Page 105 of Watched

“Get out,” he whispers.

Refusing, I sit on the floor and lean back against the seat. Tension eats the minutes while I stare at the toppled paintings.

“You’re safe here,” I finally say.

“And my mother? Sisters?”

“Like I said, they’re being watched over.”

He peers past his hand to me, hurt drowning that beautiful green. “You do understand I have no choice but to trust your word?”

“I do.”

He scoffs and pushes to stand, stalking out of the room. I scramble to my feet and follow him into our room. Snatching his bag, he steps into the adjoining bathroom. Before I can reach the threshold, he slams the door in my face and locks it.

“Rome, please.”

“Leave,” he orders coldly.

“Baby—”

“I said fucking leave.”

I have no right to despise the fact that my heat is cracking. I caused his hurt; I deserve to experience much more for inflicting any pain. Flowers, money, cars—none of that will repair the damage, I’m not sure if killing Ryan White and Ezra Smith will make him hate me or forgive me.

I step onto the back porch and slam the door closed. Blade and Xander cease their conversation. My body hums at the familiar scent of cigarettes, but I vowed in that jail cell to never have another.

“No smoking in the house.” I approach them sitting on the corner lounge. “No drinking near Rome. Neither of you go near him.”

Blade takes a drag, draping his arms over the back of the lounge.

Here we go.

“You’re trying to dictate where I smoke and drink?”

“Rome’s an athlete,” Xander supplies.

“And?” Blade arches a brow.

“I can’t understand why he’s friends with you.” I trail my gaze over Xander’s form.

“We’ve been friends since primary school. I know a lot more about him than you.”

I can’t seem to see the appeal; he’d only bring trouble into Rome’s life. Okay, yes, I may too, but I’d die protecting Rome, I doubt this motherfucker would. I also find it ironic that Blade continues to find an acquaintance in a drug dealer, considering he despised the very fact that Alexa was doing cocaine at least once a month and smoking weed daily.

I’m sure the police departments were thankful for Blade, considering he killed three of Alexa’s dealers purely because they sold to her. In his defence, he only threatened her with their deaths if she bought again, never the dealers, but she did, and they died. Poor fuckers never got a warning.

Taking the packet of gum from my pocket, I slide a piece into my mouth and drop onto the lounge next to Blade. Xander adjusts his hoodie, showing me the clear outline of a gun in his pocket.

I smile. “Threaten me again. I dare you.”

His hazel eyes gleam. “I just want to show the repercussions if you hurt Rome.”

“An old lady has first dibs.” I slide my gaze to Blade. “You have information?” He blows the smoke in my direction, refusing to speak. “If you want this over with so you can bring her here, speak.”

“Like you said, little brother, none of this is impacting me seeing her.”

“Alexa, Alexa, Alexa,” Xander groans. “Pick another girl to pine over, mate. Her pussy can’t be that good.”