Chapter Twelve
Romeo had been chainedup in the outhouse for a total of four days when Chad stepped inside and threw him a key.
He caught it in his left hand.
Their eyes met, but neither of them said anything.
For four days, Romeo had been kept like an animal, relieving himself in a bucket, and having his meals pushed to him across the floor.
For four days Chad endured Romeo’s glares, and snappy comments while resolutely sleeping each night on the hard floor.
The anger always faded after Chad fell asleep.
Seeing him vulnerable did funny things to Romeo’s heart, filling it with painful longing and sadness.
And then out of nowhere, Romeo had the key in his palm.
The standoff went on for a few minutes, then Chad retreated.
Romeo listened for the scratch of a key, and the clunk of a lock, but there was only Chad’s fading footsteps.
Chad had let him go.
He turned the key over in his hand, wondering whether Chad was playing a cruel prank on him before deciding it was worth a try.
Romeo tugged at his collar, sliding it around his neck until he found the padlock.It took a few tries one handed to push the key inside, but he managed it, gasping when the lock popped open, and the heavy chain fell from around his neck.
It was dark when he stepped outside.
The lights from the house glowed like a beacon encouraging him home.
It wasn’t a home without Chad though.
And the Chad inside wasn’t his.
The front door was unlocked.
Chad waited in the doorway to the kitchen, tugging his lip.
“Why?”Romeo asked.
“You could do with a shower.”
Although true—Romeo could feel the grime on himself, the grease in his hair, and the body odor that had bled through his clothes to surround him—it wasn’t enough of a reason for Romeo.
He glared until Chad lowered his gaze.
“Now we’ve established you’re not going to kill me—”
