PUPPY

CHAPTER 37

I looked down at Laura and then back at Neil. He sat on the couch and took a good glance at the knife.

"What do you mean?" I uttered.

"Your friend sold you."

I looked at her in shock. "S-sold me?

She took my hands in hers and whispered: "Amalia, I'm sorry."

I freed my hands and took a step back. Neil only smiled while watching us.

"What did you do?!" I shouted.

What is going on between them?!

"Girl, please, forgive me ..."

"Tell me the truth!" I yelled in horror.

I demand answers!

"I-"

"-Do you remember when she couldn't pay the bills for the nursing home?" My eyes shot to him. He was enjoying my expression.

"Please, stop ... she doesn't have to know," Laura begged.

Neil stood up and walked behind me. "She must know."

Laura's face twisted in anger. "We had a deal!"

"That deal blew up, the moment you showed up here uninvited."

I stepped away from both of them.

Sold me?

Deal?

What are the secrets that they are keeping from me?

His expression softened as he took a step closer to me. "Please don't tell her!" Laura implored.

He softly whipped the blood off my cheek. "Oh, look how confused she looks." His lips twisted mischievously. "I need to tell my Puppy the truth. Your BEST friend here, couldn't pay the bills for her mother's nursing home, so I offered to help. But since you can't get something for nothing, we made a little deal. I give her the money and she doesn't come between us."

"Amalia, I'm so sorry. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't accept his offer."

She chose money over me. A tear rolled down my cheek.

"You poor thing," Neil said before wrapping his arms around me. I grabbed his T-shirt and basked in his warmth.

"Amalia, please forgive me. I regret what I did! When I saw what he did to you, I felt guilty. This is why I came back. To save you ... I'm sorry ..." Her voice was cracking.

"Don't listen to her, she's a liar," Neil almost whispered.

Laura stood up while crying. "You have to believe me. He's not who you think he is. He put in yours and his resignation. He told everyone that you two will be moving out of town. He's manipulating you! You told me yourself that he's a killer. What if he kills you?" She quickly pulled me away from him. "He doesn't love you, girl! He's insane!" She shocked me with all her force.

Neil pushed her to the floor and roared at her: "SHUT UP!!" He stepped in front of me. I grabbed his T-shirt and tried to pull him back. As much as it hurts me to know that she betrayed me, I don't want to see her get hurt.

"Please don't-"

He glared back at me with a look that could kill me. "I told you that you'll learn a lesson today. Didn't I?" He let go of the knife and grabbed my arm. With force, he pulled me to the near wall. No matter how much I tried to struggle, it didn't help. He undid his belt and slid it off. He pinned my arms to my back and tied them up with the belt.

In all this frenzy, Laura grabbed the knife from the floor and charged toward us. "Let her go, you monster!" she shouted. Neil quickly turned around and slapped her. Her body hit the floor, and the knife flew the other way.