Page 55 of Ravaged

“I never took care of you,” I yelled. “You’re a prisoner, Tea. There will be a day when I have to hand you over. When you’ll be gifted to another criminal.”

“But you won’t,” she said. I raised a brow. “Because I’m Tea to you.” I looked away, staring out the window. Why did she believe in me? Why did she trust me? “I can care for you right now. That’s enough for me.”

“If it were your dad here—”

“I would care for him too.”

I scowled, turning away. She should have hated me, should have been repulsed by me, should have been glad that her dad had actually managed to punch me hard enough that I had a swollen eye. But instead, she nursed me. The one person in the world who didn’t deserve her kindness.

“You only think that way because you know I’m your best chance at survival,” I muttered.

“I don’t see why that’s a problem.”

“Because you don’t want anything for yourself, Tea.” I scowled at her. “Do you even know what you want?”

She crooked her head. “I didn’t realize I had a choice.”

I let go of my clenched fists and stood up. That was how it was. How it had been all along.

She might not have had a choice, but I had one. And I wasn’t going to force her to care for me.