“I’m going home,” I state.
“This is your home.” He points at the floor.
I almost laugh. “What is? Kingdom? Vegas?” I shake my head. “I haven’t been here for years.”
Walking over to me, he glares down at me. “Let me make myself very clear, Emilee. You are not fucking leaving tomorrow. Or the next day, do you understand me?”
“You can’t make me stay.” I say and my chest tightens. I feel so lost. Confused. Utterly alone even though he’s standing right in front of me.
His jaw tics and his hands fist, wrinkling my ticket. I think he’s going to yell at me. But instead he turns his back to me and heads to the bedroom door. He turns the knob but pauses. He turns to face me. And then he’s charging me. Before I can move, his hands are in my hair. His lips on mine. And he kisses me. With passion. With fury. It’s a mixture of love and hate. His tongue enters my mouth, and he takes my breath away.
When he pulls away, I’m gasping for breath. Opening my heavy eyes, I look up at him. “Titan …”
“I let you walk away from me once, Em. I won’t make that mistake again.” Tears sting my eyes at his words. “Did you hear me? I won’t let you leave. Not me. Not this time.” He runs his thumb over my swollen lips. “Stay here with me. Let me fix it. I promise, I’ll get to the bottom of all of it.” The first tear runs down my cheek. “Let me take care of you. Let me love you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
TITAN
IHOLD MYbreath as I wait for her to respond to me. I owe Nite fucking everything. He saved her life. I should have been there for her. That’s what makes me the maddest. I should have followed her to her house when she left the funeral, but I didn’t. I always allowed my pride to get the best of me, but in the end, it’s going to cost me everything.
She licks her lips and nods her head once. “I need to go back to Chicago. But I won’t stay there.”
“Why?”
“Because I still have things there. I haven’t been able to return since I got the call about my father. And I just destroyed everything I had here.” She gestures to the black dress she’s still wearing from the funeral earlier. “I need things …”
“We havethingshere.”
“Titan.” She stomps her foot.
“I said let me take care of you.”
“I don’t need—”
“I want to,” I interrupt her, cupping her cheek. “Please?” I beg. “Let me show you what you deserve.” There’s nothing in this world that I can’t give her. She just needs to let me.
EMILEE
Titan has kepthis word. Within two days, all my stuff from my Chicago apartment was delivered to Vegas. We moved it into this house. Most of my parents’ house was destroyed. I lost clothes, shoes, essential everyday needs.
I couldn’t care less.
I’d been gone for two years and hadn’t needed it before, why would I need it now?
Titan spent twenty-four hours straight with me. Which I think was the longest he had taken off work in a while. He had to go back today.
I’ve been walking through Kingdom for the past two hours, pretending to play machines here and there to get free drinks. I tip the waitresses, and they keep them coming.
Haven has called me three times. I’ve ignored them all. Embarrassed how I spoke to her that night after the funeral when she reached out to me.
Jasmine hasn’t tried reaching out to me once. I feel bad for what I said to her as well. Because out of the three of us, she was the one who came from the most fucked-up family life. Jasmine isn’t one to tell her problems, but Haven and I knew they were there. I guess we were just never good enough friends to ask.
I pull my cell out of my pocket and dial her number. She answers on the fourth ring.
“Hello?” She doesn’t sound very happy to hear from me.
“Hey,” I sit down at a slot machine. It looks like a giant fishbowl. It’s called Deal of the Day.
