“They are my family,” I explain.He swings his legs off the sofa to sit up, staring at me with a serious gaze I’ve never witnessed from him before.
“You can’t do it.”
My back straightens.“And why not?Because I’m a woman?”
“Fuck no.I have a mother and sister; I know exactly what a woman is capable of,” he argues, rubbing a hand over his jaw.“But these people...”
“These people what?”I ask, more softly this time.
“Fuck!”he hisses.“Look, just believe me when I say they are capable of things we can’t even begin to comprehend.I’ve witnessed first-hand how much pain they can inflict on their victims.Trust me, you don’t want to be another on their list.”
His warning has shivers racing up my spine.“What do you mean?What aren’t you saying?”
“Something that isn’t my story to tell.”
I untangle my feet, dropping them to the carpeted floor.“That’s not fair.You can’t say all that and then not explain yourself.”
He lets out a heavy sigh.“What is the worst thing that can happen to a woman?”he asks, and holds my gaze, keeping me rooted to the spot.“Don’t answer.Just keep that thought there.Now, would you want someone else to tell another person your traumatic story?”
Sexual assault.He’s talking about sexual assault.My breath gets stuck in my throat.Tears gather in my eyes as Jaxon’s words come back to me.
What he will do to a man is in no comparison to what he likes to do to a woman.
He knows.He knows exactly what kind of man Black is.
My heart races as I think of the woman I work for.There is no way she is who she is without the influence of a man like that in her life.Which means she knows exactly who he is too and what he has done.And she’s okay with it.My fingers dig into the arm of the sofa as I rein in all my emotions.
I’m going to be sick.
How could I be so blind and ignorant to who I work for?
“Hey, don’t worry.We’re neighbours now.We will look out for you,” he assures me.
I quickly glance at him as I reach for my laptop.“I’ve changed my mind.I think I’m going to go to sleep.”
“With your laptop?”
I nod.“Yes.Yes.”
He stands too, his cologne filling my senses when he raises his hands, holding his palms out.“I didn’t mean to freak you out.We can stop talking about it.I swear.I’ll put a romantic comedy on.You put your feet up and just forget about everything else.”
I slowly lower myself to the sofa, shocked that he seems stressed about upsetting me.“You like romantic comedies?”
He gulps, nodding in confirmation as he too returns to the sofa.“Yeah.Favourite of mine.”
My lips twitch.“Liar.”
“I am not.”
“Then what’s your favourite romantic comedy?”
“The one with the hot chick who wears the yellow dress?”
I bite my lip to stop the laughter.“Reid, put whatever you want on.I prefer action movies.”
He sags against the sofa.“Thank God.Mum loves romantic comedies but I get bored shitless.She’s always preached about them being relaxing to watch.”
“Well, you did order pizza so it would be rude to go to bed.”
