Page 28 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

“Take him,” I order.

Enzo steps in immediately.

Daniel starts to protest, stumbling back as hands close around him, pulling him toward the door.

Christine’s gaze follows him, her chest rising and falling hard, her body still stiff with everything she hasn’t gotten out.

As soon as the door shuts behind him, she turns on me like she’s been waiting for it, like all that anger needs somewhere to go and I’m the only target left.

“Don’t touch me!” She shoves at my chest, hard, her palms hitting with force that doesn’t quite move me but doesn’t need to.

It’s not about strength. It’s about everything she’s pouring into it.

I let her.

She hits me again. And again.

“You think this is okay?” Her voice booms, rising, breaking under the weight of fear she's trying to hide. “You think you can just walk in here and…what? Decide this for me?”

Another shove.

I don’t stop her. I stand there and take it, watching her break in real time, watching the way her anger spills over.

“This isn’t yours…” She stabs a finger at herself, pushing at me again with her free hand.

Her hands fisting into my shirt, gripping, shaking.

“I am not yours… Do you hear me? I will never belong to you.”

I take a step closer.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I reply quietly. “Because right now, you already do.”

Her eyes fly wide.

“I’m not something he can just give away.”

“No,” I agree. “You’re not.”

That throws her slightly. Which is exactly why I say the next part the way I do.

“This doesn’t have to be complicated.”

She lets out a short, disbelieving laugh.

“Complicated? You think this”

“I can keep you,” I continue, cutting through it. “Until he pays me back.”

Her expression shifts to disgust this time.

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then you stay longer.” I hold her gaze.

For a second, she just stares at me. Like she didn’t hear it right. Like her mind is trying to rearrange the words into something that makes sense.

Then it hits.