Page 70 of His Property

“For who?”

“You.” He huffs incredulously. “When are you going to get that I’m not good for you? Why the fuck are you even here?”

“Youaskedme to be.”

“I asked you to talk to my sister. I didn’t ask you to spread your legs.”

My hand connects with Victor’s cheek before I can register the action, and his head whips to the side. I breathe heavily when I pull back, and my vision blurs with tears.

I should be running from here, but we both sit in silence for a minute. It isn’t until it becomes clear that he isn’t going to apologize that I stand from the bed and retrieve my clothes from the floor.

I get dressed and give Victor one last look, wanting to smack him all over again when his hard eyes never turn to me. I swipe away a tear and give my head a frustrated shake before storming up the stairs and out of the house.

Tears stream down my cheeks all the way home.

19

VICTOR

TWO WEEKS LATER

“Goddamn fucking piece of shit.”

I shake the black, heavy duty plastic bag over the ledge of the animal den and grit my teeth while trying to dislodge the hand that won’t come out. When it doesn’t shake free, I viciously rip open the bag, grab the hand, and chuck it across the den. It hits the wall on the opposite side of me and falls to the ground.

I turn and grab the next bag. My heart pumps hard against my chest, and I lug the bag onto the side rail and dump out the parts.

I hurl the bag to the concrete floor and grab the next, but the door to the enclosure opening makes me pause.

Blade, Emily’s husband, walks in, and my nostrils flare while I take a millisecond to glare at him. I turn my attention back to the bag and dump the contents while Blade walks up to me.

I fling the bag onto the cart then pick up the other two I threw on the floor.

“What the fuck do you want?” I mutter when Blade doesn’t say anything.

I stand up straight and square my shoulders, but he isn’t looking at me. His nose is wrinkled while he stares down into the den.

“I don’t know how you stomach this shit.”

“I’m not a pussy,” I remark. “What do you want?”

“It probably isn’t smart to imply that I’m a pussy. Don’t you think?”

No, it isn’t, but I can’t bring myself to care about his status within the familia. Blade and I are… I don’t know what we are. I guess enemies who’ve become forced acquaintances because of Emily. Right now, he’s just an enemy.

“Don’t you have drugs to sell?” I ask, flinging the bag in my hand onto the cart with the others.

“I need to talk to you.”

I scoff. “If it doesn’t have to do with the familia, then fuck off.” I walk behind the cart and push it a few inches toward the door before Blade puts a hand on the other end to stop it.

“Emily hasn’t slept in weeks.”

“I don’t care.”

“Yes, you do.”

I grit my teeth and grip the edge of the cart, keeping my mouth shut.

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