Page 81 of Burdened Bonds
“Me, Prof.,” Renzo says grinning up at him in an infuriating manner that is most definitely not going to help our cause.
Stone turns his head and addresses his friend. “Definitely Stockholm Syndrome. Or possibly a bad knock to her head.”
“He could have warped her memories. Fooled her into thinking–”
“I am in complete control of my senses!”
“Clearly not,” Stone says, “otherwise you’d have killed that man yourself, instead of letting him molest your pig.”
“Hey, hey,” Renzo says, frowning, “me and the little dude do not have that kind of relationship. I’m much more interested in molest–”
“Yes, thank you,” I say, feeling a headache building behind my eyes.
Winnie appears alongside the others and assesses us all wearily.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“Rhianna is having some kind of mental breakdown,” Stone mutters.
“Does he always talk to you like this?” Renzo says menacingly.
“Yep,” I answer.
“I wasn’t the one who nearly killed you,” Stone snarls.
Azlan growls again and takes a menacing step forward, one I’m forced to block with my body.
“I’m no clearer,” Winnie says.
“Rhianna won’t let us kill the assassin.”
Winnie rolls her eyes. “Your boyfriends are really dumb.” I smile at her, relieved by the knowledge that Winnie at least will be on my side, no matter how crazy-assed that side is.
“Mate, not boyfriend,” Azlan spits.
“Well, in that case you should know her better by now. Rhi isn’t going to let you kill anyone on her behalf. Gently torture perhaps. Maybe a little maiming–”
“–I like her,” Renzo says.
“But no killing.”
“Exactly,” I say.
“So I have your permission to torture him?” Azlan says, cracking his knuckles.
“No!” I say, “Winnie was joking.” Both Azlan and Renzo look disappointed. “We’re not going to hurt each other.”
“Looks like I already did,” Stone says, peering proudly at the injury on Renzo’s shoulder.
“We’re going to talk like civilized human beings.”
“He isn’t civilized,” Azlan sneers.
“Urgh!” I say throwing my head backwards.
“Maybe you should just hear Rhi out,” Winnie says. “We’ve been separated for days. You’ve no idea what she’s been through and she has no idea what we’ve been through.”
My gaze skips to my friend and she smiles at me weakly.
