“You’re lucky I love you,” Cil says, and I know I am. No one else would be able to talk to Ollie the way I do, or touch him the way I can when Cillian allows it. And I know Ollie wouldn’t ever want anyone to touch him other than Cillian, and sometimes me.
“You’re taking this entirely too lightly,” Ollie replies.
“I’m fine, Bunny. This is what we do.” He sighs and doesn’t reply. He’s still getting used to it. He didn’t grow up in this lifestyle like we did. Ollie is better than the rest of us—good and caring, will take care of people, protect them. I still don’t know why he puts up with us, but I guess love makes you do some crazy shit, and there is no doubt in my mind how much he’s in love with my best friend and how good he is for Cil. As much as Cil and his father have had their issues, they’re more alike than Cil sees.
Rian was always good to Moira. He loved her. That’s more than I can say about my dad and more than Tiernan could say about his own. I sometimes wonder if that’s why my mom took her own life. We live in a fucked-up world, but my father never gave her any solace.
Cil does with Ollie.
Tiernan does with Dean.
I’d probably be more like my dad. It’s one of the reasons I don’t plan to get into a relationship to ever find out.
“I’ll see you soon,” I tell Ollie, then end the call. “Sorry,” I say to Cillian because I know it’s just that he cares.
“I don’t want you to take unnecessary risks. You played a dangerous game tonight, and you’re lucky you got nothing more than a bump on the head out of it.”
“And a lecture,” I tease.
He chuckles. “I want to kill him with you.”
“Obviously. I’d be offended if you didn’t.”
The tension between us lessens as we drive the rest of the way home. When we get there, Ollie pulls me into his and Cillian’s room, and I jump up on the bathroom counter, pretending to purr and rub on him like a cat while he frets and cleans me up.
Itiskinda nice.
“Thanks, Bunny.”
“I’m still mad at you.”
“Hey! This wasn’t my fault!” I jump down from the counter and kiss his temple. “Good night.”
“’Night, Rory.”
I bump fists with Cillian, then slip from their room into my own, strip, and climb into bed. I want to jerk off, but I don’t have the energy.
My mind wanders to the masked man with the blue eyes. I can’t wait to meet him again.
CHAPTER FOUR
Shai
Four thousand dollars.
I can’t believe Cherry walks around with four grand in his pockets and handed it over so easily—Cherry’s what I’ve been calling him since I don’t know his name. It’s killing me not to know who he is. I’ve thought about asking around, but what am I supposed to do? Go up to random people and ask if they know a redhead who drives a BMW and laughs with a gun in his face? There are probably other ways to go about it, but I’m not always great with words…or people.
But rent is paid for another month, and I have some cash left to spare, so that’s all that matters. I’ve resorted to carrying a backpack with my money in it since I can’t trust Mom. Cherry’s gun is in there too. Keeping it is the stupidest thing I could do. I should wipe my fingerprints off it, toss it in the woods and be done with it, but…I haven’t been able to do that. I want the reminder of him. Honestly, I feel powerful having it because there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s powerful. And the fact that I was able to take it from him…there’s something sexy and addicting about that. He’s not the first person I’ve stolen from, and he won’t be the last, but they weren’t like him, and a couple of weeks later, I’m still thinking about him.
“Hey, Shai. You work today too?” Ollie slides into the booth across from me.
I haven’t gotten a handle on this guy yet. He started talking to me on my third shift, just friendly conversation, something most of the other employees at the Pizza Palace don’t really do. I see how the rest of them judge me, the way they look at my tattoos, piercings, and messy blond hair and purposefully steer clear. Not Ollie, though. Despite the fact that we couldn’t be more different—him neat and tidy and studying every spare moment he can—Ollie is nice to me, and I can tell it’s honest. I was annoyed the first time he started chatting with me—I’m not here to make friends, and I didn’t figure there was much we could have in common—but I’m fairly certain there’s a rule out there somewhere that it’s impossible not to like this kid.
“Hey, Ollie. What’s up?”
“Not much. Cillian is off doing…stuff, so I thought I’d come here early and do homework before my shift starts.”
Cillian is his boyfriend, but that’s mostly all I know. One of the staff told me to be careful because Cillian is possessive. He often drops Ollie off and picks him up, but I haven’t seen or met him. Sounds like an asshole to me. Does he not trust Ollie? Possessive as in abusive or what?
