29. Chapter 26
D ad blocked the door when he opened it on his way out of the building. I guess he thinks I’d be stupid enough to bombard my way in to see Henry, but while Charlie and her father wait downstairs, I’m not willing to risk any type of interaction.
Toby pulls his truck in behind Creed and Fern’s SUV and Luca’s rental truck, and waits. Talon, Cin, and Gemma all jump in.
“You know, you could smile at me,” Charlie’s hands land on my shoulders as she leans in.
I have to give it to her. She’s got the smiling, doting girlfriend act down. Her smile looks genuine, you’d never know she’s angry whispering in my ear.
“I could, but I’d hate for you to swoon,” I quip back, surprising myself. Maybe the game really did work some magic.
“It’ll take more than a smile, Pretty Boy.” Rolling her eyes, she motions for her father to come over. Lacing her fingers in mine she nods to a guy with Mr. Romero who hands over her bag. Instincts kick in, and I grab it before she can with the hand that’s not currently tangled in hers. He looks at me with a scrutinizing gaze. I want to tell him he can fuck right off with that. This was his idea, not ours.
Instead, I keep my gaze level with his. His Irish accent isn’t very strong, but his voice sounds like he’s had some damage done to his throat. Charlie definitely didn’t get her raven hair from him, nor her looks. Where she’s softer, he’s all sharp angles and harsh glares. That she gets from him.
“Mr. Rossi, y’treat my daughter like the angel she is, understand?”
I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes, I doubt that would go over well. Instead, I nod and look over at her. Her eyes are locked on one of the guys behind her dad.
“Excuse us,” as gently as I can, I try to pull her with me toward Toby’s truck, but she stays and speaks with her father. When I get to the truck, I notice we’ll have to split. Talon and Cin are in the back while Toby and Gemma are upfront. He’s lifted the console to create room for Gemma.
Pulling on the door, I find it locked and look up. “Unlock the door, Toby.”
He doesn’t move, only rolls down the passenger window and leans around Gemma, who won't even look at me. “What was that about?”
“Just unlock the door and quit being an ass.”
He laughs and looks back at Tal, “Well, I guess it runs in the family, huh, bro?”
Talon doesn’t say anything, just glares through the back glass. Charlie steps around me, up to the window that Toby rolled down, and says, “Hey again, Handsome.”
“Oh shit, it’s you,” he howls in laughter. “Hell, this is gonna be interesting.” Charlie snickers behind me, and my good mood plummets.
Toby hits the button on the door to unlock it, and Charlie throws a smile over her shoulder at me and hops in the front.
“That might not be a good idea, Princess,” Cin says, eyeing Tal beside her. “These two might start a brawl back here if you make them sit together.”
“That might be worth watching,” Charlie observes Talon, and I’m impressed by the action. Most people take one look at him and turn away, deciding it’s best not to interact with him. One look my way, and she sighs, a clear sign she’s not going to win that seat, and hops down. “I can compromise, see?”
Luca comes out of the building, looking like someone pissed in his cereal. If I had to guess, I’d say it has something to do with me.
We ride in silence, thickened by mutual anger and hurt. No one speaks, save for Charlie, who tries to hold conversations with Cin and Gemma but neither of them knows what to say, I guess.
“…and how in the world did all of you get brought into this house? Hmm?”
“Knock it off Charlie,” I warn. She hmphs and sits back in her seat. The thump of her body against the seat has me clenching my teeth. Why did I agree to let her come home with us? I should have told her no. Should have come up with some fucking excuse, but Creed’s stony face made me agree.
She wants to see what she’s getting wrapped up in. Or maybe she’s looking for the thing that will inevitably dissolve our contract. Either way, she won’t be happy.
I’m not sure she can make our family look less appealing. The Hemlock name is enough to send people packing without fuss. I’ve seen grown men go pale over the mere mention of Mack, Creed’s brother. Our reach is wide, and our roots are strong. We treat our people like family, and in return, they treat us the same.
Creed’s always said treating his people like family creates stronger bonds. Though, why he’s adamant that he doesn’t want to rope the Romeros in is something I’ve tried and failed many times to figure out.
Dad’s tight-lipped about any business he works in, even though I’ve been shadowing him to take over once he retires. He makes sure to only show me the things he wants me to see and nothing more. It’s not even worth the fight anymore.
When Toby pulls into the garage and I spot my red Audi in the bay, I decide I’m driving her somewhere this weekend, no matter what happens. I miss driving, especially with Henry in the passenger seat singing off-key to every song on my playlist.
“Nice cars,” Charlie comments to no one in particular, and no one responds. I’m not sure if they’re icing her out because of the situation with her family or if it’s because she’s metaphorically tethered to me.
