shouldn’t trust anyone in this house,” he said. “Especially the ones who smile the most.”
My skin prickled.
He took another step closer.
“You think you know what you’re doing. You think you can play this game and win.”
His voice dropped, colder. “You can’t.”
I lifted my chin. “I’m not scared of you,” I lied.
His mouth curved slightly. Not a smile. Something darker.
“You should be.”
I swallowed hard.
“Are you going to punish me for embarrassing your men?” I asked.
“No.” He stepped closer again, so close now I had to tilt my chin up to keep eye contact.
“I admire your spirit,” he said. “But recklessness gets people killed.”
