Page 116 of Inside the Sun

"How many more lessons do you need, Sun? Don’t worry. I’ll give you every single one. I won’t let you miss a thing."

Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn’t be easier to just break. To fall into that soft, quiet numbness. To accept that this is my life now.

"You know… I’ve been having some interesting chats with your dad," Anzo says suddenly.

My entire body locks up.

He pulls my phone out of his pocket.

"Your dad checks in every day, asking how you’re doing. Every fucking day! What a good parent he is… So I tell him you’re great. He doesn’t seem to believe it. He keeps trying to invite you home. Got me thinking, maybe we should stop by. You and me. So your parents can meet your new boyfriend?"

"No!" I scream before I even realize what I’m saying. "No, please, I don’t want them to see you! They’ll know something’s wrong!"

Anzo laughs. "Relax, pet. I’m way too busy to make house calls to the parents of my dildo boys."

Keep it down, Sun. Keep it calm!

He strolls behind us again, idly wrapping the whip around his wrists. "I’ll leave you with that thought. Remember, kitten,your life here depends entirely on how you behave. Play nice, and things stay bearable. Disappoint me… and I promise you’ll regret it."

Stay quiet, Sun!

I don’t.

"You can tell him no!" I yell, something snapping loose in my brain.

"Tell who no?" he asks flatly.

"Rocco! Tell him to stop taking your boys! You’re the one in charge here! And he’s coming for me, I can feel it!"

Silence. The kind of silence that chills the room. That turns it into an ice cave. For a second, I think he’s going to kill me. But then I hear his footsteps behind me.

"That’s your job, pet," he murmurs. "Make sure Rocco never gets the chance."

Holy shit. Did he just admit it? That Rocco really does this?

"My job?! You’re a fucking weak capo, Anzo!" I explode, my voice ragged. "They shouldfearyou, not steal your boys like it’s a game!"

A jolt of electricity tears through my body, making my spine bow like an inverted ‘c’.

But my jaw doesn't listen! It opens and more venom comes out!

"You should protect what’s yours! I see now why betas aren’t the first choice for this job, they are cowards, second-class gender—"

Another jolt of shocks… I don’t even care!

Anzo leans down, growling into my ear. "Rocco never takes what I’m not willing to give, you stupid slut!"

I risk it, I fucking do!

"Wrong! He took Moon!"

The second jolt is so violent, everything goes black. But I don’t regret even a single word I said. He deserves it and more.

***

When I come to, Matteo’s arms are around me, dragging me off the table. He throws my hands around his shoulders, helping me stay upright.

"Get the trash out," Anzo says coldly. "But Summer stays. I’ve missed him."

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