Page 95 of Lilies from Hell

“What? But that can’t be, he… Oh, shit.” My head starts to hurt from the number of thoughts racing through my mind.

I don’t even know when all this happened. I don’t remember having any contact with that man. And if I accepted his gifts, it was because I thought they were from Alek. I don’t understand a damn thing.

“I won’t let them hurt you again. They’ll have to get past me first.” I shake my head. The last thing I want is to put him in danger because of me.

“Don’t say that.”

“You know I would give absolutely everything for you, including my life.” His words make that familiar tingling sensation return to my stomach with more intensity than ever. I part my lips, my breathing still rapid. He gently presses his lips against mine. “I love you,” he says, brushing our noses together.

The door bursts opens with a bang and we pull away. My brother bursts into the room a second later.

“Can we talk alone?” Jason asks in a tired tone. He reluctantly gets up, probably making an effort not to argue with my brother and the way he opened the door. “Are you okay?” he asks as soon as we are alone.

“I could be better,” I say, shrugging my shoulders. The effects of the anesthesia haven’t completely worn off.

“What’s going on? No one here wants to tell me a damn thing.”

“Alek says Norman wants to kill me,” I reply with a tired sigh.

“Why the hell would he want to do that? As far as I know, Ray has nothing against him.”

“He’s supposedly interested in me. Romantically,” I clarify with a grimace of disgust. Saying it out loud makes it real, far from just a few thoughts.

“Can’t you get normal boyfriends? A doctor, a teacher, a McDonald’s cashier,” he scoffs.

“That’s not funny, Jason.”

“It isn't. Every time you find someone new, the family is at risk,” he says, taking a seat next to me. “So what are you planning to do now?”

“He wants me to come live here for a while.” He raises both eyebrows, his eyes identical to mine fixed on me.

“I don’t think Ray’s going to take it very well. Not to mention Sophie. She’ll probably faint when she sees her new son-in-law,” he says, trying to stifle a giggle. I shake my head, pressing my lips together.

I’ve always found it strange that he refers to our parents by their first names. It’s as if he feels very detached from them, especially my father. I’ve never understood why. In my eyes, they get along quite well. They even do things together without me and my mother as a way to bond and spend more time together.

“I know,” I say with a grimace, lowering my head.

“If you get kicked out of the house, at least you know where to come,” he scoffs, stifling another laugh. My cell phone starts ringing in the distance and my brother quickly gets up to answer it. “It’s Ray,” he murmurs, handing me the phone.

“Dad?” I say, my voice a little hoarse.

“Everything okay? You guys left a while ago, and Lance told me you left without him.” I bite the tip of my tongue, controlling the lump in my throat. Just as I’m about to answer, Jason snatches my phone and does it for me.

“We’ve been attacked and Lena is injured. We’ve taken refuge at Alek’s house because they’re…” I give him a look that says don’t even think about it. He ignores me with a broad smile, leaving the word he was going to say hanging in the air on purpose. “We’re very good friends. All three of us.” He then nods, listening to my father’s words. “He says he’s on his way,” he says once the call ends.

“Why the hell do you have to have such a big mouth?”

“I did you a favor so it would be easier for you to reveal the truth about your boyfriend.”

“Oh, thank you,” I spit out, crossing my arms. “I was supposed to be the one to say it.”

“Pfft. We all know you were just going to keep putting it off,” he says, winking at me.

“You’re a big mouth.”

The door opens making our heads turn in that direction. When I see Alek with a tray of food in his hands, my expression relaxes slightly. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until now. Jason glances at the tray and gets up from the bed.

“I think it’s time for me to go. I’ll be in the kitchen, making myself something to eat. Since no one here cares about my poor empty stomach,” he says with a pout before closing the door.