Page 113 of Linger

“Ms. Bennett...”

“My name’s Willow,” I muttered irritably before finally giving in and reaching out for the scruffy, adorable dog.

“Don’t,” Lachlan seethed, stilling my hand with a single word. “She’s a great dog, Ms. Bennett, but she is mine.” He stepped up behind her, his voice dropping to a soft, chilling command. “Danger.”

I jolted back when the dog shifted to a defensive position in front of Lachlan in an instant. Baring her teeth at me as a low, threatening growl rumbled from her.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t get in the habit of trying to pet dogs you don’t know,” he said in a tone that bordered on mocking. “You never know what monster raised them.”

My eyes narrowed, but I didn’t respond to the challenge.

He was trying to prove that he was dangerous in all aspects as if I didn’t know that.

“Hold,” he whispered to the dog as he stepped past her to sit on the edge of the bed.

Despite the warning growl and menacing stance she maintained, I kept my breathing steady and even as I watched Lachlan’s every move. Not that it wasn’t disconcerting to have that threat directly beside me, but I knew Lachlan wouldn’t have his dog do anything to me. Not after everything he did just to get me here.

Resting his arms on his legs, he clasped his hands together and said, “Give me a reason to trust you.”

“Me,” I replied in confirmation, stunned. A sound of irritation left me as I glanced at his dog. “Really?”

“Release,” he murmured gruffly without ever looking away from me, and the giant beast playfully pounced in a circle before rushing around the bed to jump onto the same side she’d claimed the last time they’d been in there. “A reason.”

“What could you possibly expect me to say?” I asked on a frustrated laugh. “I don’t care if you trust me because I’ll never trust you. You have no right to try to claim me. And why me?”

“You—”

“I know, I know,” I said over him, my eyes rolling and my tone shifting into something more mocking. “I survived you.”

“Careful.”

I cut a glare at him, refusing to acknowledge the chill that swept down my spine and over my skin at his warning.

Those neon eyes watched me for a while before he said, “I told you I was born into a world of monsters—that you have to adapt to your world, or it’ll destroy you. And I’ve never thought anyone could withstand this world beside me until you.”

Unease spread through me and had my stomach twisting when he added, “For whatever reason, my world is drawn to you. The fact that you keep surviving it, not just me, is how I knew you could handle what comes with being mine.”

“A brand doesn’t make me yours.”

A rumble built in his chest before he sighed deeply. “Thank you.” Before I could settle on shock or confusion at the unexpected term of gratitude, he straightened and added, “For letting me know I still can’t trust you.”

“Are you surprised?” I asked as he stood. “Or did you just expect me to forget about my life and the man I love after only a few days because the great Lachlan Keane claimed me.”

“I said careful.” The words ripped from Lachlan on a growl as he lurched toward me, that mask getting within an inch of my face and lighting up my entire world, even when I squeezed my eyelids shut. “I will destroy your old life and kill everyone you knew if it’ll make you forget them faster.”

I choked over pleas and rage-filled screams as flashes burst through my mind like they were happening directly in front of me. Then.

Because I knew his threats weren’t empty.

“And that Borello? I told you...three days, and they’ve already returned to their old lives, Ms. Bennett. He isn’t coming for you.”

My chest shook from the force of my next exhale, and tears stung the backs of my eyes. But the hope that had been slowly building throughout the day beat down the worst of my doubt.

My faith had been rocked and tested these past days. It’d faltered.

But I knew Diggs.

He’d find me anywhere. He’d come for me.

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