Page 220 of Whispers of Wisteria

“Then stop doing this,” he said. “You have no idea how we see you.”

I clenched my teeth, bracing myself.

“Princess, you’reeverything.” Titus reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “You’re not prey, and you’re not replaceable.”

A heat began to spread across the back of my neck. “I’m—I’m sorry.”

“You will never put yourself at risk for me again,” Titus continued.

I blinked as my vision blurred.

I… I couldn’t promise that. I couldn’t stand by while others got hurt. I might not be strong, but maybe I could dosomething.

Titus’s expression fell and he ran his fingers through his hair. “Can you at least promise that you’lltryto be careful?” he asked. “And don’t hide the important things from me.”

“But…” I began, faltering as I put my finger to my lip.

How would I know what he thought was important? We all had different priorities.

“Everythingis important,” he said.

Surely not. For example, there was no need for him to know about my plans to make money, or about Ernesto Lucciano,whom I was probably going to text next week. I’d given the almost-gang-leader enough time to be intrigued, but now it was time to talk business.

Titus sighed. “I’m beginning to think we have different definitions of the word ‘important’.”

Most likely so.

For example, the case they’d all been whispering about when they thought I wasn’t looking. They had no idea what Jason could do. If it were really all that important to them, they’d stop trying to keep things from me.

It was really annoying.

“You’ve always avoided talking about it.” Titus frowned. “And you don’t like being interviewed. Plus, you reacted badly when you heard his name.”

“About Jason. I…” I swallowed and looked away. “I was s-surprised. But…” I clenched my fists in my lap. “I guess I shouldn’t have been.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I’m—” My breath faltered. “It doesn’t matter about me. But…” My shoulders were shaking and I pushed my hands against my thighs to make it stop. “I don’t want him to hurt anyone else. I was able to show you the house, then… maybe I—I can help you find him. I—I know how he thinks.”

“You’re afraid of him,” Titus pointed out.

My stomach turned. I grabbed the water and drank it before setting the glass down harder than I meant to.

Yes, I was afraid of him. I hated that I was. But also—

It wasn’t just that.

“Iloathehim.” I could barely control my voice. There was a hot swelling in my chest. He hurt people… and liked it. He needed to be gone.

“I willkillhim,” I said, pushing my shaking hands in my lap. “I don’t care that he’s stronger than me. I’ll find a way.”

I would see his stupid face dead. Our relationship could only be severed by death—preferably his. If he knew where I was, he would most definitely come for me, but I’d be ready.

Thus was the nature of our connection.

And with me to focus on, it was better. I could, at least, handle anything he’d do to me.

Titus went still, and his expression made my stomach cramp. Finally he said, “Do you have any idea what it does to me when you say things like that?”