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“Pleasetell me you’re here,” he whispers.
Ishouldn’t be standing here.Myheart shouldn’t be beating.Thescent of sweat and summer downpour shouldn’t be filling my nostrils, andIshouldn’t be able to breathe it in deeply.
YetI’mright here, standing with a beating heart and breathing.
“I’mhere,”Iwhisper.Myhands skim up his torso and rest on his chest asIpeer up into his eyes glittering from the nightlight in the kitchen. “Staywith me tonight.”
Hetouches my cheek with hot fingertips. “I’mnot goin’ anywhere.”Hefocuses a little lower, right where teeth were buried in my neck hours before, and his throat bobs.
Thewindow in the door darkens, and another set of keys jingle.Robbiesteps inside quietly, swinging the door back, but not strong enough for it to close all the way.
EventhoughI’minDree’sarms,Robbietakes me into his.Hesqueezes the breath out of me, smothering me into his shuddering chest.
“Don’tyou dare do that to me ever again,” he growls.Igasp when he cinches me tighter. “You’refucking done with them, you hear me?”
“Rob,I’dlike to breathe,”Ichoke out.
Adriancomes closer. “Bro, c’mon—”
Robbieshoves him away, stabbing a finger intoDree’sbare chest. “Stayaway from her,” he warns. “YouandZakboth have been nothin’ but trouble for her.Fuckin’ beat it.”
Adrian’slips part like he wants to argue, but it doesn’t come.
Tentatively,Ireach forRobbie, grasping his arm and gently pulling him away fromAdrian.
Robbieturns his head to face me, unwilling to let the space betweenAdrianand me be empty. “I’mnot letting you be alone with him.”
Thesecond the words form in my mouth, the tears renew. “He’snot the one who killed me,”Iwhisper.
Mybrother’s face twitches, jaw clenching as he tries to maintain control over his emotions threatening to spill onto his cheeks. “You’reright; he could be worse.”
“Robbie,”Ichide softly. “Nottonight.Please.”
Hepulls away from me, stepping back and shaking his head. “Iknow you love ‘em,Steph, but you gotta let ‘em go.”
Moretears well up in my eyes and fall.Mychest shakes with unbearable tension. “I’llsee you tomorrow.”
Hishead shakes. “Steph—”
Igrab his hand and squeeze hard. “Dreewon’t let anything happen.Gohome toBrandy.Please.”
Angercrumples his features before he snatches his hand away and stalks out the door without another word.
DreeandIstare at each other in the darkness for a long moment beforeItake his hand in mine and lead him to my bedroom.WhenIflip a lamp on, he studies his red-stained hands, the crimson streaks painting his bare chest and abdomen.
Heglances up at me with a quiet horror haunting his eyes. “MindifIjoin you in the shower?”
Inod. “I’lltoss your shorts in the wash.”
I’venever seenAdrianshed clothes so fast in my life.
Thebathroom is already engulfed in steam whenIreturn from the laundry room.Iquietly push the door open, relishing the cool tile underfoot, and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.Waterplops unevenly in the shower asItake a step closer to examine the wound on my neck.ButIfind nothing there—only blood streaking over unblemished sandy beige flesh.
Twistingmy arms all around, there aren’t any scratches, no lechuza wound, no bite marks.Ifit wasn’t for the blood,I’dalmost think that nothing had happened tonight.
Asharp sob cuts through the air.Snifflesfollow.
Mybrows knit.Ipull the shower curtain aside andAdrianjerks away, spinning around to face me.
