I’m a survivor.
“And you haven’t introduced me to your roommate. Don’t be rude.”
I turn and face the intriguing man beside me. Wait… how did he get so close? He must have walked behind me as silently as sharks swim.
“Victor. This is Twinkle. Twinkle, this is Victor.” My brother points with his finger between me and The Rock’s clone.
I snort. “Only he calls me Twinkle. I’m Tia.”
Victor is invading my personal space as he steps even closer to me. His gaze lifts.Shit. He’s been inspecting my stab wound. So much for hiding it.
Victor doesn’t extend his arm. My gaze sweeps over his face. How many colors are in his eyes? He’s one of those lucky people with boundless hazel eyes, but right now, the dark brown is overpowering the rest of the shades.
“You should call the police.” Victor’s deep, husky voice sends shivers up and down my spine.
I grit my teeth. “No, we shouldn’t.”
I must be stupid to argue with a guy this size.
“Victor is right. I’m going to get Abi and then wearecalling the police.” Alek raises his eyebrows in atry to defy meglare.
I scowl back at him with no shame. “We. Are. Not. Calling. Anyone.” I clutch the dream board and my purse tight enough to make holes in the materials.
“Stop protecting her.” Alek places my suitcases in the corner of the living room and faces me again. “She hasn’t been there for you. I have. Please listen tome.”
Mom is not the only person I’m protecting. I’m protecting him and myself too. The plea in Alek’s eyes is unmistakable, but I can’t let him get the police involved. One thing will lead to another and the story with Charlie will come out, and he’s connected to the police. We won’t stand a chance. Right now Charlie doesn’t know where I am, and that small leg up might save me, save all of us.
“Mom has been through a lot, and yes, she’s not thebestmom, but it was better that I had her around. With you and Dad gone, I was an underaged girl who was going to end up in the foster care system. Now that I’m eighteen, I’m not going to betray her and send the cops after her.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. “You don’t understand, Alek. You haven’t been around for a while. Things changed.”
Alek narrows his eyes at me, his chest going up and down quickly. He balls his hands into fists, arms hanging by his sides.
“We’ll talk about itagain.” He abruptly turns his back on me.
“No, we won’t,” I shout as he shuts the front door with more force than necessary.
A warm hand pulls down my T-shirt collar at my shoulder. Startled at the unexpected touch, I spit out, “Hey, hands to yourself, big boy.”
Victor withdraws his hand and shakes his head, and a few strands of black hair fall on his forehead. I fight the urge to reach up and brush them away.
Whoa. My body is having an off day.
“Nice stitches.”
“What?”
Victor rolls his eyes at me.
Annoyingly perceptive eyes.
“I can help you clean up the blood in the upstairs bathroom and see how bad the shoulder wound is.”
I wrinkle my nose and squint my eyes at him.
“No, thanks. As I said, I just need a fresh T-shirt.”
“You want to get an infection?”
I consider his words. An image of the henchman’s dirt-covered hands flashes in my mind.Yuck! I’d rather wash the wound when I take a shower tonight than go upstairs with the intimidating man next to me.
