Page 96 of Heresy

I practically growl the words, but it only makes him smile.

“Liar.”

My body gives in at that point, every ounce of fight I have left in me just gone. There’s no use trying to buck him off. He’s twice my size, and he knows it.

Searching my gaze, he asks, “Will you promise to listen if I get up?”

I want to shake my head no. Fucking scream. Absolutely refuse. But what good would it do? I’m still stuck inside this house with an unknown number of people. Even if he releases me from this room, there’s nowhere for me to go.

But fuck him.

“I’m not promising anything.”

“That’s good,” he says, surprising me as he shoves his hands down beside me to push up from the mattress.

Once he’s on his feet, he offers a hand to help me sit up, but I swat it away. It only makes him laugh.

“It sucks that you hate me so much because I think I really could have enjoyed you,” he teases. “You have spirit. Even if you hide it away under those baggy clothes and that pissed off glare of yours.”

Pushing my body up so that I’m on my butt and not my back, I lean against the wall that runs along one side of the bed.

So tired that it’s difficult to breathe, I stare at Shane with pure contempt.

“Why have you done all this? I have nothing to give you.”

He cants his head to the left, his eyes studying me.

“You’re a pain in my ass. That’s why.”

“Good. At least we have that in common. I can’t fucking stand you.”

At that, he shakes his head.

“We’ll see about that. But until then, you hang tight, and see if you can get over that shitty attitude of yours.”

He turns to leave the room, and I call out, “Where are you going?”

“Away.”

I feel a sudden need to push away from this wall and chase after him. It’s an irrational thought. I realize that. But who the fuck is he to just dismiss me like this?

“Why are you leaving?”

“You’re being punished.”

Punished?

Fucking punished?

Oh, hell no…

“For what?”

There’s no doubt about it. Every single one of them is nuts.

“For not listening and making my life a living hell.”

He can’t be serious.

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