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Fireball.
Despite how good the nickname feels, I will not cave. “I don’t think anything Mr. Gallo, except that you should leave. I need to get going.”
The insult wipes the smirk off his face. Just as I suspected, he can dish it out, but he can’t take it.
“Where are you so fucking eager to go?”
My own grin takes over. I can play his game too. “There’s a guy I know who’s going to help me out by—”
The exaggeration never finishes leaving my lips as he charges me. Instinct kicks in, and I hustle backward, slamming into the refrigerator. Thick arms box me in as his palms slap against the dingy white metal.
“What fucking guy?”
His growl rumbles deep and furious in his throat. I ignore his threatening tone. “None of your business.”
“Know this angel. When I find him, I will kill him, so you better be very careful who’s life you endanger with your insinuations.”
All of my arrogance evaporates. I can’t play his game. I should’ve known better. I shake my head, needing to convince him. I can’t worry for the rest of my life that any guy I talk to will die. “It’s no one. I was just going to apply for some jobs.”
The only sound in the room is Pete panting. Unsure if Titan believes me or not with his dark gaze boring into me, I explain more to try and convince him. “At the library. They let you use their computers for free so I can send my resume to the openings I find.”
His body softens, and I relax too. A little. You can never let your guard down with him.
Especially when he touches me. When his big hand cups my face, I fight every instinct to nuzzle his caress.
“You don’t need all of that. You know I’ll take care of you.”
The empty promise breaks the spell he was starting to weave over me. “I can take care of myself.”
He looks around the worn kitchen in disgust before returning his gaze back to me shaking his head. The implied insult spurs me. “I’d rather struggle than rely on you for anything.”
“That’s not happening. My woman doesn’t struggle.”
And here in lies the issue. “Until you get mad and kick me out again? I can’t depend on you. It’s not fair to me.”
I point to Pete sleeping by the table. “It’s not fair to him. Our life might be rough but at least it’s consistent. I don’t give up on him when I get mad. I don’t throw him out when he does something I don’t like.”
“Fuck.”
Titan shoves off the fridge and scrubs his hands up and down his face. I ignore the sign of his frustration. He can only blame himself.
Finally, he drops his arms to his sides and sighs. “I’m not used to this. I’ve never dealt with a woman before.”
He starts to pace. The struggle with talking about his emotions stresses him. I get it. He’s used to being the boss and not justifying anything. But I’m owed an explanation after the way he treated me.
“I mean it’s not the same with Chels. She’s my sister and kind of childlike and family and we’re stuck with each other and…. But you…you’re…you’re different.”
First he rambles, and then he’s at a loss for words. I’ve never experienced anything except confidence before from him. I like seeing him vulnerable. Proves he really is a human under his hard exterior.
“But I was so fucking furious.”
He finally stills and meets my gaze. “Don’t you get it? I looked weak in front of an enemy. I looked fucking stupid that I didn’t know what was going on. I can’t be seen as an idiot, or they’ll think they’ll be able to take me out.”
Honesty. I can respect him for the truth and provide him with the same. “Why didn’t you just tell me that? Then I would’ve told you I was wrong for not telling you right away. And that I was sorry. I felt bad I made a mistake.”
“Because I’m a hateful bastard when I’m pissed.”
Unable to help myself, I smirk from his oblivious confession. “Onlywhen you’re pissed?”
