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“I don’t know the answer to that. But the minute I give up on him, he’ll have no one. He broke in to steal money because he was too ashamed to tell me that he was using again.”
“He had a mask on when he ran down the alley. How do you know it was him?”
“Because he pulled it off and told me to go back upstairs. And when I screamed at him, he admitted he needed the money to get back to rehab. So, I opened the register and threw it at him. He pulled his mask back into place and took off with the money.”
I squeezed the back of my neck because I didn’t know what the hell to do with this information. River would love it, because he’d love to see that fucker get charged with something after all the shit he’d pulled, and honestly, so would I.
But seeing her so tormented and knowing what that felt like had me wavering.
“All right. I won’t say anything. But next time this happens, you’d be wise to stay in your apartment with the door locked and let the alarm go off. If he can’t get in and out of here before the cops come, then he’s a shit fucking criminal because you know how fucking slow they are,” I said. Her lips twitched a bit, and I could tell she was fighting a smile. “Demi, if he’s using, he’sdangerous. Addiction always wins when it’s coursing through someone’s veins.”
I knew he had an opioid problem. Hell, the whole town knew. The Crawfords did their best to keep the issue hidden, but he’d had a reputation all over town for being high more often than not.
“Thank you. You don’t have to stay. I’m fine now.” She tugged at the hem of her T-shirt as if she just realized that it was all that she had on.
I nodded. “I’ll wait. Are you going to head to your parents’ house?”
“No. I’m staying here.”
“The fuck you are.”
And just like that, we were going at it again.
She may have won the first battle, but she wouldn’t win this one.
six
. . .
Demi
Pompous.Arrogant. Self-righteous.
Romeo Knight was an asshole.
And he held all the power right now because all he had to do was open his mouth. Make one call. Tell his friends. And this would be all over town by lunch tomorrow.
I had to put my trust in a guy who couldn’t stand me.
“Excuse me? You think you can tell me where I’m sleeping?”
“The front door is smashed in. I agreed to your ridiculous plan of not telling anyone what happened and protecting your scumbag brother. Not because he deserves it, but because you do.”
I’m offended and touched at the same time.
I shook my head and moved closer, tipping my chin up to meet his dark, stormy gaze. The man always looked so pissed off at the world, and now he was judging me?
“If I go to my parents’ house, they’ll find out what happened. Hell, if I go to a hotel or a friend’s house, they’ll find out. You know how this town is.” I shrugged. “I’ll wait until morning, and I’ll say someone must have thrown a rock through the window. I’ll get the glass company out here first thing tomorrow.”
“And you think you’re going to sleep here, while anyone can just walk in?”
“You seem to have all the answers. What is it that you think I should do, ole wise one?”
“Personally, I think you should report his ass and tell the police. Tell your parents that the fucker robbed you. That’s what I think.” He held his hands up when I started to speak. “But I know you aren’t going to do that. And for whatever fucking reason, I’ve agreed to go along with your fucked-up plan. But you’re not sleeping here.”
Loud laughter escaped my lips. I was on edge. My brother had, in truth, scared the hell out of me. His eyes were wild, and he looked at me like he didn’t know me. It had been terrifying. But tomorrow, I’d find him, call the program, and help get him back to Boston. The whole thing had been a bit more dramatic than I’d let on. But Romeo was acting like a righteous prick at the moment, so I was trying to keep things as tame as possible.
“And where, exactly, do you think I’m sleeping?”
