Page 107 of Condemned By Pain
I shake my head, forcing my nerves to settle. “My father didn’t accept his father’s.”
After a brief, silent walk, I point to a bench.
“Would you like to sit with me?”
He holds my gaze for a moment, then chuckles quietly. My mouth twitches, threatening a smile.
“Do you have your phone?” he asks, his voice dropping.
I shake my head.
“Any other devices?”
“No.” I tilt my head. “Why?”
We walk toward the benches.
“They could be listening through them.”
I’m not surprised. Zo stalked Avi so thoroughly that every method of surveillance feels normal to me now.
We reach a bench facing the river and settle onto it, leaving an arm’s length between us.
Bruno settles between my feet, pressing his muzzle against my thighs. I set Rosie in the space between me and Mr. Tyrant, then rest my hands on Bruno’s face, kneading gently.
My hands still when, from the corner of my eye, I spot Rosie clawing at his pants.
“What’s his name?”
“She’s a girl. Rosie.”
“Who names their dog Rosie in this century?” he mutters, almost to himself.
“Still better than Jonathan. Last time I heard that name, it was some old man—a friend of my grandpa,” I say, amusement coloring my voice.
He watches Rosie climb onto his lap with a straight face.
I chuckle. “Don’t look at her like that.”
“Why doesn’t she have the manners not to climb on strangers?”
I narrow my eyes. “I dare you to call my Rosie mannerless again.”
He smirks, his gaze turning lazy, hooded.
“What will you do, Miss Elowen?” The flirtatious edge in his voice sends a slow tingle of heat through my belly.
“Let me think of something that’ll piss you off.”
He watches me, amusement and admiration mingling in his eyes.
“How about I wet your shoes?”
“Silly girl,” he murmurs, a smile tugging at his lips.
I smirk. “Then how about I go kiss that man?” I tilt my chin toward a man sitting on a nearby bench.
This makes him cut a glare at the stranger.
