Tobias must see this all on my face because he adds, “I told him to speak with you, but he’s deeply ashamed of what he did. You see, my brother is a bit…sensitive is the word I’ll use. He hates himself for what he did.”
I wince at his words—the look on his face after hesmashed the mirror still plagues my mind. I don’t know what to say, so I just fiddle with my cuticles and let the sadness consume me.
Tobias leans closer and asks, “What do you want with my brother?”
I’m rendered speechless. Words escape me as I try to conjure up what I actually want with Torren. When I meet Tobias’s gaze, I shudder.
His pupils are dilated, making his blue eyes look black. “Felix, I amveryprotective of my brother. He’s the only person in the world I love—the only person in the world Icanlove. I don’t like it when he’s upset. Why did you come here tonight? What do you want with him?”
The room begins to spin, my heart pounding a mile a minute, when I finally blurt out, “I-I just want him. That’s what I want.Him.I have to see him. I need to know he’s okay, and I need to—” The tears come on fast, the emotion taking over as I rise to my feet and pace about the room. “I just need to see him! Did he go home? Does he hate me? I don’t fucking know what I’m doing anymore, but tonight isn’t how things end between Torren and me. I needsomething.I need at least a conversation about what happened. This isn’t fair! It’s not fair that he left me and didn’t even check on me! So, you or someone on your team needs to tell him to man up and talk to me, or I’m going fucking nuclear!”
I say the last bit, looking up at the ceiling, as if Torren, wherever he is in the world, can hear me.And with the way I was screaming, maybe he did.
My panting settles. I release my clenched fists and open my eyes to see two men pointing their guns at me. “Oh, holy-fucking-Christ!” I yell as I crouch on the ground and shield my head with my arms.
Tobias raises his arm at his men and yells, “No, we’re fine. He’s just hysterical. Give us some privacy, and I’ll call if I need anything.”
I crawl to the chair like a fool, and I sit down. To say I’m embarrassed would be the understatement of the century. “I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t apologize. It was quite entertaining, and I personally agree with you. Torren should be here.” Tobias responds.
My heart is breaking knowing he’s not here, that he didn’t want to talk to me. “Does he hate me?”
“No, he’s just afraid.”
Afraid? What if fear is all there ever was?
Tobias pauses, eyeing me with caution, before asking, “Do you know what happened to Torren and me?”
I’ve only heard rumors about what they did to their parents, but I don’t really know for a fact what happened. Just the little bits I’ve gotten from Gilda atMaggie’s. “No.”
Tobias nods and leans back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “Well, that’s for him to tell you. Not me. All I can say is that my brother is very complicated, but I think you could help. You seem quite tender beneath all the bluster.” He cocks his head, reminding me of the way Torren does when he’s studying me. “I like you, Felix. My brother likes you, too, but that terrifies him. You’ll have your work cut out for you if you pursue him, but I think you should. Just don’t tell him I said that.”
He winks at me, and I almost yelp at the oddly human display of affection. This whole time, he’s operated like an assassin, but that little wink was almost…cute.
“Okay,” I say in a complete daze.
“I do recommend a gentler approach with Torren, though.He’s got a tough exterior, but he’s more sensitive than he wants to admit.”
Before tonight, I would have questioned that statement, but Torren’s face after the mirror incident revealed a side that I didn’t know existed. He’s not just a big brute; he’s got a heart, and it’s broken. “I’m worried about him,” I add. “Is he alone right now? What if…”
I can barely get the words out. I’d never recover if I lost another person to something like that.
“I have men posted on the rooftops nearby. When Torren left, I had his neighborhood surveyed so that I knew where to post my men if I ever got worried. I don’t think Torren would try to do something like that to himself, but, if he does, my men will get there in time.”
Wow.
Tobias has an entire operation in place for when Torren is in danger. “Okay. That’s good.”
He smiles and says, “My chauffeur is waiting out front to take you home. I can count on your discretion?”
“Absolutely.”
“Thank you. You should go.”
As I leave, Tobias calls out, “Felix. Remember, a gentler approach. What my brother really needs is tenderness, not tension.”
He has to let me in first.I don’t say that. I simply nod and make my way to the car waiting for me.
