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“You pointed one at my head with the safety on.”

“Next time I’ll remember.”

I almost laughed. “That’s exactly why you’re not getting a fucking phone right now.”

Azaria cursed under her breath before storming toward the kitchen.

I watched her go, relieved to see some life back in her even if she was using all that new energy to terrorize everybody in my house.

I went upstairs to my office and gave her some time to cool off.

We could talk when she was done trying to kill me.

CHAPTER 19

Azaria

“I put a gun to his head, so what?”

I’d do it again. That was the first thing running through my mind while I sat at the long dining table inside this mansion that still didn’t feel real to me.

Across from me sat the woman they introduced as my counselor.

Her name was Dr. Lemaire. Early forties, maybe. Calm eyes. The type of woman trained to read people like open books, as I did. My short time in trying to get my psychology degree taught me to study people as much as they did me.

She folded her hands on the table while the staff finished clearing plates.

“You handled yourself very strongly earlier,” she said gently.

Strongly.

That was a polite word for it.

I almost laughed.

“I pulled a gun on the man who technically owns the house,” I said. “Strong isn’t the word I’d use.”

Her lips curved. “You thought you were protecting yourself.”

Protecting myself. That sounded nicer than what it really was.

Because when Ares walked into that room earlier today, every instinct inside me said the same thing.

You’re trapped.

And I didn’t get trapped.

Not by men. Not by families. Not by the bullshit I’d spent years running from.

So, yeah. I grabbed the gun, and if the safety hadn’t been on, who knows what would’ve happened.

“I’d do it again,” I told her.

“I believe you,” she said, no fear in her eyes.

Most people tried to talk you out of your anger. Tried to convince you to soften, but she didn’t. She just watched me, observing.

Dinner ended not long after that. It had been simple but rich. Herb-roasted chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, asparagus slick with olive oil, and warm bread that melted the second it hit my tongue. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until the plate was empty.