Page 36 of My Secret to Protect

‘This was just the beginning, princess.’

He smiles as the world around me stops turning, and I freeze.

‘What did you call me?’

I take a step back, and Arlo’s expression changes from playful to, well, something else. I see, he knows he fucked up, and I feel nauseous.

‘I don’t,’ he starts but doesn’t finish as I suck in a shocked breath.

‘Oh my god,’ I whisper, incapable of anything at a higher volume.

Taking another step back, I press my hand to my chest to try to slow my heart. It’s racing so fast that I feel dizzy.

‘Bree,’ Arlo says quietly as he reaches a hand forward for my arm, and I pull back.

‘It’s you.Oh god, it’s you.’ My breathing is fast as hot tears spill over my cheeks. I ignored my gut. I knew his showing up here wasn’t a coincidence, but I let him in.

‘Bree, it’s not me,’ he hisses as he lunges forward and grips my biceps before I can make my feet move. ‘It’s not me, I swear.’

Glaring up at him, I try to process what he’s saying, but the betrayal is like a brand burning into my skin, and I can’t find a way to stop the sting.

‘Come on.’ He starts to walk toward his house, and I dig my heels in to stop him from moving me. ‘Breanne.’ He steps in close and speaks quietly next to my ear as the breath in my lungs freezes, and my throat feels like it’s closing. ‘It isn’t me, but I know what’s been happening to you. I will explain everything, just move your ass. We need to get inside.’

He takes my hand and steps back, gazing down at me. I don’t know if it’s fear, residual trust, or curiosity, but I let him lead me to his house.

You’re Driving Me to Grandma’s

Arlo

Well,shit.Ifuckedthat up. Why the fuck did I call her princess? I’ve never called her that before, not once. I’ve never called anybody that. All I can put it down to is too many hours looking at the screenshots Mrs. C sent to me of his messages, it must have got into my subconscious and spewed out of me at the worst possible fucking moment.

Inside my place, I lock the door and draw the curtains while she stands, tense and watchful.

Opening a dresser drawer, I pull out a gun and hold it out to her, making her flinch.

‘I know you know how to use that.’ She stares down at the weapon. ‘Take it. It’s loaded. You think I’m a threat, use it.’

I watch her swallow as she reaches out a shaky hand to take it from me, then, as if on instinct, checks that it is, in fact, loaded as I turn away.

‘You called me princess.’

‘I know.’ I pet Beans’ head as he passes me and sits at Bree’s feet, smiling up at her in that way he does, oblivious to the fact that the pretty woman who pets him wants to kill the man with all the food right now.

‘You havenevercalled me that.’

‘I know, and I don’t know why I did it tonight,’ I admit as I drop to sit in the armchair while she remains standing. ‘It’s not me, Bree.’

‘Then how do you know what I’m afraid of.’

Her voice trembles as she asks, and I look up at her to see the tension coming off her in waves. She’s like a coiled spring or a snake ready to lunge. Taking a deep breath, I blow it out and start talking.

‘Because Mrs. C came to me and asked me to help you out of this situation.’ Bree’s lips part as she sucks in a breath of surprise, but she schools her features for the most part, remaining stoic, waiting for more. ‘She was worried about you, and she asked me to help.’

Bree’s attention falls to the weapon in her hands, and for a split second, I think she might actually use it. I brace, my eyes falling to Beans, and I wonder if Bree will take him in when I’m dead.

‘Get your keys.’ Her voice is firm but quiet, and I look up at her once more.

‘What?’

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