But his lack of words never undermine his imposing presence. He’s prone to turning into a lethal weapon if he chooses. No, it’s not a choice. He has destructive energy that needs a breathing outlet. He’s like the rock he’s sitting on, unmovable and solid. But the waves still slam against its hard surface, trying on and on to eventually reach its core with the sheer power of their persistence.
It's me. I’m waves. Waves is me.
I bump my shoulder against his. “This is where you keep your part of the deal.”
“You need to learn some patience.”
“Totally have been doing that since you dragged me out of the club like a caveman.”
His head tilts in my direction. “A caveman, huh?”
“Hello? Did you see the expression on your face?”
His gaze gets lost in the violent water again. “I always have this inexplicable need to protect you.”
“I can shoot a gun better than a pro, you know. Papa trained me from the time I was little, after a lunatic tried to kidnap me, so I have a perfect shooting score and never miss. And Jeremy often tells me to carry a gun. Point is, I can protect myself and kick some ass. Well, shoot some ass, but semantics. Besides, I wasn’t in a dangerous situation at the club.”
“I don’t like it when others touch what’s mine. Especially Eli.”
My heart jolts at that word.Mine.He said it earlier at the club, but I was more concerned with being kidnapped in front of all those onlookers whom Creighton was paying no attention to.
“Why especially Eli?”
“He’s an anarchist. The type who has no purpose other than to watch the world being flipped upside down. If he puts you in his sights, you’re done for.”
Oh.“I think he was just offended that you never mentioned him to me.”
“He’s clingy like that.”
“Eli? Clingy?”
“Yeah, he won’t leave me alone and it isn’t due to lack of effort on my part.”
“From what I’ve seen on his IG, he’s only like that with you. Otherwise, he’s more like Kill, absolutely detached while giving the exact opposite image.”
“And how do you know that?”
“We’re mutuals.”
“Mutuals?”
“Oh, right. I forgot you don’t do social media. Being mutuals means we follow each other.”
“Youfollowhim?”
“Why not? The point of social media is to follow people.”
He narrows his eyes. “Unfollow him.”
“No.”
“Annika.” The sound of my name in his deep, rough voice is nothing short of a command.
“Stop being a tyrant. Besides, I’m following Remi, Bran, and even Landon. Not to mention Nikolai, Gareth, and Killian. Do I have to unfollow them, too?”
“Preferably.”
“Might as well tell me to delete my socials.”