Chapter 10
I crashed out. I didn’t think I would, but clearly I was more tired than I realized. The first thought that goes through my mind when I wake up is that I’m alone. Connor isn’t here. Panic runs through me and then I remember where I am. Where we are. He’s here somewhere.
After freshening up and running my fingers through my hair, I open the bedroom door. And there he is. Sitting right where he said he’d be. I didn’t expect him to mean he’d literally wait outside my door.
Who does that? Connor apparently.
He’s leaning against the wall. Sleeping.
If I had a phone on me I’d snap a picture of him.
He looks so peaceful. So beautiful. Those chiseled cheekbones.
That square jaw and flawless, fair skin.
His hair falls over his forehead and my fingers itch to push it back.
I don’t move, though. I don’t want to wake him yet. I want to keep looking at him.
“Are you finished staring?” he asks, opening his eyes.
“You’re awake,” I state.
“Seems that way.” He smirks.
“Why are you sitting out here? Have you been here the whole time?”
“Pretty much,” he says.
“Why?”
I don’t miss the tick in his jaw as Connor pushes himself to his feet. He’s in pain but won’t admit it. “Because I told you I’d be here when you woke up.”
“You need pain pills,” I tell him. I’ve been trying to get him to take something, anything to ease his pain but he continues to refuse.
“I’m fine,” he says. “How’d you sleep?”
“Like a rock.” I take a step closer to him. “Would have been better if you were in the bed, though.”
“You wouldn’t have gotten as much sleep if I’d been in there.” Connor wraps an arm around me, the non-injured arm.
“I wouldn’t have complained,” I tell him. “Why don’t you go and lie down for a bit. You really didn’t need to stay out here for hours.”
“And let you roam around causing chaos without me?” He raises a single brow. “I actually need you to do something for me.”
“What?” There is literally nothing I wouldn’t do for this man. Which should scare me, because I’m not sure I had limits before I met him. But now I know that when it comes to Connor, there are no lengths I’m not prepared to go to.
“Your brother gave me a burner. I need to get in contact with Patty to find out what my parents’ next move is. I need to be a step ahead of them,” Connor says.
“Okay, do you really think he’ll tell you?” I ask before adding, “I need coffee. Come on.”
This time when we get to the kitchen, it’s empty. Thank God . I do not have the energy to deal with all the testosterone in this house. Unless it’s Connor because, well, it’s Connor.
“He’ll tell me,” Connor says without missing a beat. He then opens the cabinets, finds the mugs, and pulls two down.
“This is next level,” I mutter, looking at the machine I’m assuming is for coffee.
“Here. I’ll do it.” Connor effortlessly figures out how to brew two cups of some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted.
“Thank you. Now, what exactly do you need me to do?” I ask him.
“Call Patty. Make something up so he’ll know it’s you but not let on to anyone else that he knows it’s you . Then hang up. He’ll call back on a secure line,” Connor says.
“Easy.” I hold out a hand and Connor places the burner phone on top. “My brother just gave this to you?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Weird,” I mumble. I didn’t think Lorenzo would just give Connor something that would allow him to contact the outside world.
For all they know, he could sell me out.
Go back to the O’Malleys. “I am sorry that this is happening. I can’t imagine how hard it is having to fight against your own family. ”
“This isn’t your fault, Aurora. You have nothing to be sorry about.”
“I did kind of kidnap you, took you to that cabin where they found us together. It is my fault.”
Connor smiles. “Probably wasn’t your best idea, babe, but it’s also not your worst. We’re back together.”
“So, my devious plan worked then? I did think it’d take a lot longer to win you over,” I admit.
“You never truly lost me, babe,” he says.
“Okay. Dial his number. I’ve got this. You know drama was actually the one class I could pass without Dante’s help.” I smile.
“I’m not surprised in the slightest.” Connor laughs as he taps the number out on the screen.
I press the dial button and bring the phone to my ear.
“Hey, what’s the crack?” Patty answers.
“The other night was real fun, Patty baby, but I was kinda thinking we could step it up a notch next time,” I say, doing my best to put on a sexy voice.
I’ve never tried to be sexy before. Judging by Connor’s glare and his white knuckles curling around the handle of his coffee mug, I don’t think he approves of my conversation starter.
“Yeah, real fun, babe. What were you thinking? Stepping it up how, exactly?” Patty asks.
