Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
S he’s lost whatever was left of her goddamn fucking mind. What the fuck was she thinking breaking into my house? Coming into my room? And how the hell did I sleep through it all?
I dreamed I could smell her. I woke up smelling her and thought it was just left over from my dream. Nope, my whole fucking room smells like her perfume. If that didn’t make it obvious she was here, it became real clear when I walked into the bathroom and saw the shit she drew on my mirror.
Do you have any idea how fucking hard it is to wash red lipstick off glass with just water and hand soap? Not something I ever thought I’d have to do.
As soon as I saw the writing, I got out my laptop and logged into the cloud for the security system and deleted the footage.
My frustration didn’t end there, though. No, my whole morning has been filled with Aurora. She was in my shower, her hair in my fucking brush, her scent everywhere. If she was trying to drive me insane, she’s succeeded. I’ve tried really fucking hard to not think about her.
Every time I do, guilt eats at me. It’s a betrayal to Kenny. I can’t betray my cousin because my dick wants the girl who killed him. I don’t want to want her. When I told her that I hated her, I meant it. I do hate her. But there’s still this fucking need for her I can’t get rid of.
I can ignore it. I’m not weak, and I know whatever the fuck it is, it’ll pass with time.
When I get to school, I seek her out. It doesn’t take long to find her standing by her locker with her cousin Mabilia. “You’ve seriously lost your fucking mind,” I hiss, trying to keep my voice low. The last thing I need is for the whole school to know our business.
“Oh, babe, that was lost a long time ago.” Aurora smiles at me. “How’s your morning been?” Her hand lands on my chest and my whole body ignites. My cock hardens.
“I’ve had better. Whatever game you’re playing, stop,” I tell her. Pulling her lipstick out of my pocket and shoving it into her hand. “Stay the fuck away from me.”
“Whoa, I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you cannot talk to her like that.” Mabilia squeezes herself between us. “Give me a reason, Connor. Just one. And your family will be down another heir.”
“I’d love to see you try.” I raise an eyebrow and then look behind her at a fuming Aurora.
“You think I can’t? Or won’t ?” Mabilia asks.
“I have no doubt you’d try. But as crazy as you are, she’s worse, and I know she’d never let you put so much as a scratch on me.” I nod my head towards Aurora. “Isn’t that right, princess?”
She pushes Mabilia to the side, leaning up on her tiptoes as her lips press against my cheek. “See you later, Connor,” she says and then walks off, dragging Mabilia behind her.
What the fuck was that?
I expected her to fight back. She acted like nothing was even happening. She really is losing it. If she’s not going to listen to me, maybe I can get someone in her family to put a fucking leash on her and keep her the fuck away from me.
I walk outside and hone in on my target. Dante. The asshole thinks he’s the king around here. Let’s see if his subjects actually know how to follow orders— something tells me Aurora is the exception .
Doesn’t matter. I can’t let her think she can just come into my house without any consequences.
“You need to do something about this,” I tell Dante, showing him the screenshot of Aurora walking through my bedroom. “She doesn’t know what they’d do if she gets caught breaking into my house. Make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“You know the easiest way to stop her from doing shit like that is for you to just disappear. Want me to help you with that?” he asks.
“You can threaten me all you like. And just like I told Mabilia earlier, it’s pointless. We both know you’re not going to act on it. What would your insane cousin think if you did? You know she loves me, right? Who knows what crazy shit she’d do for someone she loves,” I remind him.
I see it coming and do nothing to stop it. His fist hits the side of my face. He can throw a punch. I’ll give him that. I smirk.
“Guess we’re about to find out just how deep that love goes.” I laugh as I turn and walk away.
I haven’t been sitting next to her in class. But today, I want to. I want her to see the bruise forming on my face. I want to see her reaction.
Am I an asshole for inciting a bit of family conflict? Sure. But do I care? Not one single bit.
I don’t doubt where Aurora’s heart lies. I know she loves me. It’s the fact she killed my cousin I can’t look past. And the fact my family will kill her, after they do unthinkable horrors to her first.
I count in my head. Three, two, one. And just like that, Aurora’s hands are on my cheeks, turning my face in her direction. “Who the fuck hit you?” she asks.
