Page 103 of Watched

“I have information you might want to know,” Blade adds.

“We can discuss it later,” Rain grits out.

“What the hell is going on?” I shout. Rain drops his head, and I stare at the person who I realise I know nothing about. “Answer me!”

Chapter forty

RAIN

Rome stares at me after I’ve explained everything that’s happened because of me. Every person I tried to help, everyone caught in the crossfire.

Alexa. Blade. Atticus, although I don’t give two fucks about him. Rome.

His eyes are distant, cold and hurt. “You’re saying people are out to kill me? People are going to hunt me down to use me because I’m a weakness to you? A vulnerability.”

His body trembles, and I move in front of him, but he retreats, stumbling on the easel. All four paintings tumble to the floor like dominos.

“My sisters.” His chest rises and falls erratically. “My mother, they’re—”

“Being watched over,” I interrupt, knowing he’s about to be disgusted by the sight of me. “The reason you’re here is so that you’re safe… You can’t go back home.”

His wide eyes meet mine, but he’s not actually looking at me. He palms his chest with a trembling hand.

No, fuck.

“Baby,” I whisper. “You’re having a panic attack. You need to breathe.”

“D-don’t—c-call me—that.”

Blade groans, “Come on, pretty boy. You aren’t dead yet.”

“Fuck. Off. Blade.”

I was going to calmly explain everything, but if there’s one thing I can count on Blade for, it’s to fuck up my plans.

Rome’s breaths splutter in and out as he drops to the window seat, closing his eyes.

“That’s it, baby. Keep breathing.”

“Is that what the money was for?” His eyes flick open. “The flowers, the car. To manipulate me into falling for you?” I shake my head, and his face falls with understanding. “The door handles, the new infrared cameras, and the people watching me.” He shoots up, taking an enraged step toward me. “That’s what it was all for?”

“Rome,” I plead as his hands land on my chest, shoving me backward. “Baby.”

Tears glass his eyes. “I was a fucking idiot to get so caught up in how I felt and ignore my mind screaming at me to ask questions. You put my family in danger because you wanted to be fucking selfish!”

I grind my teeth when the tears spill to his cheeks. “Baby, I…”

“What?” He shoves my chest again. If he wants to punch me, hurt me, hate me, I’ll let him. What I won’t do is let him leave. “Apologising won’t make me any less of a target.”

“I’ll fix it.”

“You could have left me alone.” He shoves me harder this time, forcing me to reach for the piano for balance. “I was fine living the life I was.”

“You were drowning.”

He lifts his chin. “At least my head was above the surface.”

I couldn’t risk that, because I was in jail in association with his father, Ezra may connect us. I can’t blame him for retreating from me like he is right now, I can’t blame him for displaying nothing but hatred and disgust. The second I knew who came after Blade, I should’ve shown some ounce of control and ceased communication with Rome.