Page 189 of House of Cards
She stares up at me through crystal-studded lashes, face red and blotchy, lips trembling. I push up onto my elbows, cupping her face in my hands.
“Better now?”
Her mouth tightens, eyes darting away. “You should’ve stayed gone.”
“Look at me.” A command, but gentle this time.
Her eyes flick back to mine. I smooth her hair away from her face with my thumb.
“I’m doing this for you. To keep you safe. By tonight you’ll be settling into a new house?—“
“Get out,” she says quietly.
“Zoey—”
“I said, get out.” Her voice is crisp, calm, utterly devoid of emotion. But the same can’t be said for her eyes—glittering with anger.
I should have stayed. Should have tried to convince her this is all for the best. But I know that stubborn set of her mouth. I’m not hanging around just to be on the receiving end of another tantrum.
“Should be fucking thanking me,” I mutter as I slide off of her. “If it wasn’t for me, Elonzo would have killed you by now.”
She scrambles into a sit, gripping the sheets to her chest like I’ve just broken into her house and threatened to violate her.
“If it wasn’t for you, my brother would still be alive,” she says, her eyes locked onto me as I pull on my charcoal gray slacks, run my hands through my hair, snatch my phone from the nightstand. “Maybe Michelle, too.”
I turn to stab a finger in her direction. “You know that’s not true, Zoey. I fucking told you what happened, what wasgoingto happen.”
“Your version.” She tilts her head at me, eyes narrowing. “You’re not psychic, Smith. You couldn’t predict what Elonzo was going to do. You scope out a situation, and you make a decision that works out best for you, and you do it. Fuck the consequences. Fuck anyone else who might have a say in it. It’s all aboutyou.”
I stare at her, so much fury seething inside me it takes precious seconds for me to form a response.
“What do you want from me?” I bellow. “An apology? Because you’re not getting one. I’mnotfucking sorry. Not for a goddamn thing.”
“Nothing?” Her eyes narrow, the laugh she lets out as desiccated as a fall leaf. “You fucking kidding me?”
“Fucking give me the chance, I’d do it all again.” I glance around, scanning the floor. Where the fuck is my shirt?
“Of course you would, you fucking psycho.” She looks around too, searching for the rest of her clothes. Although where the fuck she thinks she’s going is anyone’s guess.
I spot her sweats in a pile at the foot of the bed, but instead of pointing them out, I say, “You’re not going anywhere.”
“You want to keep me in here? You’ll have to tie me down.”
I bark out a laugh. “Don’t you fucking tempt me.”
She swings her legs over the side of the bed. “Try it. I won’t just scratch this time, I’ll bite.”
My cock twitches at the thought of fending her off. How she’d struggle.
Christ, we’re right in the thick of it, and I’m getting horny?
Fuck my shirt. I need to get the hell out of here before I tie her down.
I turn on my heel and storm for the door.
“Scared of a little kitten like me, Smith?” she yells.
Don’t turn back.
