Page 13

Twelve

Reign

Killian and I get back to the house just in time for dinner.

The drive home was quiet. I would stare at Killian every so often and I would catch him staring at me, but we didn’t say anything to each other. I didn’t want to push his limits since I feel like that question about his fear was close to his limit.

Why would Killian be afraid of his heart?

I don’t understand but I plan on finding out.

“Reign, how was your day?” Baba asks before taking a bite of her steak.

“It was good. Paintballing was fun. Jamie and my team won. For lunch we ate at this cute little diner near the paintball place.”

“And how about you Killian? How was your day?” Baba asks Killian who is already finished eating almost everything off his plate.

Whenever Killian stays quiet or in his own world, I always think that he might pull out a gun and start shooting the place down.

But that’s just my crazy overthinking.

“It was fine. How was yours?” he asks, which surprises me because he never really asks any of them questions since he came here.

Baba smiles at him. “It was great. Lia and I made some candles and then did some gardening outside,” Baba says while Killian keeps eye contact with her, listening attentively but not smiling.

Killian looks every bit powerful and confident. So devious. So, in control. Much like the devil.

Everyone says Ace is the devil, but I don’t think they’ve met his son.

Killian doesn’t act out of control unless he needs to, even then he still keeps a calm composure.

And I feel like that makes him more dangerous.

“How about you honey?” Mama asks Papa.

“It was fine. I had some issues with another family, but it’s handled now,” he says, sneaking a look at Killian.

“Well, that's good that it got resolved. Would be horrible if something happened,” Mama replies, not really paying much attention to Papa and his business while she eats.

She doesn’t care much about the business Papa does, she just wants to make sure everyone’s alive and healthy.

Papa side eyes Killian again. “No, we wouldn’t.”

The sound of the metal utensils makes a loud clatter. My eyes go to Killian who’s resting his hands on the table and glaring at papa.

“If you want to talk shit about me, say it to my face instead of being fucking shady. No one likes a coward.”

Papa smirks. “Who says I’m talking about you?”

“I’m not a kid anymore, Malcom. You sure as hell aren’t one either so I’m not going to explain it to you. Stop looking at me like I'm about to do something wrong. If I wanted to do something, I would have lit your ass on fire the moment I dropped Reign off yesterday.”

It’s dead silent in the room as everyone at the table stares at Papa and Killian, wondering who is going to shoot who first.

I look down at Killian’s hands and see them gripping his thighs.

Baba clears her throat, making the glaring competition between Papa and Killian end.

Baba gives me a teasing smirk and winks at me before focusing her attention on Killian. “So, moving away from that conversation. In a few days I was supposed to be volunteering at a nearby beach to pick up trash. My back has been killing me today from gardening so I wanted to ask you and Reign if you guys could be kind and do that for me.”

“What?” Killian, Papa, and me ask while looking at Baba with wide eyes.

“Yes, my back is hurting and aching. You guys know I’m getting old so I can’t do much about it. I was going to ask Reign, but you know how she is. She can’t be outside all alone with the sun beating down on her, my poor baby,” Baba says, perfecting the role of a concerned grandmom but I know how mischievous she can be.

“Baba-”

“You wouldn’t say no to your dying Baba, would you?” Baba cuts me off and raises her eyebrows at me.

I feel Killian’s eyes burn a hole on the side of my face. “Yea, of course Baba. Only if Killian is okay with it?” I say, looking at Killian.

He looks at Baba before looking back at me, probably thinking of whether to say yes or no.

Eventually he nods his head. “Fine. Just this once.”

The rest of dinner goes by quickly without any arguments.

Eventually everyone heads to their rooms for the night. I watch as Killian walks out the patio backyard door.

When I go to my room, I can’t help but look out the window. Killian is still standing outside the house with his hands in his pockets, looking up at the stars.

For some reason I can see progress with him.

Even if we just spent one day together.

There’s hope to make him talk more and just be a happier person and not so stoic.

Killian looks away from the stars and goes inside the guest house.

I walk away from the window and lay on my bed.

I close my eyes and place my hands on my heart, feeling how hard and fast it’s beating.

“What am I going to do?” I ask myself.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I sit up and take my phone out and see a message.

How’d it go with that guy?

Not horrible. He indulged me. I think I’m going to make progress with him.

Why do you want to get to know him?

I think about that for a moment.

Killian is just some guy from another Mafia family.

He’s not special to me or anything.

I guess I just like helping people.

And Killian looks like he just needs a friend or someone to talk to.

He’s been taught to not trust anyone or be open, but I want to prove him wrong.

Killian is just a boy whose heart hasn’t been loved enough.

I think he needs a friend or just someone to talk to. He’s different from everyone else I know.

Wow, replacing me already?

Never :) I just think he doesn’t have a lot of people he can trust or rely on which can be lonely.

Did you end up finding out anything?

Yea. Just one thing. He’s afraid of his heart which doesn’t make much sense to me.

Maybe he’s scared of getting hurt.

Everyone gets hurt. It’s inevitable. You can’t control what the universe has in store for you.

Usually, the people who try their best not to get hurt are the ones that get hurt the most.