Page 8 of Dark Knight
“And I need a month in the Maldives and a hundred million bucks in my bank account and, oh yeah, a man who doesn't boss me around and expect me to fall in line just because that's what he wants.”
I grit my teeth to the point of pain. This woman knows every button possible to push. “You're here for a reason. This isn't a game or joke.”
“I'm sorry.” Touching her hand to her chest, she flutters her lashes. “Did I give you the impression I thought any of this was a joke? Have you not been paying attention?”
“Then maybe drop the smart-ass quips and get real. You're here because you want to drop off the radar for a while and keep yourself out of Jeff's crosshairs. Fair enough. But that means playing it safe, which is all I'm concerned with. I know it's coded in your DNA to go against me—”
“That's not true.”
“No? We've been here for a few minutes, and you’re already starting shit. On little things, fine. If it makes you feel better, treat me like the enemy. Although, try not to lose sight of the fact that I'm here with you, opening my home for your safety and peace of mind. The least you can do is take some precautions, but you’d rather dig your heels in like a spoiled brat who refuses to hear the wordno.”
When her jaw juts out, it means she wants nothing more than to unleash it like a snake and swallow me whole. I won't pretend there haven't been times I've deliberately pushed her to that point—a man like me doesn't have many diversions, not when work has taken up most of my waking hours ever since Callum started giving me responsibilities. What can I say, pissing Tatum off is my favorite pastime.
“For example, if you go out, I go out with you. No exceptions.”
“That's bullshit.”
“No, that’s therule, and that’s how things are going to be.”
“I'm not in active danger, Romero. You said so yourself. Nobody knows about this place. Nobody's going to find me here.”
“Doesn’t matter. Consider me your permanent shadow.”
“It's not going to happen.”
“Yes. It is. Unless you want to take chances and have your ex’s dad find you.”
Pain pinches her features, and a flash of regret makes me wish I never said it. Then again, this is what she needs to hear. There are real stakes involved. “You think he will be okay with you ignoring him forever?” I growl, watching her lose a little more of her nerve with every second. “I'd be surprised if he doesn't already have somebody out there looking for you, since he’s got it in his head that you’re the reason Kristoff never came home from that stupid fucking vacation you took. The longer you're silent, the more convinced he'll become and the crazier he’ll get.”
“So you're saying I should have done or said something differently? Are you saying this is my fault?” Her voice shakes and I doubt it’s anger alone that causes it.
“I didn't say that. I just think it’s better for you to stay quiet. It might have been one of the first smart things you've done.”
“I hope you don't expect me to thank you for that insult.”
“I would never expect that from you,” I mutter. “Eventually, he’ll grow desperate. That's all I'm saying. The smart move is to lay low and take it seriously.”
“You mean to tell me I can't even go for a walk by myself?”
Does she think I didn’t notice the way she looked at the neighborhood? As if she was already imagining the casket she wanted to be buried in after she was murdered on the street. Why would she want to take a walk alone? “I don't trust you to go for a walk by yourself. There's no telling where you'll end up or who you'll end up with.”
Before she can go on a rant, I add, “Or did you forget where I found you a little over a week ago?”
Her head snaps back, color rising in her cheeks. She had to know the people she was with were bad news– mainly since she stuck out like a sore thumb, cosplaying somebody much tougher and less pampered than she’s been all her life. Whatever she needs, she thought she could find it in some dingy underground club. Lucky for her, I followed her there after noticing the way she’d been sneaking out.
Even luckier, I never told Callum. If I had, she’d be tied up somewhere, under twenty-four-hour surveillance.
She averts her gaze, chewing her bottom lip. “I'm allowed to have a life of my own. To make choices for myself.”
“You were in some skeevy, underground club. It was barely eight o'clock, and already half the people there were wasted out of their minds. Did you even know any of those losers?”
“Yeah, actually. I was getting to know them. We were becoming friends until you decided to act like a goddamn caveman and drag me out of there.”
“What was the alternative? To leave you there? I don’t think so. Do you realize what your father would have done to me if he found out I let you hang around with those losers?”
Callum would’ve murdered me on the spot.
“Right. My father. Your boss. Always do what he says and ask how high when he tells you to jump.”