Page 67 of Ruthless Creatures

He examines my face, then glances back at the road. “Take slow, deep breaths.”

“Why?”

“You’re hyperventilating.”

He’s right: I am. I sound like an asthmatic pug. I slump against the seat, close my eyes, and try to calm myself.

It doesn’t work.

“The police—”

“If they contact you, don’t speak to them. You’re not legally obligated to talk to them, no matter what they threaten. You have the constitutional right to remain silent, even if you’re arrested or in jail.”

My voice climbs in panic. “Arrested?Jail?”

“That was only an example. They won’t arrest you. You’re not guilty of anything. My point is, if they contact you—which is a big if—refuse to talk to them. There’s nothing they can do to force you to.”

I make more wheezing noises.

Kage’s voice lowers. “And especially don’t tell them you were with me.”

That stops me cold, then pisses me off. “Are you saying you think I’d rat you out to the police?”

“No. I’m saying that if the authorities discover you have any kind of relationship with me, you’ll become a person of interest to them. You’ll be under constant surveillance. Your home will be bugged. Your phone calls will be recorded. They’ll go through your mail, your trash, and your online history. Your life will never be the same.”

I stare at his profile with my mouth hanging open as we speed through the night.

He says softly, “Why do you think I stayed away for all those months?”

“But you came back.”

“I’m a selfish prick like that.”

“So what was your plan for this relationship? That we sneak around under the cover of darkness? Pretend we don’t know each other but keep seeing each other on the sly?”

“In a nutshell… yes.”

Now I’mreallyangry. The heat in my cheeks is warming the interior of the car. I demand, “That’s what you think I deserve? Some kind of half-assed booty call status?”

“No,” he says, his voice hard. “And if you have any sense, you should tell me to fuck off and never see me again.”

Livid, I stare at him. “I should.”

“Yes. You should.”

Dammit.It’s impossible to argue with someone who’s agreeing with you.

He takes a corner too fast. The car swerves, tires squealing. I don’t look away from his face for a second.

“Okay, so what do we do now?”

“I think it’s obvious.”

“Be condescending to me one more time and I’ll smack you over the head.”

He presses his lips together, I suspect to keep from laughing. “You have a decision to make, Natalie.”

“Keep seeing you or tell you to fuck off?”