Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Imight have told a white lie to Marco when I said I had clothes in my office. He was not impressed at all when we arrived, and I suddenly remembered I had taken my spare clothes home.
It serves him right for tearing my underwear, though. Maybe next time he’ll think twice before ruining my things. I’m a little pleased that the knowledge I’m walking around here without panties is bothering him. The amount of times I’ve seen him adjusting his crotch is amusing.
I might have also purposely bent over far enough that he could see up my skirt. I felt him immediately stand behind me, grunting something about shoveling the eyes out of anyone who sees me.
I’ve never experienced this level of… cavemanishness, alpha-maleness, possessiveness? I don’t know what you call it. I’ve seen it with the men in my family. It’s how they are with their wives. I’ve just never had it directed at me, and I honestly didn’t think I’d like it as much as I do.
I can see why the women in my family all look lovesick 24/7. There is something about feeling like you belong to someone. Them feeling like you belong to them anyway. Having someone who wants you completely. I’m not saying that Marco wants me like that, but it’s close. The way he watches me…
Okay, that could also be because he’s literally been ordered to watch over me. But still.
The vibration of my phone in the pocket of my apron has me pausing. I don’t pull it out, not with Marco looking over my shoulder every time I do. I’m not even sure why. He can’t read what’s on the screen.
“Where you going?” Marco asks when I walk past him towards the kitchen.
“Bathroom. Do I need a hall pass?” I raise my brow at him.
“Funny,” he retorts with a straight face.
I feel him right behind me as I make my way to the bathroom. “You know, I like you and all, but we are not at the stage of listening to each other pee yet,” I tell him.
“I’ve seen your pussy dripping for me. But it’s the sound of you peeing that you’re embarrassed about?” Marco asks, leaning in and pressing his mouth against my neck from behind me so no one else hears him.
“Yes, now go and stand over there. No one is in the bathroom,” I say before pushing through the door.
I turn on the tap, sit on the toilet lid, and check my phone. My hands shake. You know that feeling you get before something bad happens? That’s what I have right now. My stomach is twisting and then it drops when I see the name on the message notification. Kye. I click on the text to open it.
Kye:
Unless you want your family to hear it from me, or should I say see it from me, meet me at our spot in the park. One hour. Alone. Bring anyone and this picture will be sent to your brother. And just like that… your little bodyguard… poof… gone.
An image of me and Marco in the car is attached to the message. I’m on top of him. And, well, you can tell what we’re doing. Shit. Neo will kill him. I know he will. I cannot let my brother see this picture.
I type a reply to Kye. I don’t have a choice. I have to go and see him. Maybe I can put this whole situation to bed myself.
Me:
I’ll be there.
Shit, shit, shit. What am I doing?
I need to figure out a way to lose my shadow.
I can’t let this fall back on Marco. It’s my fault he caved and gave me what I wanted.
I shouldn’t have baited him like that. I just…
I don’t know. I wanted to see if he would and now I really like him.
What I know of him anyway, and I’d like to have the opportunity to go on that date with him.
I pocket my phone and flush the toilet because I have no doubt Marco is, in fact, listening. Washing my hands, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. “You can do this, Helena. You have to do this.”
Everything in me wants to call my brother. I want to pass this message off. Let him find Kye at the meeting place so I can keep hiding.
Fear isn’t always bad. I shake my head, remembering Marco’s words of wisdom from earlier. I’m doing this. I just need to come up with a way to get away from him long enough to make a run for it. It can’t be so hard, can it?
With forced bravado, I straighten my shoulders and walk out of the bathroom. And sure enough, Marco is waiting for me. Right by the door.
“What’s wrong?” he asks me, stepping closer.
“Nothing. Why?” How the hell am I so transparent?
“You took ages. Are you sick?”
“No! Oh my gosh, Marco, stop being a creeper. Don’t time how long I’m in the bathroom.” I storm past him, my shoulder hitting his as I go. That’s when I see it. The trash overfilling the bin. “Make yourself useful and take the trash out. Just dump the bag in the back alley.”
“So that’s all I’m good for? Taking out the trash?” he calls after me.
“No, you’re also really good at giving me orgasms that blow my damn mind. But that trash needs taking out.” I throw an arm towards the bin in question.
“Fine. Stay put,” he tells me.
As soon as he’s steps through the back door, I turn and run. Everyone looks but no one says a word when I sprint out the front of the café. I hear Marco behind me. Shit, he saw me.
Weaving in and out of the crowd, I take a left turn down a narrow alleyway. Eventually, I don’t hear anything but my own steps and my heart beating so rapidly I fear it’s going to tear right through my chest.