Page 41 of Savage
Our kiss ended, and I was forced to breathe in.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Elio said.
I looked down and shrugged. Still, Elio forced my gaze back up at him.
“I hate his blood on you.”
A chill raced down my spine, and I nodded, agreeing. I didn’t glance back at Mr. Thomas’s corpse as Elio led me up from the cellar to a spare bathroom on the first floor.
He could have showered before waking us that day, and I smiled to myself at that fact. He’d allowed us to see him for who he was from the start. I let my mind wander as Elio cleaned the blood off both of us. He redressed my wounds. They were numb for the moment, but I knew they’d be throbbing come morning.
I blinked and realized I was staring at the huge television as I rested my head on Elio’s lap. It wasn’t nearly as soft as the pillows in his huge bed, but for some reason, I had no desire to lift my head.
“Running away back then was the right choice, but if I could do it all over again, I’d save them from the misery that was my life. I couldn’t keep a job. I was always causing more trouble than good. The list of reasons could go on for days, but—”
A shadow moved over me, and I glanced up as Elio stared down at me. His eyes were blank beautiful green jewels. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, if he pitied me or was angry. I didn’t think I wanted to know either.
“You’re a troublemaker.”
I went to sit up, but Elio pushed me back down, his warm fingers curing in my hair. The hold was more comforting than any hug could ever give me.
“I know.”Which was why you needed to let me leave before I fucked this all up too.
“My troublemaker.”
“What?”
Elio sat back, and I missed staring up into his expressionless eyes.
“Any trouble you cause, I will fix.”
“What if I get into a fight with a gang?”
“Then they will die,” Elio said.
“What if I bring the police to your door?” My heart was racing with each question, trying to find where the line was. Where I needed to tread carefully.
Elio looked down at me, his mouth turning down in a frown, and I knew he would kick me out. That I’d be back on the street.
“Did you not understand what I said?”
My breath caught. “You’d kill cops that—” His hand tightened in my hair, and delicious pain danced along my scalp, leaving nothing but warmth seeping through my body.
“I’d kill anyone who touches what is mine.”
I stared up at him in pure shock. “You don’t know us.”
“Does not matter.”
“You can’t go claiming random people just because we fucked.”
“Why not?”
I pulled free of his hold and sat up as the ice packs slipped off my bandaged hands. He’d taken care of me again even as I’d dissociated for a moment. Elio hadn’t left my side.
“What do you mean why? It’s abnormal.”
Elio’s face didn’t change; he just stared at me with his head slowly tilting to the side as if he was trying to understand me.How in the fuck was he not understanding this?Granted, Elio was a bit odd and killed people, but this was different.
