Page 12 of Reckoning

His hair is up in its usual topknot. Dark stubble covers the lower half of his face and tattoos crawl up the skin along his neckline beneath his leather biker jacket. Everything about his screams danger and yet when I look into those dark, intense eyes they seem to hold me captive in a way that’s thrilling, not petrifying.

My skin turns to goosebumps. Something visceral seems to take over everything, like I’ve suddenly taken leave of my senses. “Why are you here?” I ask quietly.

His lips curl as if me merely talking to him gives him some sort of pleasure. “I had business with your brother.”

The wind swirls around us, whipping at my hair, I quickly tuck it behind my ears but it feels like he takes that moment to step closer to me, to close the gap between us as if he wants to block even the elements from harming me but I must be imagining that because it’s a ridiculous notion.

I steal my breath and though even just the thought of it, of being in such proximity to a man should make me panic, for the first time my heart doesn’t flutter in fear. My adrenaline doesn’t spike. I just stare back at him.

As if I’m a creature of calm.

As if I’m a creature fully in control of myself.

“You look good.” He says softly, keeping his eyes on my face. “You look well.”

As I open my mouth to reply, my head jerks with the realisation that someone is stood watching us both.

“Ben.” I murmur.

Koen narrows his eyes, glancing towards him, before a scowl covers his gorgeous face.

“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Ben says stiffly walking up, physically putting himself between us like I need guarding, like he’d be able to stop Koen if he did decide to do something.

“Ben.” I snap in reproach.

He grabs my wrist, pulling me away, and it feels like Koen watches us both, watches intently where we’re now connected until we disappear into the house leaving him outside.

“What was that about?” I ask as soon as the door slams shut behind us.

Ben shrugs. “He’s dangerous.”

“You don’t say.” I reply sarcastically.

He fixes me with a look I can’t read. But it’s not just Ben, it’s all of them, Roman, and Rose too. They all act like there’s some big secret, some conspiracy I’m not privy to when it comes to Koen Diaz.

I wish they’d just say it. I wish they’d just admit whatever the hell is going on because clearly there is something. Do they think I’m too fragile? Do they think I wouldn’t be able to handle whatever awful truth it is? Like I haven’t faced enough shit already, like I haven’t had to fight my way out of the very circles of hell.

“If he is so dangerous why is my brother still be working with him?” I bristle.

“Why don’t you ask him that yourself.” Ben grumbles.

I huff, following him through the house. I wish they’d all stop treating me like I’m a child. That I need protecting.

My brother is in his office, just like usual. We walk in and he’s stood, staring out the window like he has the weight of the world still on his shoulders.

For a moment I just stand there taking him in, it still doesn’t feel real. It still feels like this is all some drug induced dream and any minute I’m going to wake up, with Otto’s disgusting face leering over me and Roman will be dead. He’ll be gone. All of this will be gone too.

“Roman.” Ben says pulling me out of my head.

My brother turns, his face going from a slight frown to a smile when he looks at me.

“Sofia.”

I smile back, putting on that false brightness I’m so good at. “You summoned me.”

He lets out a chuckle as I pull out a chair and sink into it.

Summoned isn’t quite the word I’d use. More like demanded. But now I’m here it doesn’t feel quite like the confrontation that I’d imagined in my head. The one I’d prepped for.