Page 32 of Property of Yak

Only when I hear his boots stomping on the floor, walking away, do I leave my bathroom. I make a quick stop at my closet and slip on a pair of heels and grab my phone from the nightstand before I go in search of him.

“Morning,” I tell him as he comes into view.

He smirks as he leans against the kitchen counter, ankles crossed.

“You already said that,” he says as he brings a cup up to his mouth and takes a drink.

“I’m being polite. Is this for me?” I ask, pointing to the to-go coffee cup that’s on the island.

“Yeah, I made it with a dash of cream and one spoonful of sugar. I hope that’s okay.”

“No, that’s perfect, actually.” I pull the cup toward me. “So, what did you want to talk about?” I ask, cutting to the chase.

“You aren’t safe,” he says bluntly.

“You’ve already pointed that out, yet you haven’t told me what you are thinking,” I point out.

“Because you inserted yourself into my world, I’m going to have to keep close to you. I don’t trust Aragon, the guy from last night. I know if given a chance, he’s going to get you alone, and I don’t even want to think about what he would do to you.”

“So, you are going to be hanging around?” I ask, heart racing.

For some reason, I don’t hate the thought of him being around. What bothers me, though, is the idea of him doing so when he doesn’t want to.

“I’m going to be on you like white on rice.”

“Okay. So, we see each other. That’s not that big of a deal.”

“That’s not all, though.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not going to be with you every moment of every day. You’ll be safe enough at work, but here at home…you won’t be safe if I’m not here.”

“You’re wrong. My house is solid,” I tell him confidently.

No, I don’t have an alarm system, but my dad went over the place. If it were easy to break in, he would have pointed it out.

He would never let me live somewhere he felt was unsafe.

“Bullshit. You don’t have a security system, and there are no cameras on the outside. You only have a wooden door and frame. I could easily kick it down to gain access. Should I keep going?” he asks sarcastically.

“What are you suggesting?” I grit out.

“Cameras. Not just outside, but I want a few inside as well.”

“No. Absolutely not,” I say adamantly. I grab the coffee and my bag off the counter. Turning, I head toward the door, only to be stopped when he wraps his hand around my arm, pinning me in place.

“Wait. This isn’t up for discussion, Julie.”

“No. It’s a full sentence. Remember?” I ask, heart racing.

Yak

Annoyance courses through me. Why is she fighting me? After last night, how does she still not get it?

Jesus Christ. I never should have saved her. I shouldn’t have interfered. Keeping Yooper alive is already a full-time job. I don’t have time for a woman who fights me at every turn. But luckily for her, I wasn’t built to walk away when I see something wrong happening. I just need to convince her to fucking listen. Really listen.

It also works out in my favor that the one man I suspect of the shit going on with Yooper is the one who set his sights on her. Which is part of the reason I claimed her.