Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
I’ve always lived knowing the risks of our lifestyle. The fact that our enemies could target my sister and get to her. I’ve done everything I can to protect her from threats. But I can’t protect her from this. Those words coming out of her mouth are haunting me.
I’m dying.
I can’t shake them. At first, I got fucking angry at her, at the situation. I had Alfie bring me someone who needed to be taught a lesson because I needed to get some frustration out on something. I had a torture room built in my apartment. It’s soundproof for that very reason.
It became evident to both Alfie and Hudson that I wasn’t in my right mind about half an hour into the session. I was gone. They didn’t stop me, though. Instead, they both stood back and watched with questions all over their faces. And then she was there. Poppy.
Everything good that I shouldn’t be fucking touching.
I lost it. My thirst for blood was instantly replaced with a need for her, and I fucking took.
She didn’t try to stop me. She knew I wasn’t myself and let me get lost in her.
I hate that I did that to her. I meant what I said.
I don’t want to be that guy. I don’t ever want her to feel used by me. She’s more than that.
Walking into the bedroom, I stop in my tracks. Tonight I’m taking Poppy to meet my parents. She’s been a nervous wreck all day about it.
“Holy shit.” My eyes travel up and down her body.
She’s wearing a knee-length skirt. It’s tight-fitting, hugging her curves in the right places, and a button-up top that’s done all the way up to her neck with some bow thing on the side of the collar.
“I look stupid, don’t I?” she huffs out.
“You look fucking hot,” I tell her. “I’ve never had to struggle with managing a hard-on around my mother, but something tells me tonight is going to be a first.”
“Seriously? I can’t be anymore covered up if I tried.” Poppy looks down at herself while tugging on her neckline.
“If you’re uncomfortable, don’t wear it.”
“I can’t meet your parents looking like some ho you picked up on the top of a bar, Sammie.” She shakes her head. “Are you sure you want me there? I mean, shouldn’t you just go by yourself?”
“No, I want and need you there.” Stepping up to Poppy, I wrap my arms around her waist. “It’s going to be fucking near impossible to keep this thing from them, but Imogen begged and pleaded with me not to tell them yet.”
“It’s for her own good that they find out sooner rather than later.”
“I’ve already scheduled her an appointment with another doctor. She’s agreed to go and see him. I can’t push her.”
“No, you can’t say no to her. There’s a difference, Sammie,” Poppy says.
“Yeah, maybe.”
I know she’s right. I’ve always had my sister’s back, never betrayed her trust. I don’t want to start now, but I also don’t know how I can keep this from our parents too much longer.
It’s been two days since we’ve been back from Texas.
Imogen went home with a promise to call me if she needed anything.
“You know, when I invited you to Vegas, I thought I’d spend the week wooing you, not having you deal with my shit.” I sigh.
Poppy flattens her hands against the lapels of my jacket. “Wooing? Really? I was just expecting a week of orgasms.” She smiles up at me. “Anything else is just a bonus.”
“You realize you’re far too fucking good for me, right?”
“Oh, yeah.” Poppy nods her head enthusiastically. “But everyone should take on a charity case at some point in their lives.”
“Lucky me.” I wag my eyebrows up and down at her. “Come on, let’s do this.”
“Are you really sure your parents want me there? We’ve only been dating for a hot minute, Sammie.”
“And hot it’s been. If I don’t show up with you, my mother is likely to come here and find you herself.”
Poppy is nervous. I get it. But she has no reason to be. My parents are going to love her. And if they don’t, it doesn’t matter because I’m going to be keeping her.
“Okay, code word: water,” I tell Poppy.
“Code word? For what?”
“If it gets to be too much and you really want a moment alone or for me to get you out of there, ask me to get you a glass of water and I’ll get you out,” I explain.
“Oh god, you think I need a code word? How bad is this going to be? I’ve never met anyone’s parents before, Sammie.”
“Relax. It’s just so you have a way out if you need it. You’re not going to need it. It’s only my parents and Imogen, whom you’ve already met.”
“Okay, I can do this.” Poppy inhales a deep breath and lets it out. With her hand clasped in mine, I open the front door to my parents’ house. “I can’t believe you grew up here. I was right. You are spoiled.”
“I’ve seen your ranch, Poppy. It’s hardly roughing it.” Granted, I don’t know where she grew up. I know she said she’s always lived on the ranch, but I doubt she lived in her little cottage with her parents, and I don’t imagine two families would have lived in the main house.
