Page 54

CHAPTER 53

ALEXEI

My stomach grumbles as I stroke Lara’s hair. Her head rests on a pillow on my lap.

We’ve nearly finished Yellowstone. I’m gunna miss those cowboys.

I need to eat.

And then discuss with her my next job. Not that I know much about it. But the more I think, the more in love with her I fall, the more clear it becomes I have to do it.

“Hey, baby. Shall we go grab some food? I’m so hungry I could eat a crocodile.”

Her body vibrates as she laughs.

“People normally say horse. And I’m not really hungry. I’ll come with you though, shall we walk somewhere?”

How is she not starving? She eats way less than me.

Sofia’s words whirl in my head. Lara sits up and scoots away.

“You need to have something, you can’t go to bed on an empty stomach. Not for what I have planned for you.”

Reluctantly she nods.

“Burger?”

Her face drops. Almost in a look of panic. But she quickly covers it with a smile.

But it’s a fake one. I know her.

“Let me go get changed.” She stands and pats down on her dress.

“You look perfect as you are.” I pin her with a stare. There is more behind my words than what’s there on the surface. I hope she realizes.

She jogs up the stairs and I tip my head back on the couch, running my hands over my face.

How do I help her?

How do I get her to see what I see?

I’ve read some horror stories online about how people die from this.

I can’t lose her.