Page 50 of Storm

“I mean it, Kenzee. You take that off and that’s it.”

“You remember a week ago when you wanted it back?” I nod my head.

“I know what I said.”

“Do you still want it back?” She questions me. She knows what she’s fucking doing and she’s breaking me the fuck down. I don’t like that she has this kind of power over me. In fact, it pisses me off.

I run my hand over my face before I sigh and look up at her.

“Take it off and we’re done,” I growl. She takes a step toward me, leaning down so that she’s in my face.

“You said we were done anyway.”

“And you said we weren’t. Now make the fuckin’ choice, Kenzee.” She can feel the rage in me. There’s no way she can’t but I almost smirk in her face when she pulls the cut back on and turns to walk away from me.

“What the hell is goin’ on now?” Jenson asks as she storms through the room.

“Not much.”

“Doesn’t look like ‘not much’,” he says nodding toward her.

“Can I ask you somethin’?”

“Sure.”

“Why didn’t you ever take on an old lady?”

“Didn’t want one. Let me rephrase that. I didn’t want one in this lifestyle. I saw the pain, I saw the hurt, and I couldn’t bring myself to do that to anyone,” he tells me.

“So you think that Kenzee deserves this shit?” He shakes his head no.

“No. She deserves more than this. But we don’t get to choose who we love, Storm. That shit just happens and there’s nothin’ we can do about it. We can either love them back or we can watch them walk away, and find a new life without us. That girl,” he says pointing at her. “She found what she wanted and I don’t think she’s gonna walk away that easily.”

“I saw the look on her face, Jenson, when they shot me. She was fuckin’ devastated. I’ve never seen anyone with that look in my life and I never want to see it again.”

“Yeah, I can understand that. But, she’s her own person, Storm, and that girl has one hell of a hard head on her shoulders.” I nod my head knowing that he’s right.

“I just don’t want her to waste her time, you know?”

“You think she’s wastin’ her time on you?”

“Look at me. What can I offer her?”

“Love. You can offer her love, Storm.”

“That’s all I can give her. I’m an ex-con, Jenson.”

“No shit. So are half the guys in this club,” he laughs. “And who says she needs more than love?”

I let that sink in although I’m not sure how true it is. I want her to have everything. I want to give her everything but at the same time what if that’s not what she wants? What if he’s right and all she really needs is my love? I’m not even sure I know how to give her that.

I finish off my beer and stand off the stool, grabbing the damn cane so I can walk to my room. Once I’m inside, I start to close the door but notice she’s right behind me. I leave it open, her choice if she comes in or not.

“You didn’t slam it in my face,” she mumbles under her breath.

“Should I?”

“Not if you want to keep your balls attached,” she says, causing me to laugh.