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“I don’t know enough about slugs to have a favorite,” I shrugged.

Theo gasped as if it was an offense to humanity itself.

“Then I will have to introduce you to all the wonderful species! Let’s see, there are a few good aquariums with a sea slug exhibit…”

My heart clenched at him making plans for the future with me in the picture. It hurt to know they wouldn’t come to pass. That the fun adventure with this sunny man was out of reach.

I moved from one task to another, waiting for the other shoe to drop. My bad luck, the very personification of it, found me the minute Theo excused himself to the bathroom.

“Look what we have here,” Carl taunted, cornering me against the wall with his arms. “What will you do now, without that dog pissing around you to mark his territory?”

“Are you calling yourself a dog? Because you came sniffing around me as well,” I gritted out.

Carl bared his teeth at me.

“Don’t think that just because those three bastards want to fuck you I will let you talk back, bitch.”

But… he did. I tilted my head, taking in his clenched fists and the lack of violence that would usually already follow.

“What, is daddy pulling on your leash and not letting you hurt me?” I taunted. Carl slammed his hand against the wall and my eyes widened. “He is!”

“Shut the fuck up! The moment this deal inevitably falls apart I will make your life hell,” his hand lowered to my waist and he ignored my flinch as he let his fingers trail over my body. “You were always beneath me and I didn’t want to catch something from a slut like you, but I will make a sacrifice and fuck you like the bitch you are. Until you are crying, until you know your place.”

The urge to try to break his wrist was becoming hard to resist but I knew he was untouchable.

At least by me.

His wrist didn’t snap but his shoulder popped out of its socket as Theo wrenched the offending hand behind Carl’s back.

“Argh! It hurts! You… you broke my arm!” Carl staggered away from the unassuming blond.

“Only dislocated it,” Theo said pleasantly. “And I will do more if you don’t keep your hands to yourself.”

Carl blanched, his face cycling between the white of fear and the blotchy red of outrage.

“My father…!”

“Will no doubt be keen to hear how you are sabotaging what may very well be the best deal of his life,” Theo cut in with a smile.

The heir to the mafia fortune spluttered but didn’t have a retort to that. He clutched at his hurting arm and stumbled away with his tail between his legs. It was a glorious sight, even if I knew I was going to pay for seeing him like this later.

“Are you alright?” Theo asked gently.

“Better, now that he is gone,” I gave a half-answer. “My shift is nearly done. Let’s just go. Carl is banned from the servant’s wing by the orders of his father so he shouldn’t bother us there.”

“What did he do to get banned?” Theo asked. His nose scrunched up as if the mere mention of Carl left a bad smell behind.

“Harassed the female staff so much we had such high new hire turnover even the big boss took notice,” I shared. “But when we are outside of the safe zone, working… well, you saw for yourself.”

“Is he still making so much trouble for everyone?”

“Nah, I’m just special,” I smiled grimly. “I talked back when I first arrived here and since then he made me his favorite whipping boy.”

Theo looked like he wanted to say something stupid like ‘I’m sorry’ or even worse ‘I will keep you safe’ so I hurried my steps and stopped only when I reached my door.

“I assume I will see you tomorrow?” I shot over my shoulder as I opened the door. “I’m starting work at 6 am and—”

I stumbled backward when I turned and found Theo a step inside my room instead of waiting outside. He swiftly caught my elbow and helped me straighten up but he also subtly herded me away from the door, closed it behind himself, and turned the lock.