Chapter 10
Dumpingher overnight bag on the table in her flat, Maya heaved a sigh as the familiar surroundings closed around her. This should feel right by now, but nothing about being in her dead sister’s flat living her life felt right. A big hand landed on her shoulder and instantly Ti’s touch soothed her discomfort.
“You doin’ okay?”
Maya bit her lip and nodded, not trusting herself to speak as the tears in her throat burned. Saying goodbye to Tyrique had been hell, even knowing that he’d be well cared for by Snow. Watchdog had agreed to it, but Snow had stepped in and argued it would be easier for her as she already had young children and Watchdog was a first-timer. Maya hadn’t wanted to hurt his feelings, but she felt better knowing Tyrique was in experienced hands.
“You don’t have to do this, Maya. We can find another way.”
Ti moved around to the front of her, lifting her chin with his knuckle, and she saw the strong determination in his expressive eyes. She didn’t know what it was about this man, that made her want to sink into him and let him carry the world of burdens that weighed her down.
Reaching up, she circled his wrist with her hand, his warm skin a comfort. “I know, but I have to see this through. I just… it was harder leaving Tyrique than I thought.”
Ti cupped the back of her neck and pulled her close, her hands going around his waist as he held her close, murmuring against her hair. “I know, and we’ll be back with him soon and all this will be a distant nightmare. I promise.”
Maya didn’t answer, just held on tighter as his warm, cedar scent wrapped around her. She stayed that way, wrapped in his arms in silence for a beat before she pulled back, feeling stronger. “You should probably get going so you can check in with Reaper and the others.”
Ti cocked his head. “Why would I have to leave to do that when I have this?” He waggled his phone in his hand, and she frowned.
“Well, I just thought it would make sense and I have to get ready for my shift later.”
“I’m not stopping you.”
“Well, I know, but I need some time to get my head on straight and you might as well go back to where you’re staying.”
Ti smirked and she tried to ignore the flutter in her belly. “I’m staying here, babe.”
Maya froze and gave her head a slow shake. “No, that’s not a good idea.”
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest and she thanked God he couldn’t hear it.
“Why not?”
He looked ready to argue as he folded his arms over his massive chest. What the hell could she say to that? Oh, maybe because I had a sex dream about you last night and woke up wanting to shed your clothes from your hard body and ride you like a horse at the Gold Cup? She decided to keep it simple. “I only have one bed.”
His eyes lit with something hot and sinful as he let his gaze rake over her, and Maya fought the shiver of awareness. This man was like her personal catnip physically and, from everything she learned about him, as a man, too.
“I don’t mind sharing if you don’t.”
A laugh burst from her at his brazen flirtation. She’d never been around a man with this much confidence and maybe even slight arrogance, and she found it wildly attractive.
“In your dreams, Titan.”
“Every night since I met you, Maya.”
Her eyes widened at that. “I’m serious, Ti. You can’t stay here.”
Titan took a step closer, his body heat washing over her, he was so close. His hands dropped to her upper arms. “And I’m serious when I say I’m not leaving you alone with those animals around. My son already lost his mother. He’s not losing you too.”
If it were any other argument, she’d fight him, but the thought of Tyrique growing up without her made her belly squirm painfully. “That was a cheap shot, Ti.”
“Maybe, but it’s true.”
Maya conjured up a list of arguments in her head, before dismissing them all. Fighting the battles that mattered and she could win, was her priority, and this was neither of those. “Fine, but you’re on the sofa.”
His hand skimmed down her arm. “I’ve slept in worse places.”
Maya pulled away, putting some space between them. His touch was becoming something she craved and she needed it to stop. Moving into the tiny kitchen, which was really just part of the living room, she checked the fridge and realised she needed to get some food in as all she had was a jar of pickles, some peanut butter, and some out-of-date milk, and that wouldn’t do.
“Well, I need to get some food in so I’m going to head out.”
