Page 34 of Scarred Sins

Never.

She can hit, shoot, stab me, or even scream at me. She can never speak to me again, but letting her go isn’t an option. It’s unsafe, and now that she’s slept in my bed, there’s nowhere else I want her to be.

I carry her up to my bedroom, laying her down and covering her with the blanket. She releases a small sigh, turns to the side, and starts snoring. With a chuckle, I kiss the top of her head, selfishly allowing my lips to linger there for a moment longer than necessary.

My phone rings, but it doesn’t wake her up.

The door of my bedroom closes behind me without a sound, and I pick up the call, pressing the phone against my ear.

“Arlo speaking.’’

“It’s me,’’ Dad says from the other side. “I need you home tonight.’’

I pause and take a deep breath. “I can’t tonight. I’ll be home tomorrow.’’

“It’s not like you’re actually doing your job, so I doubt you’re busy.’’

“You see, something happened.’’

“What did you do?”

The accusatory tone ticks me off, though I bite my tongue to prevent myself from saying something I’ll end up regretting. My parents are on the edge, and at a time like this, it doesn’t take much to set them off, so I decide to calm down, or at least, try.

“Remember the prison massacre three years ago, and when I had you help a girl?”

“Vividly.’’ He says, displeased at the memories. “The girl you followed to Long Grove.’’

“Uh-uh,’’ I nod to myself. “Currently, she’s asleep in my bed.’’

“Pardon?”

“And I kind of can’t let her leave my sight.’’

“There’s something you’re not telling me,’’ he concludes. “I know you have a crush, but you’re notthatstupid to expose the business, right?Right?!’’

“It’s not something I can talk about over the phone,’’ I try to be stern. “I’ll drop by tomorrow, and you and I will talk.’’

He pauses. “The two of us? Without your mother?”

“Yes,’’ I sigh. “It’s something I need to tell you before I tell her.’’

“Alright, son,’’ he agrees, though reluctantly. “There’s a reason I needed you home tonight.’’

“Did something happen?”

“Adams has a poker game tomorrow night, and I got us a way in.’’

I clench the phone, careful not to break it like I did the previous one. “When does it start?”

“Eleven, which is why you’ll be here around eight at the latest. Have dinner with your mother first; she needs you.’’

My anger momentarily vanishes, and I raise a brow. “You sound rather upset.’’

“I am fucking upset,’’ he hisses. “She has me.Me.Why the fuck does she need you?”

A deep laugh rumbles through my chest, and I shake my head. “Because I’ll forever be her number one, old man. You should be used to it now. After all, you’re numberthree.’’

“You little shit–’’