“Get me back to my woman,” I tell them both, needing help with standing.
The walk back to Hard Knocks feels like it takes fucking forever.
“You shouldn’t have drunk so much, stupid,” Thomas berates me as he maneuvers me around a person walking toward us.
“Thanks, Dad,” I slur back at him.
The building is empty when we enter, even of Rowan. “Where is she?” I question them.
“Hell if I know, I was with you,” Weeks mutters as he walks around, turning off lights.
“I’m staying here.” I stumble over to the couch and fall onto the worn leather, letting out a groan. The room automatically spins before I throw a leg over, making it touch the floor. “They’re fucking liars; it doesn’t work.” Whoever said it worked to make you stop spinning lied. I huff to myself. No one answers me.
“Mmm,” I moan out as a hand moves up and down my thigh, lightly touching my dick that’s now tenting my pants, waking it and me up at the same time.
Stretching out, pushing the armrest with my feet, it squeaks in protest, but I don’t give a shit; it can break for all I care. As I open my eyes, they feel so heavy, but the gym is cloaked in darkness. I see her silhouette above me and automatically open my arms to her. “Come here,” I groggily tell her. In moments,she’s around the couch and in my arms, lying on top of my chest. Immediately, my arms wrap around her like a vise grip. “Never do that to me again, Killer. Please,” I beg of her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers into the dark room; her breath cascades over my face, and I can smell alcohol on it.
“Where were you?” Maybe in the darkness she’ll feel more inclined to let herself be bare, to tell the truth.
“It’s not important.” She kisses my neck, her tongue leaving a wet trail down it, but I have to talk to her; I can’t let this fester.
“What you did today isn’t cool. Rowan, I had to up and leave a job, thank God it was already done, but when it comes to what I do, I can’t just leave. I don’t have the pleasure of doing that when I’m in the field. How the hell can I leave you again and put all my focus on my job? That’s going to put my life at risk,” I let my words tumble out, because they need to be said.
Her weight shifts from me as she tries to get up, but I tighten my arms even tighter, not letting her move from her place. Her spot. She needs to hear the truth. Doing stupid shit like she did today puts me at risk.
“I’m now scared to leave you when I have that other job in a few weeks, Rowan. How can I concentrate on what needs to be done when I’m worried about you and your safety? Since you’re the one putting yourself at risk. I don’t want to act like a crazy fucking person, but baby, please no more. It’s dangerous for me to have my mind occupied somewhere else.”
I feel her breathe deeply. “I was at his house.”
My eyebrows shoot straight up. What the hell did she just say? “Who’s?” I ask even though I think I already fucking know.
“Davids.”
My stomach sinks, and I have to sit up. I force her to move so we can both sit. Now that I’m fully awake, my eyes have adjusted to the dark. I find her hand. “Why?”
She laughs. “Why? Why not? Luca, he is the reason this all happened in the first place. He gave me to them. David.” She spits his name out. “Doesn’t deserve to breathe air.”
I absolutely agree with her, but this can be planned out, ensuring there are no hiccups. It needs to be precise. “Rowan,” I say her name, completely baffled.
“This is mine. It’s not yours.” Her words are laced with venom.
Her words shock me. Of course, it isn’t mine, but she’s mine, and that’s where she has me fucked up.
In that moment, I know she will not stop. She’s going to do this, and I need to make sure she’s protected at any cost. This job I have coming up is my biggest one yet. With it, I could stop and hire others. I’ve been doing this for so long, I feel ready to pass the torch. I have money, but this is the money one needs to stay comfortable for a very long time. And I can’t let it pass. I haven’t told Rowan about it. I wanted to feel it out before I gave her hope that I might hang up my title. Fuck, I barely thought about it. But the night at J.J’s really changed something in me.
I slide my fingers between hers, bringing her hand to my mouth and giving it a kiss. “Can you just give me a bit? You can do what you see fit, but can you wait till I get back?” I stare at her, knowing she can’t see the pleading in my eyes, but hoping she can hear it in my voice.
“Can we go home?” She unfurls her hand from mine, yanking it out of reach, and that shit stings. She’s acting like I did something wrong, but it’s fucking her.
“No, I still feel drunk.”
“I can drive.” She stands and wobbles.
“Not fucking happening. I can smell liquor on your breath. We can sleep it off here.” I don’t give her another choice. My words are final. My anger from last night is resurfacing.
“Fine.” She leaves me stewing. I see the bathroom light flicker on, knowing she’s going to take a shower.
