Page 114 of Heartless Heathens

“I’m sorry,” I told her, helping her out and leaving the car parked in front of the chapel and bracing myself from the backlash of her two guard dogs that waited inside.

The next day, Arlan had decided I had procrastinated enough and we were finally faced with the meeting he’d demanded. He’d had enough of my excuses.

“I told you that your presence was demanded. Arlan’s decided that today is the day. He wants to meet you.” I told Romina.

“I don’t understand why?” she asked suspiciously.

“He practically raised us, you can imagine he’s curious to meet who we’re spending all of our time with,” I said without looking up from my computer while I finished typing up an email.

“When?”

“Now. Are you dressed?” I asked again without looking up.

I had known about it for days but I was worried that telling her would only bring up more questions I couldn’t answer. She was nervous around new people and I didn’t want the anticipation of it all to overwhelm her. I thought maybe it would be best this way.

“I don’t know, can you look at me and see for yourself?” She challenged me and I fought the urge to grin.

Maybe I’d been worried for nothing. Now that she was comfortable around us, who knew what she could handle?

She’d grown brave.

And she’d wreck us all the minute he’d give her everything that was owed to her because she’d leave us. Why wouldn’t she? Why would she stay here when she could have money, any life she wanted, with whoever she wanted?

What use would we have to her then?

I looked up, having to clench my teeth harder than I’d ever done in my entire life to keep from giving myself away with a rogue expression.

Fuck it all.

She was breathtaking.

She was datura, blooming in the pitch black while her vines coiled around us, choking us with her invasion.

She was wearing protective motorcycle riding gear Corvin had bought for her, which meant they had planned to ride. The pants were tight and hugged her hips, enhancing every curve in her already beautiful body now that she was filling out from eating three meals a day. She zipped up the leather jacket and raised an eyebrow at me like she was waiting for me to tell her she couldn’t ride with him.

I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

She wouldn’t know how badly it burned to want to keep her safe, without suffocating her and keeping her prisoner like that damned holy man. Nothing had hurt as much as when she compared me to him. I looked back down to my laptop, practically feeling her aura deflate at my lack of response.

“Oh good, Sonny already told you where we’re riding to. Come be my little backpack,” Corvin beckoned her and she pranced his way.

“Backpack?” she asked and he dropped his arm over her while they walked towards the door.

It was hard to fight the jealousy rising in my chest. Hard to fight the feelings that came with knowing that just a few weeks ago she was more scared of him than me, and now it had completely flipped.

Just as it should have.

She didn’t know me then and now she saw me exactly for what I was.

Someone who destroys.

Who maims.

Who mars.

I closed my laptop and grabbed my keys, whistling loud enough to warn Felix that I was leaving.

“You seem more uptight than usual,” he said, getting into the passenger seat of the Audi.