Page 57 of Embriagado

“Oh, these guys?” He pointed at the men who’d just gotten into the van. “No, no, these guys are here to take it back, as I asked of them.”

“What?”

“You see, as it turns out, this one isn’t the right fit for our botanical garden.”

My jaw twitched, and I took a step forward. “So why the fuck did I watch over this cactus the past eight hours?”

“Succulent.”

“Huh?” My brows snapped together.

“You called it a cactus, but it isn’t. It’s a succulent.”

“The fuck you on about?” I grunted when he moved a bit closer.

“While all cacti are succulents, not all succulents are cacti.”

“The fuck is a cacti?”

“You don’t read a lot, do you?” He eyed me. “I assumed that in those three years you spent in prison, you would have at least picked up a book, but I guess I overestimated you. Then again, maybe you’ll do better next time.”

My temples throbbed, my body trembling with the need to hit him. “You fucking asshole⁠—”

I shut up when he got in my space, scared he was about to pull out a knife like he did before, but instead, he stopped a little too close. Close enough that his addictive scent would be the only thing I smelled.

“Again with that dirty, dirty mouth of yours,” he tsked, his eyes locked with mine as he traveled his finger along the collar of my shirt. “It’s a shame, really. Makes me want to wash it with soap.”

Locked under his gaze, I felt like I was set on fire as heat spread through my body. It was the mix of rage and humiliation that somehow made my body weak. But not having any of it, I pushed his hand away.

“Don’t touch me,” I hissed when he smiled.

“Sure about that? You seem to enjoy it.”

Knowing he was right in a sick way, I gritted my teeth. “I don’t.”

His eyes dipped to my chest.

“You’re as good a liar as you’re disciplined.” Reaching down, he took my name tag off. “Which is not much, is it?”

Feeling the sweat dribbling down my spine, I kept my mouth shut while he pinned it back to my polo shirt, only now, it was to my right side.

“You see, unlike you, I do read books, which is why I can read you like one. Not that it’s much of a task, given how your little brain is wired like that of a caveman, but still.” He brushed his hand over my shirt, smoothing out the wrinkles. “At last, you look presentable.”

I thought that now he might step back when he cupped the back of my neck in a move so quick I didn’t see it coming and pulled me close.

“Next time, when I order you to do something, you do it. So if I tell you to guard a damn succulent—” He gripped me harder, his words hot against my ear. “—you don’t move an inch, even if it means you piss yourself.”

My eyes widened because… he’s watching my every move. Even when I thought he wasn’t around, he was lurking in the shadows and tracking me down this whole time.

Fucking psycho.

He pulled back but didn’t avert his stare from me.

“What’s with the foul look?” He patted my cheek. “You are a dog, after all, aren’t you? Pissing everywhere is in your nature.”

Swallowing hard, I frowned at him. “What do you want from me?”

“We’ve already established that.”