Chapter 11
K ylo took me on a drive through Brooklyn Heights this morning, sitting in silence mostly and eating the breakfast he bought for us. It was less awkward than it was peaceful, surprisingly. We arrived at the mall so I can finally get clothes that fit me and are more my style. Somehow, the hospital found my wallet and gave it to Kylo, who pulled it out of his pocket when I first got in the car. The conversation is strained, but when he mentions something about ‘the soldiers’, I perk up.
“Soldiers? Are you talking about los pendejos that train like they are going to be drafted for war at any moment?”
“They do need to be prepared for war. They aren’t weak.”
“I didn’t call them weak, I called them assholes. Makes sense that they work for you.” That has him stopping completely. I don’t notice until I’m a few steps ahead so I turn around and walk back. “Why did you stop?”
“Why do you think my men are assholes?” he asks in a low, menacing voice that has the hairs on the back of my neck rising.
“No reason, I just don’t think they like me very much.” Suddenly feeling silly for what I said, my cheeks heat up and my eyes focus on the very interesting floor tiles. Avoiding eye contact, I rush out, “Well, there’s no time like the present to go shopping. We should go this way.”
I don’t make it one step when he grabs my arm and tugs me close to him. His touch burns me and makes my brain short circuit. All I can do is stare until he speaks.
“I’m gonna ask you again. Why do you think my men are assholes, Amaris?”
The way he says my name in that deep, domineering voice makes my body react in ways I wish it wouldn’t. His grip on my arm is soft, but firm. It’s his eyes that have me in a trance. Those deep, gorgeous eyes that try to look into my soul.
“There was just a weird encounter with one of them yesterday.”
“Weird how?” he mutters.
My voice gets smaller without my permission and I look behind him when I rush out, “One of them called me a lost lamb and said he was going to taste me the easy way or the hard way.”
He’s quiet, but still not letting go of my arm. When I chance a look at him again, his jaw is tense and his eyes are still on me, darker than they were before I looked away.
“Who?”
There’s a tick of his jaw when I don’t answer.
“Little fox, do I have to teach you that I don’t like to repeat myself?” He lets go of my arm, but I stay rooted in place.
I tip my chin up and confidently say, “I don’t know.”
“ Tsk . I think you’re lying to me.”
We glare at each other in a silent battle that I’m slowly losing. With a huff, I mumble, “I think his name was Eli.”
“Speak up, sweetheart, I know you can be louder than that.”
Rolling my eyes at the innuendo, I hold my head high. “I think his name was Eli. Are we done here?”
The scowl on his face deepens and I track his eyes moving to something over my head. Following his line of vision, I see a handsome man approaching us. His expression is serious, but there’s a ghost of a smile on his face. The suit and watch alone that he’s wearing exude importance, but he carries a notable commanding energy with him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Kylo asks from behind me.
The man ignores him, directing a charming smile at me. “Don’t mind my cousin, but I don’t believe we’ve met. Luciano Castelli.” He offers his hand and instead of shaking mine, he holds it. “ Piacere, sei bellissima ,” he says before placing a kiss on my hand.
He has a slight accent when he speaks that I can’t place immediately. The gesture was sweet and he is a very good-looking guy, but he’s too polished for me. The anger radiating off Kylo goads me into playing along, though. A little harmless flirting never hurt anyone.
“ Encantada . Amaris Santos.” I take a step towards him.
“Hablas espa?ol? Por fin hay alguien a quien puedo susurrarle. Mis primos solo entienden un idioma y yo entiendo cinco,” he says, peering down over me with a mischievous smirk.
You speak Spanish? Finally, someone I can whisper with. My cousins only understand one language while I know five.
“Me sorprendería si este imbécil tuviera alguna cualidad interesante,” I tease, looking up at him.
It would surprise me if this idiot had any interesting qualities.
We both laugh at that, only to be interrupted by an annoyed voice. “What the fuck is so funny?”
Luciano looks as amused as I feel when he finally addresses Kylo. “You are. When you’re mad.”
“I’m not mad, but I can still kick your ass as if I were.”
“It’s a joke, not a dick. Don’t take it so hard,” I chime in. The look on his face is priceless. I can almost see steam blowing out of his ears.
He pulls out his wallet and hands me a black Amex card, gritting out, “Buy whatever you need and meet me back here in an hour.”
“I’m sure I don’t need your money, I have my wallet.”
“Just take it. Be here in an hour.” He turns to his cousin. “You are coming with me.”
Luciano raises his hands in mock surrender and follows behind Kylo. “I like her,” is the last thing I hear before they’re gone.
They don’t turn around again and I’m glad for it because I was shamelessly watching Kylo storm off. It should be a crime to look as good as he does. The man is hotter than hell. He knows it, though, so I’ll just keep my thoughts to myself.
