All Chapters of He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

ViolettaIrene’s little cottage was along the southern border of the territory. It was a faster walk from The Confections bar than from Ferrara’s home. When we first returned, Ferrara insisted on moving her closer to the center of the pack, but she balked. After a few days in the infirmary, she went back to her cottage, probably with a few guards to keep watch. Finn drove. I was used to walking most places, but West Ham territory was vast. If you were moving on two legs, it was faster to take a car.I didn’t know how to drive one, so Ferrara had driven me to the restaurant to meet with Finn. The new guy was now both bodyguard and driver, I assumed.“You've spent all of your adult life in Wisteria Woods. How do you know how to drive?” I grumbled.“I wasn’t always in Wisteria Woods, and as messenger, it meant that I was allowed to enter certain territories. Some of them, like your pack, have a hub for renting cars. I had someone from Snake Valley teach me a few years ago. I love it. One

Ferrara“What the fuck did I tell you?” Violetta hissed as she lunged. I caught her quickly, wrapping my around her mid-section and sitting her back down. At the same time, I stepped away from Briella.“It’s all right, baby,” I assured her. “I’m yours.”“Don’t call me that,” she snapped at me. “What’s your name?”Briella was clearly shocked that I’d taken Violetta’s side. “B…Br…Briella,” she whispered.“Briella, I’m going to need you to spread the word that I am Ferrara’s mate. I am living in his house. I am sleeping in his bed. And until I say otherwise, he belongs to me? Got it?”Tears sprang to her eyes as she sputtered an apology, turned and left. Releasing, Violetta, I watched with some amusement as she stepped away from me like my touch had burned her and sat back down. I looked over her body appreciatively.“Were you hot, my dear?” I asked as I sat our bag of sandwiches on the table.Leaning back, she gave me a cold smile and dragged a finger along the grain of the wooden table.

FerraraI knew that nothing was happening here, but just like when we were in that cave, the idea of Finn and Violetta made sense to me and drove me mad.Unless I fucked Violetta good, and soon, I very well could go mad.“You have got to get a grip,” Violetta muttered as she stood. Finn just flashed me a smile and stood as well. “Where do you want my bodyguard to be? Miles away?”Yes.My gaze moved down to the hand flexing by her side. There was a crumpled note in. My note.“What are you doing here?” Violetta asked as she shoved the note in her pocket. “Besides apparently spying on your spy.”“Oh, he’s not my spy. Yet. But I do need a word with him.” I glanced around the apartment. I’d done all the clean-up work myself. It was only the second time I’d stepped into her apartment.Both times, I’d hated every second of it. This was not where she belonged. She fucking belonged with me.“Thank you,” Violetta said softly. “For the new paint job.”I raised an eyebrow. “Does it hurt to thank

ViolettaJenson took one look at us and growled disapprovingly, but he didn’t say anything before we climbed into his truck. There was no time for a shower, obviously, and also no time for arguing. I wanted to go alone, but Ferrara wouldn’t let me.Irene wasn’t surprised when the guard let us in. “Your second can wait outside,” she said stiffly, avoiding Jenson’s gaze.Wasn’t that interesting?The cottage that looked so cute in the afternoon sun was just a little bit creepier at night.All the lights were turned off, and there were candles lit on every surface and in every corner. I wanted to point out that it was a fire hazard, but then I noticed that the flames were dancing. Not even a little bit.“Is that your magic doing that? Has it returned?”“No,” she said mournfully. “It has not, but this isn’t my magic. It’s the natural elements respecting my wishes. Magic is all around us. It affects us even if we can’t wield it. Well, it affects most of us.”Misstep, I froze. “Shit. Is that

Ferrara“You haven’t said a word since we left Irene’s,” Violetta said finally as we pulled up to the house. When I didn’t turn to look at her, she let out a frustrated sigh. “Look, I don’t know what you saw. Was it through your eyes? Did you feel yourself kill that woman? I can’t change what happened, but at least tell me what’s going through your head.”Climbing out of the vehicle, I closed the door and finally made eye contact as she did the same. “I already knew that you were a killer.”“Knowing what I did and feeling what I did are two different things.”Taking out my keys, I headed to unlock the door. When I stepped through and Violetta didn’t immediately follow me, I turned around to glare at her. She wasn’t even looking at me though. She was staring at her hands, and I saw the mistake that I was making.At her most vulnerable, Violetta lashed out. She built walls and isolated herself. Now, here she was trying to reach out, and I was shutting her down.But what the hell was I su