Page 70 of Terror at the Gates

“You have a pretty mouth, little love, but you say the ugliest things.”

His words actually hurt, but it was fair, given what I had said.

“If you decide to go, I’ll take you,” he continued. “Lisk will be there, and I want him to know you’re with me.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. “What if the commission thinks you and my father made some kind of deal behind their back?”

“I don’t give afuckabout the commission. I would think you’d understand that by now, but I guess you’re too busy assuming the worst to actually fuckinglistento me.”

I stared at him, stunned by his reaction. He wasmad.

So this is what it’s like, I thought.

I went hot all over, both embarrassed but also angry. I didn’t assume the worst, and Ididlisten to him, but he also quoted their fucking rules like it was theBook of Splendoritself, so to act like he didn’t throw their judgment in my face was alie.

He paused with his hand on the door, and his eyes fell to Cherub.

“Keep the cat,” he said. “Learn to let someone love you.”

I fumed in silence after he left, scrambling to make sense of what had just happened between us. What had he meant bylearn to let someone love you? I let plenty of people love me. Coco. Gabriel. Esther.Hewas the one who constantly kept everyone at arm’s length,includingme.

God, I fucking hated him sometimes.

Except I knew that wasn’t actually true, and right now, my stomach churned with guilt. I had gone too far. Calling Zahariev a hypocrite was next level, and I should haveknown better.

I am such a fucking disaster, I thought, letting my head fall into my hands. My eyes dropped to Cherub, who was still asleep in my lap, oblivious to my turmoil.

“So,” said Coco, returning to the living room, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. “Zahariev said we should keep the cat?”

I gave her a withering look. “How much did you hear?”

“Enough to know that he thinks she’s beautiful,” she replied. “Unless he was talking about you, to which I agree.”

I sighed, though I wasn’t sure what I was reacting to: Coco’s eavesdropping or her comment about my appearance. I wasn’t exactly irritated by either, just not surprised.

“He was definitely not talking about me,” I said.

The only time Zahariev had commented on my appearance was when I’d danced for him, and that had felt more like judgment.

Oh, and just now when he’d let me know what ugly things came out of my pretty mouth.

“Do you work tonight?” I asked.

“No, but Hassenaah wants us to be at the club around six for rehearsal,” she said. “She decided our routine was stale and wants to change it up.”

“What?”

Coco’s eyes widened a little. It was like she forgot Zahariev had hired me.

“Don’t worry, babes!” she assured me. “I’ll teach you everything!”

It didn’t matter if she taught me. I wouldn’t be able topractice for another week and by then, I’d be behind.

“You know she’s doing this on purpose,” I said. “She’s pissed Zahariev went over her head.”

“Maybe,” said Coco. I could tell by the tone of her voice she didn’t agree. “But I don’t think she’s wrong. My tips have been shit.”

A flush crept over me, and my chest felt a little tight. I knew Coco wanted to believe Hassenaah, but this was intentional.