Page 23 of Filthy Little Lies

“Savanah, if I have to keep repeating myself it’s going to be very, very hard for you to sit through breakfast in the mornings. Come here.”

I should run. The heated danger pooling into his eyes is a warning to run away. And yet, I put one foot in front of the other and make my way to stand in front of him.

As soon as I’m within reach, he wraps his hand around my chin, forcing my head back. He leans into me, his entire body flush with mine as he towers over me.

“First rule, you are never to speak down about yourself. Not even joking.”

“I wasn’t doing that, I was only saying⁠—”

“You called yourself a nobody.”

“Well—” My words are cut off when he covers my mouth with his other hand.

“Don’t continue. If you do, you’ll be over my knee while I give you the other rules. And I’d rather have your full attention.”

Other rules?

I agreed to make him a few fake identification documents, not become his ward. And I sure as hell didn’t agree to live in his room with him in the same bed.

Slowly, he peels his hand away from my mouth, though he’s still gripping my chin so I’m not getting away from him yet.

“While you’re working for me, you don’t work for anyone else. No side jobs.”

“You mentioned that at my apartment, but I didn’t agree to it. I still need to keep up my own income.”

“No.”

“How am I supposed to earn a living if I’m working for you for free and can’t do outside work? You never answered that.”

“Next rule,” he continues on. “If you need something, you’ll charge it to this.” He releases me, reaches into his back pocket, and pulls out his wallet, plucking a black card from the fold then putting it on the dresser.

“So you can add it to the amount you think I already owe you?”

“No.” He grabs his phone and swipes the screen. “Your things will be here in the morning.”

“Morning? Weren’t they right behind us in the van? Where’d they go?”

He puts his phone on the dresser along with his wallet. “They’re here. But your things won’t be brought up until morning. You’re busy right now.”

I huff. “Busy? All I’m doing is hearing your list of silly rules.”

He narrows his gaze. “Do you want to know what happens if you break these silly rules?”

My stomach clenches. Common sense, which dove out the window since I’ve met him, peeks its head back in and tells me not to ask.

“I don’t tolerate disobedience.” He brushes the back of his knuckles across my jawline. “And you were very disobedient last night, weren’t you?”

Now my pussy clenches. This man is ruining my nervous system.

“You never told me I couldn’t climb out the window,” I manage.

His lips curve into a whisper of a smile.

“Next rule, no climbing out windows, or down trees, or trying to run away again. If you leave, you tell me where you’re going. If you’re late getting back, there’ll be consequences.”

“If you think I’m going to let you do what you did last night ever again, you’re delusional. I wasn’t thinking straight, but I am now.” I roll my shoulders back and firm my stance the way Cassie’s uncle showed us when he visited her one Christmas.

“I obviously didn’t handle last night right. I left you frustrated with pent up energy. I won’t be making that mistake with your punishment tonight.”