“I’m coming.”
Maya sighed. “I can manage. I’ve been shopping for myself for a while now, Ti.”
“I know, but you don’t know which brand of protein powder I like.”
Maya lifted a brow, giving him a what the fuck look. “Seriously? You think I have the budget for fancy-ass protein powder?”
Titan stepped closer, bending so he could look her in the eye. “Seriously, Maya, if you think I’d let you pay for your shopping while I’m with you, then you have a lot to learn about the kind of man I am.”
He used a mocking tone and she wanted to smack him for being such an ass, but also found it stupidly attractive to have someone want to take care of her for a change. “Fine. Let’s go get you some food before you Hulk out on me.”
Titan held the door for her as she led the way out of her flat. “I don’t Hulk out, that’s more like Hurricane.” He defended himself with a slight pout that was so like his son.
“Well, I’m assuming your son got it from someone, and it wasn’t Rose. She’d forget her head if hadn’t been screwed on, and that included food.”
Titan placed a palm on her back, shifting her to the inside of the pavement as they walked to protect her from the traffic. “He certainly likes his food.”
Maya could hear the warm smile in his voice when he spoke about Tyrique but she hadn’t had a moment to ask him how he felt about the bomb she’d dropped in his life. Yesterday he’d come back from wherever he’d stormed off to during the meeting and had been so much calmer. “How are you doing with it all? This must have been a shock.”
Unlike a lot of men she knew who would just answer immediately, Titan took the time to think over his words.
“It was a huge shock, and I’m not sure that I’ve fully recovered from it. But what has surprised me the most is the way it feels so right.”
“Why does that surprise you?”
“I never wanted kids, Maya. I’m not a good man. The things I’ve done in my life….” A shudder ran through him, his voice full of self-loathing and guilt.
“We’ve all done things we regret, Ti.”
“Not like this.”
They reached the entrance to the supermarket and he held the door for her. The next thirty minutes consisted of Titan putting more food in the trolley than she would eat in a month. He gently pushed her aside when she tried to push it and glared when she attempted to pay the bill.
“Maya.”
“I can’t expect you to pay for my food.”
“While I’m staying in your flat, I pay for the food.”
Her chest ached. “My sister’s flat.”
She had no place to call home now. Her landlord, where she’d lived and set up her own life, had kindly boxed her stuff and put it into storage for her.
Titan bagged the groceries and managed to wrangle all the handles into one hand, resting the other hand on the back of her neck as they walked home in silence with her lost in thoughts of what her future might hold.
When they reached the flat, they paused, seeing the door open. Titan put the bags down slowly and pushed her behind him, lifting his finger for her to be quiet, before pulling a gun from a holster at his back. Maya stifled a gasp at the sight of the weapon and swallowed. She wasn’t a fool and she certainly wasn’t a fighter, at least not physically. She knew these people were deadly but this she hadn’t expected.
Clutching onto his shirt, she followed Titan as she heard two male voices in her home. Her skin prickled with anger and indignation when she recognised Nico, the man who she suspected had killed Rose and his sidekick, Mal, rifling through her home.
Titan clicked the safety off the weapon. “What the fuck are you doing in my girl’s home?”
Mal startled but Nico turned slowly, the cocky, arrogant smile on his greasy face falling as he looked at Titan like he’d seen a ghost.
She saw him eye Titan up and down before glancing at her as if she could give him the answers he wanted. Tension crawled over her skin, fear coating her throat, mixing and swirling with confusion over Nico’s reaction to Titan, it was as if he knew him but was looking at a ghost.
“Maya, who the fuck is this man and why are you with him?” Mal’s question snapped her attention back on Mal and away from a shocked-looking Nico.
“Don’t speak to her. You talk to me, asshole.” Titan shifted so she was behind him and Mal couldn’t see her around his broad shoulders.
“Again, who the fuck are you?”
“Your worst fucking nightmare.”