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Salem

Nina lifted the bottle of beer in her hand to her lips and took a drink as she sat with her legs crossed, leaning back in the lawn chair on the other side of the brick patio from Pepper and me. A cigarette was in her other hand, stuck between two fingers as she draped it over the armrest.

It was perfect weather today. In the high seventies and sunny. After I’d been taught how to make Nina’s biscuits and helped feed the men, we had come out here to enjoy it.

“You’ve evaded the questions all morning,” Nina said, looking pointedly at me. “Two nights in a row, sleeping in Tex’s bed. Inquiring minds want to know.”

“Leave her be.” Pepper spoke up. “If she wanted to talk about it, she would.”

Nina shifted her eyes to Pepper and pouted. “But this is my current TV drama since there isn’t anything but shit on to watch these days. I gotta know what happened in last night’s episode.”

Pepper chuckled. “No, you really don’t.”

Nina sighed. “Fine. But can we talk about Nixie’s red-rimmed eyes and her dramatic entrance into the kitchen this morning? She’d been all ready to lay it on thick for Tex, but he wasn’t even there. The longer she stood around, prepared to do whatever stunt she had planned, the funnier it got.”

I’d noticed that too. I also tried to tell myself that she’d not been there to talk to Rome. Pretending that she didn’t exist was easier, but she did. And he had been in a sexual relationship with her, even if he didn’t put any weight on that. She obviously did, and she was going to fight for him.

This thing with Rome was confusing. The way he held me, kissed me, looked at me, and said things led me to believe I was it for him. When I was with him, it was easier to believe because I got lost in the moment. But when he wasn’t close, confusing me, I could think. And when I thought…it wasn’t so clear.

He’d said a lot of things to me, but he hadn’t said anything about what we were or what it was we were doing. There hadn’t been much time for discussion. A few times, he had said things that sounded as if he loved me. Like…like he had always loved me. I struggled with believing that. He’d said I made his soul whole. That was pretty deep, but was it enough for him to just want me? When he’d had a buffet of gorgeous young strippers for years?

I was terrified of trusting him, but I wasn’t sure if I had any control over it anyway. All it took was one smile from him, and my heart went crazy. I’d had the same reaction when I was a teenager. I had convinced myself that it was a childish response from the excitement of first love and that once I matured, it would go away.

How wrong I had been.

“Like Amethyst, Nixie needs to move on. Tex was never keeping her. She was his current plaything here. Just like he kept one at Devil’s in Ocala,” Pepper said, then swung her eyes from Nina to me, wide-eyed. “I didn’t mean that. I, uh…well, I did. Tex used to have several someones, but he went through them and tossed them. Never kept one. Ugh,” she groaned. “I need to shut up. You don’t want to know all this. Besides, you two have reconnected, so all that will stop.”

Would it though? He hadn’t said it would. Just that he closed his eyes and saw me. Did that mean he wouldn’t need them if he had me now? What if he was wrong and missed it—the different girls?

“She’s gone pale,” Nina said in a scolding tone. “He’s not wanted any of them because it was always you. Don’t look so grim. Pepper is blurting out shit without thinking.”

I managed a smile. “It’s okay. She’s telling the truth. I need to remember it.”

Nina frowned. “No, that will fuck with your head. You both have lived other lives, but you found each other again. This is your new start. You get a chance at a redo.”

The back door opened behind me, and Nina looked over my head toward it, stopping whatever else she was going to say. I turned to see Liam, followed by Rome and Micah. My gaze went directly to Rome. It always did, even when I didn’t want it to. He was headed in our direction like the others, but his eyes were locked on me. My heart began its crazy dance. The determined expression on his face didn’t even slow it down.

I licked my lips nervously.

Had something new happened? He had been gone with Liam for hours.

“Please tell me I am going home and back to my bar,” Pepper said hopefully.

