Page 54 of Alik
When I turn to peer at her, her lips spread into a Cheshire smile, and she winks. It’s casual enough that the hairs on the back of my neck raise, the knife in her hand catching my attention.
From the moment I laid eyes on Olive, I’ve seen her as a sweet, innocent, vulnerable doe.
This woman looks like a hunter.
And she’s got a weapon.
My posture straightens, but I take a step back while I try for the umpteenth time to make sense of this.
“I’m kidding,” she says, her smile falling with a weak chuckle. “Come on, baby. Lighten up.” She looks over at the woman and sighs. “Are you pissed about her? Because I’m sorry. Seriously, I didn’t know about the wholeno killing the neighborsthing. She just really pissed me off, and I didn’t see you jumping at my defense.” She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest, the knife dangling from her hand.
“Put the knife down, Olive.”
She lowers her eyes to the blade then gives me a challenging stare. “Why?”
When I don’t answer, she laughs. “Am I scaring you, baby?”
“Yes, you are. I’m afraid for you. As invested as I’ve been in keeping you safe, you’re acting crazy enough to be a problem. I don’t want to have to hurt you…”
“Would you kill me?” she asks, her lips parting as she uncrosses her arms, the knife secured in her grasp. She doesn’t look afraid or hurt or even intimidated. Only intrigued. “Do you think you have it in you?”
My eyes constrict at the challenge. When I go toward her to retrieve the knife, she wields it over her shoulder and stabs it at my chest. I catch her wrist easily and squeeze until she lets go.
She doesn’t scream or beg or apologize.
She laughs.
The bitchlaughs.
Fire spreads over my ears as I take her neck and slam her into the wall, squeezing until her laughter dies. She lifts her hands to mine but doesn’t claw or yank. She wraps her palms around my hand in a gentle way that is horribly unfitting, which I suppose is this woman’s style.
The smile at her lips eases into a loving plea that matches the shine in her eyes.
Please, she mouths.
She could try to knee me in the balls. Claw at my hands. Kick me, fight me, something to show me the predator she showed me moments ago, but instead, she does this. And I hate her for it. Every time I think I have her next move pegged, every time I think I have her figured out and can put an end to this dangerous game I’m playing, she shoves her fist into my chest and clenches.
My molars grinding, I allow my hold on her neck to loosen and watch her carefully as she sucks in breaths.
“Thank you,” she croaks.
My hand stays wrapped around her throat, but I don’t squeeze. My nerves are on high alert, and any moment I expect the fight in her to come out.
What the fuck am I supposed to do? Tie her up? Keep her a prisoner here forever?
I can’t trust her.
She’s fucking insane.
But… Fuck.
“What’s wrong with you?” I ask, frustration thick in my voice. “Why are you acting like this?”
She closes her eyes and sighs. “Of all the times I’ve been asked that, this is the only time I’ve been surprised. I thought you of all people would understand that nothing is wrong with me.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” My grip on her neck tightens enough for me to shake her, knocking her head against the wall. “Gooddamn it, I don’t want to hurt you. Make this make sense.Please.” The desperation in my voice is so heavy, it would disgust me if I wasn’t already dealing with the war inside my head.
It’d be pointless to tie her up. Not when there’s no way I could ever let her go.