Page 75 of Beneath the Hood

“Hi.” I smile.

He scans the area behind me before jerking his head, opening the door wider for me to walk inside.

I look around, noting the minimalism of everything, wondering why in the eight years that he’s been with me, I’ve never seen his place. Never taken the time to get to know him beyond what he can do for me.

My eyes snag on brown shelves, housing what must be hundreds of books. My legs carry me over before I can think twice, my fingers ghosting across the titles.

I can’t even remember the last time Ireada book.

“Don’t touch those.” His voice is sharp.

My heart stutters as I spin around, raising my hands in the air. “Sorry, I was just curious is all.”

His jaw tics while he stares me down, like he knows I’m not here to get to know him, but because I want something from him.

And as I stare back at him, a knot lodging itself in my throat, I realize maybe he’s looking at me that way because he doesn’t know to expect anything else.

Have I always been so blind to other people?

“What do you need?” he asks.

I swallow, suddenly feeling guilty over why I’m here—what I’m about to ask him. But seeing Jackson overwhelms my need to suddenly have a conscience about my shortcomings, so I breathe in deep and shoot my shot.

“I need a favor.”

His brow lifts.

My stomach tightens, nerves skittering along my spine. “I have somewhere to be tonight, and I just... I’m trying to respect you andnotsneak away again, but in order to do that, I need to know I’ll have your discretion.”

His arms cross over his chest, his eyes never moving from mine.

It’s unnerving, the way he stands so still.

“No,” he finally says.

My heart sinks. “No to the discretion? Or...”

“No to you going at all.”

I scoff. “I wasn’t asking your permissionto go. I’m leaving with or without you.”

His eyes flare.

It’s an empty threat. I doubt I’d be able to escape from Lennox if I tried, but the way he’s acting like a warden instead of a bodyguard has irritation snapping at my insides, the need to prove I’m independent wrapping around my chest and squeezing.

My life has never felt like a prison before.

Once again, my direction seems muddled, my compass spinning in circles.

Emotion swells behind my eyes, and even though I try to hold it back, a tear slips through the cracks, falling down my face.

Lennox sighs, his hands running over his face. “Fine. Just...” He pauses, walking closer until he’s towering over me. “Promise me you’re being safe.”

I cringe, heat flooding my cheeks. “I promise.”

He nods. “I’ll take you there and wait in the car.”

My lips purse. “Can you drop me off and come back when I call?”

---