The Puppet Assassin [TTR sequel]

The Puppet Assassin - Ch 28 [imagine that]

Well, if Larkin gave me that look and spoke to me with that tone of voice, I’d be inclined to do most anything to keep him happy. Luke, however, snapped his wrist out of Larkin’s grip and stepped back, his shoulders tense.

“You had no right,” he said slowly.

“I had every right!” Lark’s eyes flashed with anger but it was quickly subdued. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter. “And you know it.” He walked past Luke, his jaw tight, and took the seat opposite me again.

Luke spun around but I could tell that his new target was me, his quarrel with Larkin over for the moment. His eyes were scorching and I shrank down in my seat slightly when he pinned me. He strode with precise steps to the chair at the head of the table and gripped the back. I heard a crack as the wood gave under the strength of his fingers.

“Where did you go?” His gaze was relentless and I couldn’t look away.

“I went to the factory. I heard you and Garth talking and-”

He spoke over me. “You thought you would help? Dizelde, anything could’ve happened. There’s a crazed man out there trying to get to you. You could’ve easily been caught. I don’t care if you were trained for your entire life, you’re not fucking superwoman.”

I flinched. His words stabbed at me, his tone so sharp and hard. And he wasn’t even yelling.

“I followed her scent and Garth followed me. He was waylaid halfway by what he believes is the guy who wants Dizelde. He assumes it’s her brother.” Larkin didn’t even blink when I turned to him in shock. “Don’t expect anything from me, goldilocks. Garth and I were soft on you.”

I heard another snapping sound and saw the chair’s back rest crack under Luke’s hand. I switched my gaze to his face and gulped. His face was engulfed with pure rage, it was so huge I could feel it.

“After all our efforts to keep you safe, to keep you hidden, you just go and jeopardise yourself like that.” His eyes seemed to be glowing and his teeth looked like they were sharpening as he bared them in a snarl.  “Do you think it would’ve been worth it, if you’d been caught out there?”

He seemed to actually want an answer from me.

“All I wanted was to help, I didn’t-”

He knocked the chair to the side and reached forward, grabbing onto my shoulders with a bruising grip. “What is it with people assuming that they help me?! Dizelde, you are in lockdown in this house.” He peered down at me with a commanding glare.

“Her punishment has been set to babysit down at your place for a while,” Lark inputted. He hadn’t even moved from his chair.

“No,” Luke growled. “She is not setting a foot out of this household, not even into the garden.” He focused back on me. “I’ll have sensors set up around the house, in the windows and doors, which will be set to your DNA. If you take a step out, a signal will be sent straight to me and my security personnel, just in case I don’t hear it.”

“You can’t-”

“Yes, I can,” he interrupted me again.

“STOP CUTTING ME OFF!” I shouted. I couldn’t stay inside! I would go insane! “You can’t just keep me in here. I came to you for help but you don’t own me!”

“You came to me for help and I have kept you safe for weeks, don’t doubt that Dizelde. If you don’t think you owe anything to me, go right ahead and see how long you can survive by yourself out there.”