Page 78 of Heartless Heathens

I had it bad too.

Close my eyes, Romina. In the shower, Romina. In my dreams, Romina. It was starting to drive me insane to the point where I considered packing her in the car and driving away. Maybe stealing enough cash to buy some land and start a farm in Canada.

But I couldn’t leave my brothers behind. None of us could.

“So… classes?” she asked again for the third time this week.

We weren’t trying to keep her caged, but until we could figure out where she could go, she was safer with us.

“You’re not going back to classes. Sonny should never have taken you. It was stupid and reckless of him.” I failed at breaking it to her gently but she needed to understand that she was in danger out there.

“Reesa goes to class.” She crossed her arms over her chest in a bratty way and I scratched my face to hide the amused smirk on my face.

Every day she revealed more of her personality, letting us know who she really was.

“Reesa is... She’s taking a huge risk, it’s her risk to take and I won’t say anything else about that. It’s not my job to keep her safe. You go out there and they’ll eat you alive. The fact that they even know you exist now is a problem. They’re constantly lurking around, jogging by the lake. No one came out here before. Am I wrong?”

She shook her head.

“Is it your job to keep me safe?” She asked.

“Yeah. I decided.” I brushed my thumb over her lip and she smiled.

“I already had to shove my fist down Lincoln Rugsley’s mouth after class.” Santorini walked into the room with a dissatisfied look on his face.

“That’s low profile.” I rolled my eyes and his expression turned cold.

“W-why?” She straightened her shoulders like she had to summon the courage to ask.

“I didn’t like the way he was staring at you.” He narrowed his eyes at her, challenging her to ask more.

She took the bait like the sweet little thing she was.

“Why?”

“Maybe I don’t like other people looking at what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours,” she mumbled.

“Say it again, Pet. I dare you.” He cupped her chin in his hand.

“I’m not yours.” She held her breath, he was so close their noses touched.

“At least you’re getting better at lying. Now tell the truth.” He threw her chin back, almost forcing her to lose her balance.

She shook her head and bit her lips as if to keep herself from spilling her own secrets.

“You’re mine down to the very fabric of your being. What I decide to do with you is still up for debate.”

Her eyes widened, but not in anger or fear.

That same need for thrill I saw so vividly in my own twin’s eyes. That desire to feel something other than the dull ache of living.

“But if they already know I’m here, then aren’t I safer with you than by myself in the chapel?” She was smart, giving up the fight with Sonny and focusing on what she wanted instead.

She had a point and I could see on Santorini’s face he was about to concede. I’d nudge him in the right direction for her.

“Well, our schedules overlap pretty well, so for the most part aside from this one chunk between twelve and two, there will always be someone home.” I pointed out.