Chapter 15
“What the hellwere you thinking going there and confronting him like that? You could have been killed.”
Titan had barely said a word on the drive back to her flat, and she’d felt the weight of his anger settle over her skin. “Let me clean your shoulder, please? It’ll get infected.”
Titan glared at her and then nodded and headed for the bathroom without a word, Maya following close behind. Sitting on the toilet with the lid down, she watched him pull the blade free, blood dribbling out at a steady pace.
She watched it for a second as it oozed out slowly, her gaze transfixed, and her lip wobbled as the adrenaline left her body and she swayed.
“Woah.” Titan jumped up and caught her, pulling her down into his lap. “You okay, baby?”
Maya swallowed and focused on not passing out. “Yeah, just a little wobbly. Engineering isn’t this exciting so I’m not used to this kind of thing.”
She saw remorse tumble across his face and he hung his head. “Fuck. Here I am berating you like a child and you’ve been through hell. I’m sorry, Maya. I was out of line.”
“Yes, you were.”
Titan chuckled and she glared at him and tried to push off his lap, but he held her still. “Don’t run. Fight me, tell me I’m an asshole. Call me out on my bullshit but don’t run from me, Maya. Please?”
Warmth coated her skin and she realised he was still bleeding. “Let me clean you up.”
Slipping off his knee, she bent to grab the first aid box and quickly found gauze and alcohol. It wasn’t going to be enough but it would be enough for now.
Maya felt her hands tremble slightly as she dabbed at the wound on Titan’s shoulder, the warmth of his skin sending shivers down her spine. His words echoed in her mind, each syllable heavy with concern and frustration. She knew she’d acted rashly, driven by a need to protect him, no matter the cost, but seeing the pain etched in his features now made her realize the gravity of her actions. And not just the physical pain either, she’d frightened him. He’d been terrified for her and she’d never had that before. Never had someone so worried for her, so it felt foreign but also nice.
As she carefully cleaned the wound, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for causing Titan such distress. Her heart ached at the thought of him being terrified for her safety, his usual stoic demeanour cracking under the weight of his emotions.
“I’m sorry, Titan,” Maya whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “I never meant to worry you.”
Titan’s gaze softened as he looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and affection. “Do you have any idea how scared I was when I heard you’d put yourself in danger and gone to the club to face Nico?” His hand reached out to gently cup Maya’s cheek, his touch sending a jolt of warmth through her. “You’re too important to me to risk your life like that,” he admitted, his voice sober but filled with unvoiced emotions. Maya could see the turmoil in his eyes, the fear of losing her laid before her.
She leaned into his touch, savouring the comfort it offered amidst the chaos and blood surrounding them. “I couldn’t let him get away with what he did to Rose, Titan,” she replied, her voice steady despite the flicker of doubt in her eyes. “I had to make things right. I had to make him pay and I had to make sure Tyrique had his father in his life, not rotting in jail or worse.”
Titan’s jaw clenched at her words, a mixture of pride and frustration warring within him. “I understand your reasons, Maya, but you have to promise me that you won’t act so impulsively again,” he begged his thumb stroking her cheek gently. “I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”
“You won’t lose me, Ti.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Good, now bring those lips closer so I can kiss you properly.”
Maya felt her heart squeeze with all the love she felt for this man and, after the last six hours, she had no intention of holding back.
Her lips almost touching his, she mouthed. “I think I love you, Titan.”
“Damn straight because I love you, Maya, and fuck anyone who says it’s too soon. When you know, you know.”
“When you know, you know.”
Her lips fused with his and he licked into her mouth, holding her like he never wanted to let go. His arms came around her and her bloody fingers caressed his shoulders before she remembered he was still wounded.
Pulling back quickly, she gasped. “Oh shit, I’m mauling you and you’re still bleeding. What do I do?”
“You got a needle and thread?”
“Yeah, in my drawer in the kitchen. Why?”
Titan lifted his brows and she gaped at him.
“You’re not going to stitch yourself back together?”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve had to do a little self-maintenance.”
“Self-maintenance! Are you kidding me? This is insane.”
“My life is insane, Maya.”
He was watching her as he said it, a warning in his tone, but she wasn’t scared by what he did, or by the life he led now or before. She saw him for who he was to her and to Tyrique.
Her everything.
As he stitched his wound using the mirror to help, she tried not to look away but found she had to. The thought of him hurting was too much and she needed a distraction.
“What happens now?”
“Nico and the other two will be interrogated by Bás, and likely Bein. Then, if they survive it, which I doubt, they’ll be handed over to someone who will ensure they go away for Rose’s murder.”
“He said it was an accident.”
“He’ll still go to jail because accident or not, his attack on her caused her death.”
“I hope he rots.”
“Oh, he won’t have fun, believe me. I’ll make sure of it.”
Covering his shoulder with gauze and tape, Titan winced as he lifted a clean shirt over his head and followed her out of the bathroom where he began to gather her things.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re going home to our boy. Unless you want to stay here for the night?”
Maya looked around at the flat that held nothing but bad memories and fear-filled dreams and shook her head. “Does this mean we’re officially shacking up together?”
Titan kissed her cheek as he wrapped his good arm around her. “We’re officially doing this, babe, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“Me either. Let’s do this.”