Malice in Wonderland by H. P. Mallory Page B

then some."
    "Enough," I said, glaring daggers.
    "Hmmm, and you're even sexier when you're angry."
    "If you're trying to piss me off, you're succeeding," I responded, unable to deal with his impish grin any longer. Instead, I tried to divert my eyes to the view outside my window. It didn't amount to much more than pitch darkness, occasionally punctuated by the halo of the headlights against a tumbleweed or lonely tree. 
    "Okay, okay," he said. “You win. No more sexy talk."
    I didn't say anything, but tightened my arms around myself as I continued staring outside, wondering how much longer it would take to get wherever we were going.
    "Come on then, out with it. What’s got you so pissed off?” Knight pressed.
    I glanced over at him and felt my jaw clench. “Do you really need to ask?”
    “Are you mad about the Quillan thing?” Without waiting for me to respond, he continued. “Because if you are, you can stay pissed about it. I’m never going to change my mind about him no matter what you or anyone else says. I think he’s a rat and wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.”
    “Because you’re jealous as hell of him,” I spat back before even thinking about it. And, after I did think about it, I regretted it. Why? Because I didn't have the patience or the interest, really, in getting into some long-winded argument about whether or not Knight was jealous of Quillan .
    Knight remained quiet for a second as he cocked his head to the side and appeared to ponder the thought. Then he frowned. “Maybe I am."
    I was so surprised, I didn't even respond; although Knight also didn't allow me the chance.
    "I’m not so sure I’d call it jealousy though. I think it’s more because I don’t believe he deserves your forgiveness, or your kindness.” He glanced over at me then. “He’s like something that just crawled out of the slime compared to you.”
    “Getting a little dramatic there, don’t you think?” I muttered, not appreciating hearing him talk that way about someone whom I considered my friend.
    He shrugged. “Call it whatever you will, but I'm not going to change my mind.” He took a deep breath and faced me again, apparently not concerned with safe driving. " Dulcie , I know you think he's your friend and you're all about protecting those you're close to, but I think you're wearing blinders in this case."
    "Well, lucky for you, we all have a right to our own opinion," I answered snidely.
    He didn't seem fazed by my comment, though. "T hat's the beauty about you, Dulce —you want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and you believe in second chances." Then he paused. "I, however, do not."
    I looked at him, my eyes blazing. "You don't believe in second chances?" I repeated. He nodded, but before he could respond, I added, "Funny, but that's exactly what you're asking me to give you—a second chance."
    He shrugged, then nodded again. "Yes, I guess you could say I am. But, giving me a second chance and giving Quillan a second chance are two totally different subjects."
    "How are they any different? A second chance is a second chance regardless of whom it's for. And , let me remind you that according to you, you don't believe in second chances."
    "Where Quillan is concerned, I don't," Knight said emphatically. "I don't trust him and I don't like him. I don't like knowing he could rat us out at any second; or that he knows exactly where you are, should your father ever decide to come after you. There are too many unknowns with Quillan and you mean too much to me to ever gamble on Quillan being a decent person. That is a bet I would never take. So go ahead and be pissed off with me all you want, but at the end of the day, your safety means more to me than some insignificant ... elf."
    "Then I guess we can agree to disagree," I said, falling silent. Neither of us said anything for a few seconds, until the quiet began to make me uncomfortable. I reached over to turn the radio on, but Knight