Page 127 of Beautiful Liar

“Of course, but the reason you won’t isn’t the cold, is it, firecracker? California may be the sunshine state, but it gets just as cold there sometimes, doesn’t it?”

My gut clenches in shock. “What…how do you know?”

“Wild guess. Which you just confirmed.”

I don’t believe him. I lift shaking hands to my mouth and swallow hard. “Please…Q, leave this alone.” My voice is a naked plea.

But of course, he doesn’t. “Who is Clay?”

“He’s nobody! Forget the name.”

“Why is he after you, Lucky?”

I launch off the bed, my agitated feet pacing away from the black box, as if I can escape him. “Are you even listening to me? I don’t want to talk about it!”

“You belong to me. You’re in danger from this individual. Tell me what I need to know, or I’ll takes steps to find out on my own.”

I freeze in the middle of the room. “God, no! Please don’t do that. Promise me you won’t do that, Q?”

He counters immediately. “I’ll give you my word, if you tell me what I need to know.”

I lick my lips, wrestle down the correct words that’ll satisfy him and keep Petra and me safe at the same time. “He’s someone I owe money to, okay? I put some distance between us because I didn’t have the money to pay him.”

“That’s why you came to me.”

I nod, remember he can’t see me, and clear my throat. “Yes.”

“How much?”

Too damn much. “About a million dollars.”

“You’re not sure how much you owe him?”

“I’m…I’m hoping he’ll accept a million dollars.”

“What if he doesn’t?” he counters, his voice growing harsher with each question.

“Then it’ll be my problem.”

“Wrong answer, firecracker.”

I throw my hands up. “Why? Why is it a wrong answer? How is any of this your problem? And don’t say it’s because I belong to you. Our time together is finite. Once we’re done, I walk away. You won’t need to think about me, or take on this…this crusade you don’t want to keep out of. What, are you bored with your own life?” My chest heaves as I resume pacing. “Because I’m sure there are a thousand other things you could interest yourself with besides me. Especially when I don’t want you to be bothered!”

“You’re right. I can be in a million other places, doing a million other things. But here I am.”

That does something dangerous to my foolish, hopeful, heart. “Because I fascinate you? Because I’m your little lapdog you can command to stay, and I will?”

“The former is true. You fascinate me. The latter you respond to because you want to. I doubt I can make you do anything you don’t want to, firecracker.”

I hop back on the bed, and stare hard at the black box. “I’ve told you what you wanted to know. Do I have your word that you’ll leave it alone?”

“I’ll think about it. Take off your towel.”

“I…what? How do you know—you can see me?” My gaze darts around the room.

“Yes.”

I jerk upright onto my knees. “You said there were no cameras in here,” I snap.

---