It only occurred to me once I was alone that I didn’t necessarily have a way of checking the time. He is just going to have to wait until I'm finished. After taking my time buying a whole new wardrobe including new combat boots, a pair of champagne lace-up heels that I could not resist, and two books. I meet Kylo at the spot where he left me.
The bags aren’t heavy, but there are so many that I try to hide my struggle. Without a word, he takes all my bags and stalks off to the car. When he sits in the passenger seat, he pulls out a new phone and hands it to me.
“The phone you asked for.” Pulling out of the parking lot, he avoids my face. “My number is already saved in there as well as the handmaid that distributes the meals on the compound.”
“I can cook for myself, I just need groceries. Can we make a quick stop?”
He stares at me for far longer than he should before directing his attention back to the road. When he doesn’t say anything, I assume we are going back to the property until he pulls into a supermarket.
I can’t hide how excited I am to shop for groceries—it’s more so the anticipation of cooking and baking. Having something productive to do brings me joy.
Seeing the aisles of ingredients has recipe ideas surfacing to the front of my mind rapidly, igniting a warm feeling inside.
Kylo pushes the shopping cart while I grab random items off the shelves and toss them in, making small talk as we go. “Ace is the only one you seem to tolerate. Are dogs your favorite animal?”
“I guess so, I never thought about it. What’s yours?”
“Piggies,” I blurt out mindlessly.
“Just say you want siblings.”
My nose involuntarily scrunches up and I move on, grabbing a big bag of flour. “Do you like flowers?” He scoffs as if I asked an absurd question. It’s only when I stop and look at him expectantly that he realizes I’m serious.
“I never got any.”
With a hand on my hip, I narrow my eyes. “But if you did?”
“Lilies.”
I don’t let the surprise show, instead busying myself with seasonings. “Me, too.” We stay silent for a while, debating on what else to grab.
Being around Kylo is oddly easy, despite the way he tries to provoke me. But even then, bickering with him excites me as much as it irritates me.
As I sneak a grape out of the bag and pop it into my mouth, my mind wanders to the same conversation I had in my dream before waking up.
Don’t trust anyone .
What I need is a long ride on my bike, one that takes me far away enough to give this same sense of peace without it being attached to a person. Diablita herself was able to give me that peace, even if it was fleeting. I miss her.
“Hey, have you gotten an update on my bike?” I ask Kylo, hopefully. “I want to go on a ride soon.”
“No, but you can ride me, instead.”
My eyes threaten to roll to the back of my head. I pick a grape and toss it at his head. “You have too much access to your lips. Close them.”
“I don’t have enough access to yours. Spread them.”
With a groan, I say, “ Calladito te ves más bonito .” It’s a Spanish saying I grew up hearing that means, you look better when you’re quiet.
He places his hand over his chest. “I’m flattered you think I’m pretty.”
“I think you are insufferable.”
The last thing I plan on getting is a jug of juice. Making my way to the aisle with all the drinks, I curse whoever put my favorite drink on the highest shelf. My hand just barely grazes the handle of the Tampico jug, even with stepping on a shelf for leverage. On my last attempt, a warm and spicy woody scent envelops me from behind before a rough hand lands on my hip. The other tattooed hand appears before my eyes, pulling the jug down.
Kylo doesn’t step back after he has what he needs, and a part of me doesn’t want him to. Throat suddenly dry, I swallow and it’s loud to my ears.
“Kylo, what is poking me?”
“My gun.”
I have a heartbeat south of my chest . My mind wants to blame it on the accident, but danger has always excited me.
Since he won’t move, I push back my ass on him enough to worm my way out from under him, strolling back to where he left our cart. When I turn back to him, he’s still where I left him.
With a faux pout, I say, “Cat got your tongue?” I begin pushing the cart to the checkout without another glace. He didn’t speak again except for mumbling something I didn’t catch. When I pulled my card out to pay, he proceeded to snatch it from me, only to hand over his own.
The ride back was quiet, bar the low music playing from the radio. My eyes are on the view out the window, but my mind is planning what I’ll make for lunch and dinner.
Today is feeling successful. That invisible dark cloud that has been looming over my head hasn’t appeared once.
Kylo helps me bring most of the bags inside then leaves me to put everything away in its respective place. As soon as everything is sorted, I take out a big shirt and a pair of boxers that I bought today and leave it on my bed while I shower. Boxers are comfortable to walk around and sleep in, I stand by that.
When I step out into the kitchen, I regret not buying curtains while I was out. At least the windows are facing the woods where, so far, I haven’t seen anyone really go in. On the new phone Kylo got me, I play old Spanish songs that I grew up on, throw my hair up in a messy bun, and whip up a simple tomato soup with grilled cheese. Singing my heart out, I feel lighter than I have since I woke up in that hospital bed.