Page 93 of King of Omen

‘Clearly,’ I muttered. ‘Perhaps I’m not cut out for your world. When can I leave?’

He jolted. ‘This house?’

‘Yes,’ I clarified, tilting my head to emphasise my meaning.

‘When I say so,’ he gritted.

I lurched. How dare he?

‘No one tells me what to do,’ I growled.

I swept past him, digging deep and calling on my inner battle goddess.

He reached a hand to stop me but hesitated, flinching when I averted my body from him.

In my mind, his aunt’s words, once said to me when we’d both witnessed my sperm donor railing at my mother, echoed.

Never let a man own you or control you.

I had to be free from his grip. I had to put me as my number one.

I’d stayed under Lorenzo’s roof for security purposes.

I would not remain one moment more because he was being a distrustful, irrational dick.

I marched into my room, threw my clothes and shoes into my bag, flung my laptop into its sleeve and strode back out.

Straight into the wall of Lorenzo.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’

His Italian accent was thicker when enraged.

‘I’m out. I won’t let you make wild aspersions, bully, or boss me around.’

He stood resolute, glaring down at me, arms crossed over his chest, refusing me passage.

‘Am I a prisoner?’ I murmured. ‘Think carefully because if you choose to keep me here against my will, I will fight you every step of the way, call the cops or perhaps even Angus and let them know I’ve been kidnapped.’

Lorenzo sucked his teeth, hardness flickering in his eyes. He stepped aside, his jaw tightening.

‘You’re not a captive, Mia,’ he growled, his eyes flashing with anger. ‘You know why you need to stay.’

I scoffed, the heat of my wrath rising. ‘Under your irrational gaze, like some damsel in distress while you nurse your delusions? Is that it?’

His chin clenched, hands curling into fists at his sides. ‘You know I can’t let you leave. It’s not safe outside these walls for you.’

I hissed. ‘I’m not one of your possessions, Lorenzo. I won’t be kept here against my will. Besides, you just accused me of cheating on you. How can we trust each other or come back after that? What I need protection from is your paranoia,’ I shot back, the bitterness seeping into my words.

Lorenzo’s eyes darkened at my accusation, and he stepped back with a twist of his lips.

‘You are free to go, bella,’ he snarled, his face shuttering into an impassive mask.

I stormed down the stairs, dragging my bags out of the house in a fury and slamming the front door.

I trembled as I departed from the luxurious estate that had become my sanctuary these last few days.

Perhaps leaving was a mistake, but I was also not going to let one man dominate me, not like how my father treated my mother until she escaped him.

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