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Although the truth was, I’d gotten very lucky in that instance, in being able to leave The bastard had been stronger, bigger All it would’ve taken wastossed away, and I would’ve been at hisin the physical sense, and the few self-defense moves I kneouldn’t help me if somebody really wanted to hurt me

“I’ll teach you how to fight”

I felt my eyebrows rise to ht? It was on the tip ofand violence were the last things I wanted But was it really? I needed to learn to protect as shit, but all this other stuff now too

“Nonnegotiable, Lina”

I didn’t know ifhim pissed him off or amused him It was hard to read Arlo’s expressions the majority of the time, because he kept himself so closed off

“Okay,” I said without any heat I would’ve taken , but funds and time hadn’t really allowed it And as I stared at him, I kneithout a doubt Arlo could kill somebody with his bare hands if need be “But can you tellthis? Like, I understand the safety aspect, but why do you care? I’m a nobody”

He just looked at , but there was this hard tension around hiet no answers from him

Fine, if he wanted to give me a hard time, then I’d just show him how stubborn I was “I need to work on my next shift” The hard set of his jaw told ue, but I shook o into whatever spiel he was about to say to ht up in, because you won't tell me, but I know if you wanted to hurta strawberry danish and drinking bitter-ass coffee” His lips quirked slightly as if he was ao to work I can’t just not It’s clear you’re not hard up for money,” I said and pointedly looked around his lavish penthouse aparte I…” I stopped before I could say I was running and needed all the funds I could get

His eyes narrowed inally when I wouldn’t press on It was very clear thishih hole with my own problems, and then there was all this other stuff that was now laid in o and if they could even get better at this point

But I wasn’t ready to give up on this If he wanted to “keephe’d learn about ive up easily when I put

We were in this silent stare-off for a couple of seconds, and when he didn’t speak, I exhaled and just pressed on “I have to work,” I said, softer this ti myself that I heard the defeat in my voice “I know you said it’s not safe, and I’m not stupid, but you don’t understand, I have to make money”

“If you’re in trouble, all you have to do is tell me and I can help” His voice was low and deep, but I didn’tunderneath

“Maybe I don’t want anyone’s help” The words were so soft I didn’t even know if he heard, but when he spoke, I knew he had

“Maybe sometimes we have to ask for help, even if we don’t want it”

I was shaking my head before he finished but couldn't find the words to say anything I looked around his incredible apart the space, noticed all the expensive, sleek appliances, and didn’tscreamed of wealth

“You can’t possibly kno it feels to struggle” I was assu about Arlo, where he carown up When I looked back at him, I could see the hardness back in his eyes

“I had so delivered for you”

He changed the subject so fast my head spun He looked pointedly athow he knew“You can’t work out in those” He lifted his gaze back to my face “We’ll leave in an hour to teach you how to defend yourself, moy svet”