I frown. How many calls from random girls does this guy get?
He’s acting like he knows exactly who I am and remembers the night we didn’t have together.
“I was thinking it’d be fun to add some pain.
You know pain and pleasure can be a good mix.
Have you had your balls stabbed recently?
I’ve done it once and you’d be surprised how easily the knife slides right through the skin. ”
Connor smiles and shakes his head.
“Yeah, ah, look, babe, the other night was fun and all. But I’m not letting you stab my balls. No pussy is worth that. I gotta go. Catch you later, princess ,” Patty says before hanging up.
I clock the nickname right away. But I can’t tell if it’s on purpose or not. Does Patty know that’s what Connor calls me?
Although I have to admit it doesn’t sound as good when it’s not coming out of Connor’s mouth. It’s so… undermining. I am not a princess.
“Think it worked?” I pass Connor the phone.
“I highly doubt he knows anyone else who’s ever stabbed someone in the balls, Aurora. It worked.” Connor sips at his coffee, setting the mug on the counter before turning to me. “I need to know what I can do to help ease your mind. What kind of assurances do you need to know I’m not leaving you?”
I think about how to answer him. “It’s not you. It’s not anything you’ve done, Connor. It’s my own fear. I’ve just got to learn to deal with it. I’m sorry for being clingy.”
“You can be as clingy as you want, babe. I just don’t want you worrying that I’m going to leave every time you’re not right next to me.”
“When I thought you were dead, I was scared. I’m not usually scared of anything, but it seems I’m shit scared of losing you. It’s not you, Connor. It’s me,” I tell him.
And it is me. Connor has always shown up for me. He followed me up to the church bell tower the day of Kenny’s funeral. I think he thought I was going to jump. He pulled me away from the window. I wasn’t contemplating jumping, but he didn’t know that.
He also took care of that douche who drugged me. Anyone could have seen him do it at school. He could have been caught.
And when I texted him, telling him that I needed oxygen, he didn’t hesitate to come.
The guy took a bullet for me. There is no doubt in my mind that Connor loves me.
I do wonder if he’s only here because of the threat to my life, though.
Will he still want to be with me once it’s over?
Will he hate me more for making him choose between us and his family?
“I know that you will always show up for me, Connor. I don’t doubt that. You have nothing to prove.” I choose not to voice the doubts in my mind again. They’re my issue, not his.
Connor’s fingers brush against my cheek. “You’re holding something back. I know you. But I’ll drop it for now. Just know that I’m all in, Aurora. There is no going back for us. You told me I was your oxygen. Guess what? You’re mine too.”
“I love you.” I lean in and press my lips to his.
Connor’s hands cup my cheeks. His tongue pushes into my mouth. I’m about to climb his body like a monkey when a throat clears behind us.
I drag myself away with a groan. “Seriously, Levi?” I growl.
“I don’t get how you’re still breathing, mate,” Levi says to Connor.
“Shut up.” I swear I want to wring his neck. “Actually, I need something, or a few somethings. And you’re going to get them for me.” I smile at him sweetly.
“What do you need, cupcake?” Levi asks, opening the fridge.
“Her name is Aurora, not fucking cupcake,” Connor tells him.
“Right, sorry, what do you need, Aurora? ” Levi repeats dramatically.
“Knives, knuckle dusters, preferably pretty ones. I need a gun—no, make it two. Nothing too big. I need to be able to conceal them. I need a taser, and pretty much any other weapon you have in your arsenal.” I smile, then add, “Oh, and a cyanide pill.”
Levi closes the fridge, holding what looks like leftover pasta in his hand. “That’s quite a list, Little Valentino. What do you plan on doing with a cyanide pill?”
“My dad confiscated the one I had in Italy. I want to replace it.”
“That didn’t answer my question,” he says.
“I’m curious too. What are you planning on doing with a cyanide pill, princess?” Connor asks me.
“Poison someone, obviously,” I state, leaving out the fact that I’d use it on myself if I ever got caught by the people hunting me down.
“You okay with her having all that shit?” Levi looks to Connor.
“She’s a big girl. She can make up her own mind. Besides, I know she’s not using them on me.” Connor smirks.
“She didn’t tell you who she’d poison, did she?” This comes from Lorenzo.
I grumble under my breath. Why does my brother always walk in at the worst moment?