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“Don’t give me that face,” he growled, lifting his head up from where it had lolled back over the headrest. “See, not even two seconds later and you already have me doing your evil bidding.”
Kellan’s chest vibrated as he chuckled in amusement, but I refused rise to their prodding … not until after he checked my phone. Then I would pin them both with a disapproving glare.
“Fine,” Merrick groaned, sliding his hand from mine while the finger of his other hand took its spot to make up for the loss. With a satisfied grin, I leaned back against Kellan taking comfort in the rising and falling of his chest with each breath, assuming the text was probably a reminder from my parents about my shift tomorrow. I was friends with a few people at school but I wasn’t really close to anyone besides my two guys. Honestly, there wasn’t much time for anyone else, especially this year. I only spoke to most of them in classes or during lunch.
“Ouch.” I jolted up from Kellan’s chest as Merrick’s hand squeezed mine uncomfortably. His grip relaxed slightly at my protest, but when I tried to pull away, he pulled it farther into his lap, turning me to face him fully.
My brows creased in confusion as my eyes locked with his dark-hazel ones, narrowing on mine in an incredulous glare. Redness crept up his neck as he clenched my phone in his other hand. I glanced from it and back to my hand, confounded by his sudden change.
“I’m gonna fucking kill him, Gi,” Merrick growled, his hand shaking beneath mine, his rage cresting.
“What’s going on?” Kellan asked from behind me, his tone just as bewildered as I felt.
“Ask her,” Merrick ground out, and despite his anger he kept his hand entwined with mine, no longer putting too much pressure.
“I have no idea what’s going on,” I admitted, giving him an imploring look. “Please Merrick, just tell us what happened, who are you going to kill?”
“You know full well who I’m going to kill,” he huffed, passing the phone to me. My head tilted as I grasped it, the phone lighting up at the motion, and that’s when I saw it.
My lips turned down into a scowl as I read the message.
Tommaso:So mi amore, when are we ever going to go on that date you promised?
I swallowed thickly and let the phone drop to the couch, the message and its sender meaning nothing to me in this moment or any one after. Judging from the sharp intake of breath behind me, Kellan must have read it too.
“You’re not going to kill him, Merrick,” I groaned, scrubbing a hand over my face in exasperation. I hadn’t even given Tommaso my number, but I wasn’t surprised he’d found it somehow. I didn’t even want to know how he’d managed to save his contact without me knowing … With his connections I wasn’t sure there was anything he couldn’t get if he really wanted it.
“Yes, I am,” Merrick huffed, a look of determination crossing over him. “If he lays a finger on you, I won’t hesitate.”
And I knew he wouldn’t. He tried the last time Tommaso hit on me at school, but that had been two years ago. Thankfully he hadn’t had another chance since he was in juvie when Tommaso graduated, and their paths hadn’t crossed since.
“You won’t,” I cautioned with a note of steel as I snatched my hand back from him. “Do you remember what happened the last time?”
“Of course I do,” Merrick growled, his chest actually puffing out with pride. I clenched my hands into fists, my teeth clacking together with the effort it took not to lash out at him for that. “I beat his ass into the ground for coming near you, and he didn’t even have the balls to go after me.”
“No Merrick, you went to jail—remember that? You were lucky that was the only thing that happened,” I seethed at him, actually sneering at the infuriating asshole. We danced around this subject for two years now. I begged him to stay away from the Barones, but whenever their name came up it was like he couldn’t help himself. He had no clue what he was talking about. But the truth was, if he really knew what his actions caused that day, he’d never forgive himself, or worse he’d actually go after Tommaso Barone, the second most dangerous man in the state if not the entire East Coast. The only person more deadly than him was his father, and that was only because he was the leader of their family crime ring.
“Let’s all just calm down,” Kellan soothed, attempting to put an end to the argument that had been brewing for some time now.
“No,” Merrick and I both barked at the same time, and I leapt from the couch and began pacing back and forth in front of it. The air had become too thick, stifling while wedged between them. I pulled in a deep breath and continued to dispel the nervous energy rushing through me.
He had no idea what I had to do to keep him safe. What I would always do to keep either of them from any danger. Thankfully it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. He could’ve asked me anything at that moment and I would’ve given it to him. I had to promise Tommaso I would give him a chance—go on one date with him when I turned eighteen. I’d honestly thought he’d forgotten about it since he graduated shortly after the deal, but apparently not. But that was a small price to pay for Merrick’s life, and I’d gladly take that deal over and over again if it meant he could live.
“Do you actually like him?” Merrick’s tone was softer but no less deadly than before, like the rage was barely caged beneath the surface.
“No, of course I don’t like him,” I ground out, the relaxing mood from earlier completely lost, the night now grating on my last nerve.
“You could’ve fooled me,” Merrick scoffed, crossing his arms over his wide chest like a petulant child. My jaw ticked at the fury I was holding back. I wanted to scream, I wanted to tell him everything that happened after he was carted away in the police car that day. How I had to get on my knees and beg Tommaso not to have him killed while he was in there. I had to beg for his life because Tommaso could’ve taken everything from me that day.
How could I ever have feelings for someone who would make me do that, who would threaten someone I loved like that. Was there a tiny bit of attraction? Yes, of course, he was good looking and the dark life he lived always sent a jolt of excitement through me, but that wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted these two idiots in front of me who still refused to admit why they both were so pissed over this. Because although Kellan hadn’t erupted like Merrick had, I could still see the hurt and disappointment creasing his eyes.
“And what if I did?” I blurted, the need to push them rising inside. “What would you do if I liked anyone?” We played these games, toed the line between friends and more for so long now. They both had to see how I interacted with both of them. At some point we either needed to admit our feelings and figure it out or I had to move on. Regardless of not wanting our friendships to change, if we continued this way it would eat at us bit by bit until there was nothing left anyway. I couldn’t live my whole life not having a romantic connection to anyone because I was waiting to see if any of us would gain the courage to say something.
Both Merrick and Kellan prowled closer to me, their movements measured and deadly. Kellan was exuding that dark side he kept tucked away more often than not. I’d seen it a few times, when he helped Merrick in a fight or got ready for those jobs they sometimes did for the gangs on the outskirts of town.
They closed in on me, Kellan at my front and Merrick at my back, caging me in between them. The air grew thick again and my breaths came in ragged pants with their bodies pressed up against me. My anger died as soon as they touched me, my body melting for them. I wanted their lips on me, their hands exploring my every curve.
“Do you want him?” Kellan asked, his voice dark, yet there was a slight tremor in it, the only hint that our proximity had some effect on him as well.
