Chapter Ninety-Eight

Talia's POV:

"How many more times are you going to do this?" I finally mustered the courage to ask, eyes closed. There was a throbbing pain in my head. I was dealing with tension and anxiety. A serious head-smashing one! Trying so hard to control my overwhelming emotions.

"As many times as I feel I need to," he said softly, his voice laced with a warning, "As many as I think I need to put my mind at ease."

"Put your mind at ease about me not running away?"

"That, and about you being equipped to deal with emergencies. This was probably more about emergencies."

I guffawed.

"You got a problem with that?" his tone of voice grated on my nerves. I should just open the car door and walk the fuck away from him.

"Was that roughing me up this morning part of the test? Piss me off by being a total prick and then leave me alone to see if I run away?" I finally met his eyes with mine.