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He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, I’m the one with the stick up my ass.”

“You were the one who left last week. Have you got something to say?”

Anthony steps forward. “You know it. How much time have you got?”

“Oookay.” Hazel steps between us and offers me a grittedsmile. She places her hands on my shoulders and steers me backwards. “Let’s take a breath, shall we?”

I inhale deeply, before exhaling through my nostrils.

“I wanted to come down and check the place out,” Patrick explains. “Anthony said you got a threat?”

“For God’s sake, it’s nothing.” I stare daggers at Anthony, but he stares right back, unrelenting.

“You know, I can appreciate your strong will and go-getter attitude most days,” Anthony says. “But I never thought you’d be so stupid when it comes to your own safety.”

“Well luckily no one here is asking for your opinion.”

“I swear to God-”

“One more word Bonetti! One morefuckingword-”

“Alright, enough!” Patrick cuts in, throwing his hands in the air. He tilts his head to look at Hazel, who’s eyes are wide, and her mouth slammed shut as if she’s battling a smile. “Jesus, it’s like dealing with teenagers.”

“I’m ready to let them have it out.” Hazel shrugs. “Kali did say you were a bit like a dad. It’s kind of true.”

Patrick ignores her. “Kali, I’m a former detective.”

“Thank you for the reminder about how you lied to us for months on end,” I snap.

“Let me at least do some basics?” he asks. “Install some cameras and a decent alarm. Maybe do a poke around of who your neighbours are?”

“That’s not basic. That’s an invasion of privacy.”

Anthony throws his hands up. “It’ssmart!”

“Zip it.” Hazel shoots Anthony a warning look, who huffs and folds his arms.

“Please Kali,” Patrick says, his frown creased with concern.

“I’ll allow the cameras and the alarm. But please leave my neighbours out of this for now. Things are stressful enough without adding any extra drama.”

Patrick nods in appreciation and heads out the door to look at the front entrance, his figurative policeman hat on as he walks up and down scoping out the area.

I glare at Anthony. “I don’t know when you appointed yourself as someone who needs to get involved in my life, but you are hereby dismissed from that responsibility.”

“I’m not goinganywhere,”he hisses.

“But I am,” Hazel singsongs, following Patrick outside.

I take a step towards Anthony. “I am a grown woman who’s been to hell and back in my lifetime. I managed fine without you then; I can manage without you now.”

Anthony drops his arms and takes a step, closing the space between us. “You’re so fixated on keeping everyone out, you can’t see when someone is genuinely trying to help. Get over yourself.”

“I have never met someone I want to strangle more in my entire life,” I bite.

Anthony’s mouth curves into a smirk. “You’ve thought about that haven’t you, Red? Your fingers curved around my throat, pressing hard into my skin as I bring you to orgasm again and again?”

A strangled noise escapes my throat, but no words come out. The surprise must be evident on my face, because Anthony’s smirk morphs into a smug grin. He leans down until I can feel his breath just above my ear. “Knew it,” he rasps.