I bite my tongue again, in desperate need of biting on gum.
"Does your father owe money to Val Brolik?" he asks with curiosity but not an ounce of care.
His casual demeanor is pissing me off today, and I have no patience for secrets. If I did, I'd notice he's not asking who Brolik is.
"Yes."
I push past him, exiting his bedroom and jogging down the stairs. He's right behind me.
"I want us to talk about that. The debt."
"Yeah, you'd love to talk about something that terrifies me, wouldn't you?" I stop by the front door and turn around to face him. "You got what you wanted, Achilles. You're inspired, aren't you? Leave me alone. Leave my relationship alone."
I open the door, but his hand wraps around my wrist, and it slams back shut.
"What are you talking about? Obsession isn’t cured in one night."
"I did what you told me to, and you promised not to tell Chase about any of this. That's it. We're done now."
His laugh is so carefree, I wonder if he truly doesn't understand any of my feelings.
"I won't tell your boyfriend anything, but we're far from done."
"You can't spend your life blackmailing me. This isn't… It's not right."
"Oh no." He pretends to tremble. "And here I was, trying to always do the right thing."
The slap happens before I can control it. My palm hits his cheek with a sound that resembles me signing my death warrant.
I'm the only one who gasps, shocked by my own behavior. I'm not a violent girl, not under these conditions. I have been. I grew up in a place where you can't let people see you weak, and sometimes that results in petty fights, but not with someone who truly scares me.
Unlike me, he doesn't react. His cheek pinkens, but his head didn't even move. All that seems to be different is his smirk. It's more devilish than usual. Like all he was waiting for was a reason to unleash on me.
"Nyx." Something rumbles deep in his chest when he says my name. It's terrifying.
One step forward from him and my heart pounds as I take one back, plastering myself against the door.
"You do know there's one thing you forgot to mention yesterday when you admitted your fears while you were desperate for my cock." He lets go of my wrist, bringing his hand to my throat instead.
The effect it has on me is more confusing than it's ever been. There's the fear, and the trauma, but it mixes with a tightness in my lower stomach that makes me press my thighs together. What the hell has he done to me?
Tilting his head to the side, he observes my every reaction before adding, "Me."
His hand tightens around my throat, his lips skimming my forehead.
"Because out of all those people you're terrified of, believe me, none of them are as dangerous as I am. If you don't believe me, I invite you to test that theory. It'd be my pleasure to show you."
He kisses my temple, my cheekbone. "I could get rid of your father's debts with less cash than I use in a week, but no one can buy me out of your life. And Chase might be strong and violent, but he can't get away with murder like I can."
I'm forced to go on my toes when he pulls me up and bows his head to be face to face with me.
"And whoever it is that broke into your house wearing a mask, blindfolded you, and tried to choke you?—"
He tears a whimper out of me when he mentions that. That's the conclusion he came to from my admissions yesterday. He’s so close to what really happened, and the mention of it threatens to send me spiraling.
"You know I could find them, right? I can do anything,mon trésor.Ask me, and it's done. Be mine, and you'll get the world in return. I'll save you from anything and anyone. But remember one thing. No one, and I meanno one, can save you from me."
"Achilles, let her go."
