He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71

(Daisy’s POV)

I woke up to voices.

It wasn’t loud. It was just low, like someone was discussing something important without needing the whole building to know about

Which was already suspicious.

Because in this house, voices usually meant Lilian yelling about something or me yelling about something or Lilian yelling at me about something.

But this was different.

I pushed myself up, squinting toward the door like that would somehow make the situation clearer, then dragged myself out of bed

and stepped into the living space.

DeLuca was there. Dressed.

Not “I’m going to school” dressed. More like “I own expensive decisions” dressed.

Phone to his ear. Expression calm. Voice low.

“…no delays,” he was saying. “Everything should already be in place.”

Pause.

“Then fix it.”

Another pause.

“I’ll be there after I handle this.”

He ended the call and looked up, right at me.

“Get ready,” he said. “You’re coming with me.”

Wow. No good morning. No hellos.

Just… orders.

I leaned against the wall, still halfway between sleep and annoyance. “Where?” I decided to ask first before arguing.

“You’ll see.”

“Great. Love surprises. Especially the kind that sound like you directing my life again.”

He didn’t respond to that. He just watched me like I was already late for something.

I folded my arms. “You’re going to need to add more words to that sentence if you expect cooperation.”

“This isn’t optional.”

There it was. The triggering sentence.

I exhaled slowly, already feeling my mood shift.

“You know,” I said, “for someone currently living under my roof, you’re very comfortable giving commands.”

“Don’t confuse where I am with who I am and what this is.”

That landed. Clean, direct, and alightly threatening.

I stared at him for a moment, then pushed off the wall. “Fine? Where are we going?”

“A bank.”

I blinked.

“…a bank?”

“Yes.”

“That’s… surprisingly normal.”

“I need to open an account.”

That made sense… in a very unsettling way.

“You don’t already have one?” I asked.

“I have accounts,” he said. “Not this kind.”

Right.

Of course. Because nothing about him was ever just one layer.

He continued, “This needs to be legitimate. Civilian.”

“And you need me because…?”

“You make things look weird, which is normal. Civiliian.”

I stared at him.

“I don’t know if that’s an insult or a compliment.”

“It’s your reality.” No filter.

I sighed. “Give me ten minutes.”

“Five.”

“Ten.”

He held my gaze.

“Seven,” I said.

He turned away.

Victory-small, but I’ll take it.

Lilian tried to follow us out when we were about to leave, and by this time, I was used to her attempts.

“Where are you guys going?” she asked, already grabbing her bag, revealing that she’d been waiting for this moment since

yesterday.

“Out. Not to school,” I said.

“With him?” she added, like that wasn’t obvious.

“Yes.”

“I’m coming.”

“No,” DeLuca said.

Flat. Final.

Lilian blinked. “Oh.”

Then she smiled like she’d just been politely stabbed. “Okay! Have fun! Don’t stay out long!” She said and dismissed herself, smiling at us.

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