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“No,” I deny. “I absolutely didn’t. But… I still killed people.”

“Do you regret it?”

“Absolutely fucking not. Goddamn wastes of space,” I growl.

“That’s what I thought. What else do you want to tell me about the last night you were at Hidden Hills?”

“The desperation to get out was intense. I can still feel it now,” I tell her, my tone heavy with tears. “I knew Xav and Grant were still out there. I couldn’t be someone’s weapon. What if I’m not strong enough next time?”

“What if you are?” Dr. Bradley says softly. “You’ve lived a life of trial by fire. It’s time to be the phoenix we all know you are. When I count to five, you’ll come back to us. Hidden Hills is no more. One… two... three… four… five.”

My eyes open, and I blink rapidly. The lights are brighter than I thought they were. Sitting up, I see Orion staring hard at me.

“Hey, Little Love,” he murmurs. “Pineapple.”

The world goes black, and I curse.

Orion

I did warn her that I was going to do this.

Lennon’s pupils are blown as she gazes at me, and I can tell that the word has completely taken over her. This is what she’s so scared of.

“There’s the pretty little slave. You’ll do whatever I please, won’t you? Isn’t that what you’re worried about? Here’s a knife. Pick it up and kill me,” I tell her, pushing it toward her.

This wasn’t part of the plan. I didn’t tell her I was going to do this. Dr. Bradley stands carefully, glaring at me in annoyance as she moves away from us.

Lennon shakes her head even as her fingers twitch. “No,” she whispers. “I won’t do that.”

“Lennon, pick up the knife,” I growl. Intent is something I noticed makes the difference in her trigger.

Reaching forward, she picks up the weapon, but doesn’t stand.

“Get up, Lennon,” I command. Her legs begin to force her to rise. “Aren’t you mine to command? Do as I say.”

“You’re a dick, O,” Lennon mutters. “Go fuck yourself.”

There’s my girl.

“Tell me how you really feel, but I better feel that blade coming for me, Baby Girl,” I tell her. “Come on, show me your worst. Get your ass moving.”

Dr. Bradley looks on disapprovingly as Lennon takes a step forward.

“No,” Lennon pants. “I won’t. Stop this. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You have no choice,” I taunt, standing. “Aren’t you this pretty little puppet that has to do what she’s told? So show me what Xavier molded. Where’s the soulless killer now?”

“No,” she says again. I can see there’s a war going on within her, but she takes yet another step forward. “Stop it!”

“Or what? If you don’t break this, you’ll always wonder if you can be triggered. Pineapple, pineapple, pineapple! Pizza and pineapple are delicious, don’t you think?” I ask her. “Keep coming for me, Lennon. Finish what you’ve started.”

“I don’t want this,” she rasps. Her chest is heaving, but her hand is steady on the knife. It’s a very delicate balance. “Please, Orion.”

The desperate nature of her words should move me, but I refuse to let them. There’s the cold blooded killer and the loving woman who doesn’t want to hurt me. Honestly, even the killer doesn’t want to murder me, even if I am being a cockwaffle right now.

“Pineapple doesn’t give a fuck what you want, Little Girl,” I snarl. “What are you going to do about it?"

Screaming, Lennon runs toward me and leaps at me, the knife raised high. Fuck. Her legs wrap around me, but she throws the knife at the wall where it’s embedded all the way to the hilt. Damn, baby.