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The last few weeks have passed in silence. Not a peep from anyone. The other families, the cartel, even Teddy and the twins have all been quiet. After what Teddy did at the club, he’s kept his distance. At first, I thought it’s what I needed. I needed time to process and figure out what to do, but as the time has gone on, I’ve realized I don’t need time at all.
When Teddy basically told me he loved me, I didn’t respond. I stayed quiet and let my thoughts eat me alive. He’s a killer, a cold-blooded killer with no regard for human life, but I knew that coming into this. The Mafia isn’t composed of pansy-ass men who get off on flowers and rainbows. No, they’re savage, lethal, a strong force to be reckoned with.
I was brought up to believe the justice system is in place for a reason. But the more I think about it, the more I realize maybe I’m not so different from the men here after all. When my dad’s murderer is found, I wouldn’t think twice about pulling the trigger, and maybe that’s how Teddy is. He sees the bigger picture. Some people just don’t deserve to live, and some people have to die in order to send a message. It’s a justice system all its own. One that you can’t find in any law book, yet one that he follows to maintain order, because some monsters are worse than the ones I live with, the ones I’ve come to love.
I peek my head out of my door and can hear hushed whispers coming from the kitchen. It feels like something is going on, and no one wants me in the loop. When I pass Lucas in the hall, he doesn’t have a smart remark like usual. Julius is always quiet, and I haven’t heard him speak again since that night, but he won’t look me in my eyes. And Teddy… He’s avoiding me like the plague.
All I want him to do is talk to me. Hold me. Anything would be better at this point than radio silence. I think they all feel they’re doing it for my benefit. Trying to give me distance to breathe. Either that or they’re waiting to see if I try and run so they can kill me too.
I close my door and walk back to my bed. I lie down and pull the covers completely over me to try and fall back asleep since I have nothing better to do. Just as I’m finally comfortable, someone knocks on my door quietly. I’m sure it’s Carl. He’s been bringing me food and asking if I need anything like clockwork three times a day.
“Come in,” I shout, only loud enough for him to hear.
The door creaks open and Teddy walks in, closing it behind him. My heart beats hard from within my chest, and my cheeks burn. I lean onto my elbow and take him all in. For once he isn’t in a suit. He has on dark-washed jeans and a tight white tee that shows off his perfectly symmetrical abs, and the fabric struggles to make it around the thickest part of his strong arms. The look is complemented by a pair of basic black runners.
“What do you want?” I try to sound unfazed, but my voice comes out almost desperate. For weeks this is all I’ve wanted, but now that he’s here, anger is threatening to explode. He just left me to my own demise in a vulnerable time.
He steps closer until he’s at the foot of my bed and sits. “We need to talk.”
The way he says it has my head ringing every alarm bell it has. Fear starts to weasel its way into my bones, and a shudder runs down my spine. I sit up completely, placing my back to my headboard. “You’re kicking me out.” I bite my lip, trying to conceal my hurt.
Teddy tilts his head and reaches for me, tugging my lip with his thumb. He traces the seam softly with longing in his eyes. “I don’t want you to leave, but I won’t force you to stay. If you want to go, the door is there, but it won’t be done by my hand.”
I glare into his eyes. The blue reminds me of the ocean. Beautiful and tranquil on the outside, but deep down, monsters and darkness lurk below the surface. “Tell me why I’m here, Teddy, and don’t give me the bullshit excuse of you wanting me to be your bodyguard.”
He scrubs his hand down his face, letting his fingers linger over the swollen pink scar I gave him. “I need you.” He sounds almost pained saying the words.
“Need me how?”
I want him to tell me he needs me in the way I need him. Not for any reason involving the Mafia, but because he loves me so much, so passionately, that he can’t function when I’m not around.
“The twins have always been my muscle. I’ve never needed you for that, but I have a feeling some things are about to happen, and it’s going to take more than me and the twins to keep it contained.”
I rise from my bed and start pacing the floor. That is definitely not the answer I wanted. “So, what—me, you, and the twins are supposed to stop whatever is going to happen alone?” I laugh. I’m almost positive whatever is going down involves the cartel, and the cartel doesn’t act alone. They have the Morenos, and if they operate anything like Teddy, I’m sure they have some people stuffed into their back pocket just waiting to be used.
He stands and places his hands on my shoulders, halting my steps. “No, not alone. My brother will be coming for a visit tonight. He will help too.”
I rear my head back and look at him with wide eyes. “Brother? You have a brother?” I screech.
“I do.”
I push his hands from me and take a step back. “You’re telling me you have a brother? Did you not think that was an important detail to share the night you gave me the rest of your life story?” I know I’m probably overreacting, but I don’t care. I need to be mad; I need to hate him for a second. I’ve stayed quiet and played his game, and he’s given me nothing in return other than pain. “What other secrets are you hiding from me?”
He sits back on my bed and looks up to me. “To answer your question, no. I didn’t feel it was important you knew. He’s only my half brother, same mom. We both managed to end up in the same lifestyle, but work for different families. We should be rivals, but once we found out our lineage, we made an agreement. He stays away from my shit, and I would do the same. If one of us needs something the other could get, we get it. Right now, I need him, and he can help.”
I stop in front of him and stare into his eyes for a second before I pull my right hand back and slap him. Hard. He sucks his teeth as his face meets mine again.
Grabbing my wrist tightly with his right hand, he stands and starts backing me around my bed. “If you put your hands on me again, I won’t be responsible for what I do.”
The back of my knees hit the bench of my vanity. I turn my head on instinct, making sure I won’t fall over. Teddy uses his free hand to snap my face back to his, and my anger erupts. I swing at his face again. Before I can connect for a second time, he catches my other wrist with his left hand, letting his arms cross in front of him.
“Charlie,” he warns with bitterness rolling off his tongue.
“Fuck you!” I scream.
Honestly, I’m not even sure why I’m mad anymore. Hell, I’m not sure why I was even mad in the first place. Every time his hands land on me, my mind is muddled, and I can’t think straight. My hair stands on end, my stomach dips, and every ounce of fight in me leaves.
He uncrosses his arms, pushing them down, which pulls my body closer to him. He crashes his lips to mine, loosening his grip on my wrists. As his tongue fights for dominance over my own, I break from his hold and push him back. He stumbles slightly before bringing his hand to my throat and forcing my face to his. I shake my head, trying to break from his hold.