“Oh, you’re finally here.” My mom approaches us, coming out of fucking nowhere.
“You must be Poppy. Imogen was right. You are gorgeous. And you’re right.
He is spoiled. His father doesn’t know how to say no to either of them.
” My mom takes Poppy into her arms, glaring at me over a shoulder.
“You can let go of her, Sammie J. I’m not going to steal her. ”
“I think I’ll keep hold of her just in case,” I say, yanking on Poppy’s arm lightly and pulling her back to my side.
My mom smiles and then kisses my cheek. “Your father is in the dining room. He went overboard.”
“Oh god, what’d he do?” I groan.
“Well, you didn’t tell us what Poppy would eat, so we had to get a variety of foods.” Mom shrugs.
“Oh, you really didn’t need to do anything extra for me, Mrs. Russo. I’ll eat anything,” Poppy says.
“Oh, sweetheart, it’s Lailani. We’re not formal around here.
Come on, let me introduce you to my husband.
” Mom tries to pry Poppy out of my hold again.
I don’t let go again. “Sammie J, seriously? Let the poor girl go.” Mom uses her don’t fuck with me voice.
And I finally relent. “He was like that with his blankie when he was three too. I had to hide the thing at his aunt and uncle’s house and the little turd found it two days later. ”
“Mom!” I groan.
“What? I’ve been waiting a long time to tell all the embarrassing stories I have stored up about you.” My mom smiles, but it’s the look of happiness on Poppy’s face that has me biting my tongue. She seems a little bit more at ease, and that’s what I want.
My mom is a people person. She can read someone before they even know she’s seen them.
I follow my mother and Poppy through the house. “Where’s Imogen?” I ask.
“She’s in her room. You want to go get her?” Mom replies.
“Nah, I’ll message her.” I pull out my phone and send my sister a text.
Me:
Come and help me get my girlfriend back from Mom. She’s already stolen her.
Imogen:
Be right down, and don’t worry… Mom only has eyes for Dad.
Me:
How are you feeling?
Imogen:
Fine.
“Fine, my ass,” I mutter under my breath. Pocketing my phone, I glance up to find my mom scrutinizing me with that look of hers. “What?” I ask her.
“You’re hiding something,” Mom says.
“I just want my girlfriend back,” I tell her, stepping forward and wrapping my arm around Poppy’s waist.
“Don’t be clingy, Sammie J,” Mom chastises as we approach my father in the dining room.
“Poppy, this is my father—Sammie.”
“Mr. Russo, it’s nice to meet you,” Poppy says in a quiet voice.
“You can call me Sammie. Welcome. And if he doesn’t stop clinging, let me know. I can always break his hands,” my dad tells Poppy.
She smiles. “I don’t know… I kind of like his hands,” she says and then slams her lips shut. Her face goes bright red. “Oh my god, I did not just say that.”
My parents laugh. “It’s fine. Don’t feel like you can’t say anything around us. We’re cool parents,” Mom tells her.
“Cool parents don’t have to say they’re cool, Mom. They just are.” Imogen finally shows up in the dining room.
“Thank god you’re here.” I drop my arm from Poppy to pull my sister in for a hug. I hold on to her a little longer than I normally would. My eyes scan up and down her body when I let her go. “You good?”
“I’m fine. Stop asking,” Imogen hisses under her breath. “I’m starving, Daddy. Thank god you ordered enough food to feed an entire village.” Imogen steps past me and walks over to our father.
“Well, I didn’t know what Poppy would eat. I did look up what beef your family’s ranch produces and ordered the chef to put some steaks on the table on the off chance that’s all you ate,” Dad says.
“Oh, I’ll eat just about anything. I’m really not picky,” Poppy tells him.
“Clearly. You’re dating Sammie J.” Imogen sticks out her tongue at me.
“Everyone’s a comedian all of a sudden.” I lead Poppy to the table and pull out a chair before plopping into the one next to her.
“This really looks amazing. Thank you for having me.” Poppy turns to my parents and smiles.
“Anytime. Eat up. After dinner, I’ve got Sammie’s baby albums ready to show you,” Mom says.
“No, you don’t,” I grunt.
“Yep. I saw it in a movie once and have always wanted to do it.” Mom shrugs.
“Have you never brought a girlfriend home before?” Poppy asks me.
“I’ve never really had a girlfriend,” I admit.