“What are you doing?”
“You locked the door.”
I nod. “Yes, I locked the door to keep you out.”
He shrugs. “That’s not how this works. You lock the door to keep yourself safe. You’ve already decided I won’t hurt you.”
He stares at me wearing a white T-shirt sitting on the couch. “The better question is, what are you doing?”
I tremble. “Pushing myself.”
“I see.” His tense eyes travel over me. “I think you’ve had enough.”
I nod.
He walks to the door and holds it open for me as I step inside. I immediately run to my corner and fall to the ground, my body shaking violently.
Enzo rubs his neck, looking frustrated. I don’t know if the look is for himself or me.
There is a knock on the door, and I freeze. What the hell? Westcott never comes up here and disturbs us if Enzo is here. Enzo always calls him if he wants him.
Enzo looks at me with a silent sorry on his lips.
I hug my legs, bite my lip, and let my hair fall to my face. I’m done with people today. I’ve pushed myself far enough, and now I’m about to shut down.
Enzo slowly undoes each of the locks, his eyes cutting to mine at the sound of each mechanism unlocking, making it easier for them to get to me. The monsters.
I close my eyes.
I’m safe.
I’m fine.
Slowly, the door opens, and Enzo slips out through the crack. I’m alone.
I consider racing to the door to slam it shut and lock out Enzo again, but as much as I want to declare my independence from him, as much as I want to run away, I can’t. I’m not strong enough to survive on my own, not yet.
And I need Enzo to sleep next to me in order to rest myself. Especially tonight after getting myself so worked up. I need the edges of his muscles to focus on, his rippled chest, his gruff face covered in dark shadows. I need to hear his soft snores rocking me to sleep. I need him.
The bastard. Maybe this was his plan all along. To get me to rely on him. So I could never leave. He wouldn’t need a cage or guard to keep me trapped. I would do it myself.
I need to form a plan to stop relying on him, but right now I just want to sleep.
The door creaks open, and Enzo returns. He considers for a second and then walks over to me. He kneels down in front of me like I’m a child.
He bites his lip before he speaks. “Can you do me a favor?”
“No.”
He smirks. “Then do yourself a favor. Let’s go to the bathroom.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Got a new fetish? Like watching me pee or something?”
He laughs. “No, just trust me. I need to change before we try to sleep.”
“And you need me for that?’
“Yes,” he sighs.