Page 73 of Monster

“Come on. It’s time to get back.”

Back home with him, he meant.

Why did he even take me out here tonight?

I had thought he was letting me go.

My mind remained in a sort of daze as we left the apartment. I watched wordlessly as Dominic locked up the apartment, and we returned to his bike.

I barely remembered the trip home or when he parked in front of his house, and we walked inside.

It never even crossed my mind to fight him.

All I could think of was that those men knew who I was and where I lived. They had broken into my apartment and touched my things, and had Dominic not taken me—against my will or not—I might have been there when they broke in.

They would have done more than ruin my things.

They would have brought me in as collateral in a fight that wasn’t my own.

I shuddered at the thought.

I didn’t have any more energy.

Dominic directed me into the kitchen and sat me down on the barstool we had sat on, what seemed like so long ago.

I didn’t even go into my bedroom back at the apartment, but I was sure the state of it would be worse than out in the living room.

My skin crawled at the thought of them touching all my personal things—my clothes, my makeup, my bedding…

I shivered.

They were just things.

I should be thankful it was just my things they ruined, but it didn’t make me feel any better.

Dominic placed a steaming cup of tea in front of me. I looked at him in surprise. I didn’t even hear him move around the kitchen to prepare it.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice soft.

He nodded and leaned his weight against the island, watching me with that unreadable expression again.

I watched the steam billowing to the top of the mug.

“Is that why you had Lucy take me shopping?”

“You need clothes for while you’re here. As much as I love the sight of you in my clothes, I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable with your own things.”

“I don’t have any things,” I said, trying hard not to lose it.

“Then we’ll buy you more,” he said gruffly.

I looked up at him, trying to ascertain his emotion. His blue eyes seemed vivid at this time of night. Dominic obviously functioned on less sleep than I did. He didn’t even look tired, while I just felt exhausted.

“Why?” I croaked.

“Why what, wildcat?”

“Why are you doing all of this?”

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