“Come on, I’ll show you around,” I offer, hopping out of the truck and making my way toward the door. Placing my finger on the scanner, I let it do its thing. Once the locks click, I push the door open with my foot.
Bags in hand, I toe off my shoes and kick them into the bin that I’ve always used. Charlie looks around, eyes cataloging everything as if she’s going to be tested later.
“Shoes,” I snap, pulling her out of the way as Talon stomps by, leaving Cin to unlace her boots. Toby and Gemma wait for her to be done, then follow her in.
“Tough crowd,” Charlie chuckles. “They fuckin’ hate me.”
“Do you blame them?” I ask, genuinely curious. “Or is this kind of thing normal in your house?”
“Arranged marriages happen all the time in our world,” she shrugs as if it’s just another day.
“Don’t you have anyone you actually want to be with? Someone you love?” Charlie doesn’t answer, and that’s plenty of confirmation for me. She’s a gorgeous girl with nice thick legs, a smile that draws you in, and a fierceness that’s palpable. Of course she has someone else.
“Charlie can sleep in Henry’s room,” I hear Luca announce from the family room, having gotten here before us. The thought makes me want to vomit, and I just might.
Charlie, in his bed.
No.
I know he wouldn’t mind. He’s ridiculously kind that way, but me?
I. Fucking. Mind.
“She’ll sleep in my room,” I don’t bother watching my tone, I’m done with Luca giving me shit.
“We’re not letting you two sleep in the same room, even if you aren’t physical. She needs privacy,” Dad says, as if I didn’t say anything.
“You don’t get to give his room up, that’s his space. I’ll stay in his room, and she can stay in mine.”
“Henry would prefer Charlie to stay in his room, don’t you think? Considering everything you’ve done to him?” Luca chimes in.
“He lost the option to have a say in this when he stayed on campus,” I’m slightly aware that I’ve raised my voice, however I refuse to let someone else in his bed. “I don’t give a shit what Henry prefers.” They can punish me all they want, but she’s not stepping one goddamn foot in his room.
“Obviously,” Talon yells through the house.
Something in me snaps, and I take off through the living room and into the kitchen, where the four of them stand in unison around the island.
“Do you have something to say to me, dickwad?”
Toby immediately grips his brother, and Cin steps forward. Her hand connects with my cheek before I have the chance to stop her.
“You’re a real fucking piece of work, Banks Rossi.” Everyone’s eyes have grown two sizes, and Talon smirks. “You destroyed Henry in the most vile way. I’m glad I wasn’t here to witness the shit you pulled, and now you’re attacking your friends? Who the hell are you?”
“Poor Henry,” I mock, “he seems to be doing just fine now, doesn’t he? New apartment. New roommate . New life.”
Her hazel eyes burn with hatred, and her hands land on my chest right before she shoves me so hard I have to take a step back. I’m sick and tired of everyone blaming me for Henry’s distance. They had a choice to back me up or say their piece. It’s not my fault Talon was the only one to speak his mind.
Talon grips Cin’s hand and pulls her back into his body as if he thinks I may retaliate physically. I may be an asshole, but I’d never hurt a woman. Especially not after what she’s been through.
“I didn’t know you could be so heartless, the guy I met last year may have been cold, but he would never do what you did.”
She storms out of Talon’s arms and down the hall, where she disappears.
“Care to tack on-to your girlfriend's tantrum, or does she speak for you now?” I snarl at Talon.
“I can’t believe this is who you’re choosing to be,” Toby speaks, shaking his head as if he’s disappointed. “I didn’t see you speaking up for him then,” I throw back at him.
“He didn’t need my help, and he was right, your mother would hate you for what you’ve become.”
Contempt, unlike anything I’ve ever felt, unfurls in my gut. I launch myself over the island to grip his shirt and push him back until his spine meets the fridge, and my fist lands on his jaw. Gemma screams, and the sound of the punch is so loud it reverberates through the room, and all hell breaks loose.
Dad rips my arms off Toby while my uncle looks at his face. Creed blocks the door where Talon’s fighting to get through. “You want a fight? Come here, you piece of shit motherfucker. I’ll give you a fight.”
“If you ever try to speak for my dead mother again, I’ll fucking kill you.” I seethe at Toby, my voice hoarse as the words break. Nile, Creed, Fern, and Gemma manage to get Toby out of the kitchen. His eyes wide, as if he didn’t expect me to hit him.
Everyone here thinks they can speak on behalf of my mother as if any of them even know what she would want. But I know she would want me to make my own choices. She would be sad for me, of course, but she would be proud that I chose to sacrifice myself for the family.
“Calm down,” Dad’s voice is like ice water. Void of emotion, detached. His eyes move over my shoulder, and I find Charlie leaning up against the far cabinets, watching everything unfold with a cunning gaze and her arms crossed.