Was that it? Were we free to leave now? What did that mean? If I left, would…would Rome still come see me? Would we date? He’d be here with Nixie.

Anxiety, jealousy, and fear that I was going to be hurt again spread out through me like a virus.

I said nothing but gripped my hands tightly together in my lap.

“Yes, you’re free to leave, Pepper. But there are conditions. Micah can go over all that with you. Those who would want to harm you are no longer free, and Blaise Hughes has made it clear that if anyone gets close to you or even thinks about hurting you or your bar, they’re dead, along with everyone they love,” Liam replied.

My nails cut into my palms, and I tried to make myself relax, but I couldn’t. I’d opened myself up to the feelings I have for Rome again, and now…before we even had a chance to explore things, I was leaving while he lived in a place where naked women walked around.

Rome stopped beside me, and I didn’t look up at him. I couldn’t. Not right now. I needed to be alone. If I had a panic attack in front of all of them, I’d be humiliated. I took deep, slow breaths and kept my gaze locked on a spot in the grass where a wildflower had bloomed.

“But Salem will need to stay here,” Liam’s gravelly voice said.

It took a second for me to register his words, and Pepper was already asking him why by the time I swung my eyes back to Liam to see him watching me. Did he expect me to argue like Pepper was doing? Should I be?

“If I’m safe, why isn’t Salem?” Pepper demanded. “She has a life too.”

“There are other things involved in Salem’s safety,” Liam said.

Rome’s large hand cupped the back of my neck and gently squeezed, as if to reassure me or get my attention—I wasn’t sure which. This time, I tilted my head back to look up at him. His pale green eyes met mine.

“Are you okay with that?” he asked me.

I swallowed and nodded. If I had to stay, then at least I was with him. I wasn’t ready to leave yet. Even if Pepper was right and I had a life—one where there was rent due and I had no job.

“What other things?” Pepper asked, sounding annoyed.

She really didn’t have to fight for me here. I was fine with this. I realized that I should want to leave, but that was how it was with Rome. He made everything else less important. He became the center of my thoughts. It was a dangerous road, and although I knew turning around and retreating was the smart choice, I’d already stepped onto it.

“That’s private, Pep,” Micah said. “Calm your shit, and let’s go get your things. I’m taking you back to your place.”

“Private?” Pepper sounded heated now.

“Yes.” Liam’s one word was said with an authority that made me suck in a breath.

I watched Pepper sigh in defeat.

“Doesn’t seem like she wants to leave,” Liam added with a smirk, then turned and walked back toward the building.

No one spoke until he was back inside.

“This is bullshit. Is Salem going to get to know this private information?” Pepper asked Micah.

He glared at his sister. “Let it go and come on. Jesus, I don’t have time for this shit today.”

“It will be explained to her,” Rome told Pepper.

She turned to him. “By who? You? Do you get to know?”

“Yes, he fucking gets to know,” Micah said. “You don’t. Now go get your shit!”

Her eyes narrowed as she cut them to her brother. “Watch your tone.”

“I will if you listen. This is for your safety. If you just understood that and obeyed, then I wouldn’t have to yell,” he replied in a less snarly voice.

“Come with me,” Rome said, releasing my neck and then holding his hand out for me to take.

I studied his callous palm for a moment before placing mine in it. His long, tanned fingers closed over mine, and the stark difference between my pale skin and his golden color was almost funny. But since my fair complexion was just another of my insecurities, I didn’t laugh.

As I stood up, he tugged me closer to his side.

I glanced back at Nina, who was drinking her beer with a pleased grin on her face. When she saw I’d caught her watching us, she waved her beer at me.

“Don’t mind me. Carry on,” she teased, then put her cigarette back in her mouth.

My cheeks heated instantly, and I shifted my attention back to Rome. The hard edge of his jawline wasn’t as tight as it had been when he arrived. He seemed more relaxed now. I was curious about what this private information was though. I was hoping that he was taking me to his room to share it with me.