“Don’t fucking touch me.” I shove her arms aside.
“Answer the question, Connor,” she says.
“Why? What are you gonna do? Kill another innocent kid?” I ask, and watch as her face falls. I’ve never seen that expression on her. Remorse. And now I feel like a real ass. But I’m not going backwards.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “Wait a minute. Remind me again… who was it who helped Ian climb out that window?”
“What can I say? I see someone in need, and I help. I’m charitable like that.
” I almost forget that I hate this girl, almost. But then Kenny’s lifeless body flashes through my mind.
“Stay away from me, Aurora. I mean it. You don’t know the type of people I live with.
If they would have caught you, well, you don’t want to know the nightmare that would follow.
And rein your cousins in. This…” I point to my face. “…was Dante’s one and only shot.”
I stand up and walk out of class. Straight to my car. I don’t have the energy for fucking school right now. I also don’t want to be around when Aurora and Dante square off. That’s a war I want no part of. Even if I did cause it.
My heart races. Tonight is the night we hit the Valentino shipment. A whole container of weapons. I didn’t hesitate to volunteer my time to help with the acquisition of those weapons. But now, sitting in the car, waiting for my father’s signal, doubt is settling in.
I pull out my phone and message Aurora. I need to make sure she’s as far away from here as possible. I’m sure she’s not going to be at a container yard, but who the fuck knows if she’s following me or not?
Me:
Meet at the cabin. I want to talk.
Less than three seconds. That’s how long it takes her to reply.
SB:
Okay.
That’s it. Just okay? Fuck, she’s too trusting. Why isn’t she questioning why I suddenly want to talk? How does she know I’m not walking her into a trap? Now I really do want to talk to her. Make her see some fucking sense and get her shit together before she gets herself killed.
“Ready?” my dad asks.
“Ready.” I nod at him.
I’m fully kitted out: Kevlar vest, multiple handguns, and a rifle.
This isn’t the first time I’ve done this.
Used to join my father’s crew all the time in Boston.
Aim, break in, shoot anyone who tries to get in our way, load the container onto the back of one of our semis, and get out. It’s actually pretty easy.
Following my dad and a handful of his soldiers, I don’t hesitate when I spot the first guy to aim a barrel in our direction.
I pull the trigger. That was for Kenny. I might not be able to take out the person who actually killed him, but I can take out members of the organization responsible for creating her.
In less than an hour, we’re driving away from the container yard, a load of Valentino weapons on the back of our truck as we make our way to the warehouse.
I wasn’t planning on heading to the cabin. I figured she’d show up, realize I wasn’t there, and leave. But when I logged into the GPS tracker I have on her phone, I saw that she was still there. And now, I feel like an ass. Again.
I could just ghost her. That would be the smart thing to do.
But, no, I’m fucking drawn to her and can’t seem to stop myself.
I also have something of hers I want to return because having them in my pocket is driving me insane with need.
She left a pair of panties in the pocket of my school blazer.
I didn’t find them until I got home. I was tempted to keep them. They were my favorite.
Stopping at the local convenience store near the cabin, I pull in to the first open spot and grab a bottle of whiskey.
I’m going to need it if I’m going to get through the rest of the night.
When I tug my card out of my wallet to pay, a piece of paper falls onto the counter.
I pick it up, turn it over, and see a picture of us. Aurora and me.
I scrunch it up in my hands and shove it into the front pocket of my pants. Is there anything she didn’t fucking touch? I should have watched the rest of the footage. But I didn’t want to risk leaving it up, so I took a screenshot and then deleted the recording.
I park at the cabin, jump out of my car, and walk inside. The bottle of whiskey in one hand and a gun in my other. Because this is Aurora I’m meeting after all. Who the fuck knows what she’s got on her?
I pause when I find her laid out on the sofa. Asleep. I set the bottle down on the table, pick up the throw blanket from the back of the chair, and put it over her.
“Mmm, Connor, I love you,” she mumbles, still asleep.
“I know,” I whisper back, kissing the top of her forehead.
Then I stand and walk right back out the front door. I can’t be here with her. She’s a fucking weakness I don’t need. A temptation I thought I was strong enough to resist. But now, I’m not so sure.