Page 22 of Twisted Violet

Then Rome clears his throat. “She can stay at our place in the city.”

I turn to look at him. “What?”

I take a second to process what he just said. Not because the words don’t make sense, but because they came from him.Rome.The same man who barely looked at me this past week. The one who acted as if my presence alone grated on him. Why would he offer that now?

“Our apartment in San Francisco has an extra guest room.” He says, locking eyes with me. “You’ll be safer under our roof. It isn’t tied to The Reapers, so no one will look for you out there.”

As the offer hangs in the air, I study all of their faces, trying to gauge how they really feel about it.

Rome looks calm and controlled, but there’s something unreadable flashing in his eyes.

Niko gives me a soft smile. It’s barely there, but it’s enough to know he doesn’t hate the idea.

I look at Dallas, trying to search his eyes, but he won’t meet my gaze.

“You guys don’t have to do that.” I say, my voice quieter now. “I’ve overstayed my welcome in the safehouse as it is, and I really don’t want to get in the way.”

“You won’t be.” Rome counters. “In fact, with our work schedule, most of the time, you’ll have the place to yourself.

For a split second, I feel something I haven’t let myself feel in a long time… hope.

Maybe I got it all wrong. Maybe they do actually want me around.

The idea of staying with them… not as a secret or a job, but as something real… makes my chest ache.

But then the fear creeps in.

What if they’re only offering because they feel bad for me?

I can’t be that girl anymore. The one people protect out of guilt or obligation.

I can’t live in someone else’s space, constantly wondering if I’m overstaying my welcome again.

I search Dallas’ face again, looking for something, anything to make me believe this isn’t charity.

His jaw is tight. His hands fidget in his hoodie pocket, but he still won’t look at me, and that hurts more than I want to admit.

Then, he speaks, quiet and steady.

“You should stay with us,” he says, voice rough. “It’s the right call.”

My breath catches.

It’s not what he says. It’s how he says it. Like he means it. Like he truly wants me there.

Something shifts in my chest, not relief exactly, more like a tiny thread pulling taut between us.

I glance at Niko.

He gives me a slight nod and Rome hasn’t looked away since he put the offer out there.

Maybe this isn’t charity.

Maybe, just maybe… they actually want me around.

I nod once, barely trusting my voice.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll go.”