Page 50 of Dangerous Games

It’s funny because my whole life, I wanted to scream and have someone I could vent to, someone who understood what was going on instead of me bottling it all up and throwing away the key. But now that there’s someone who’s witnessed it, I want nothing more than to crawl in a hole.

Giving my dad money, even though deep down I always knew he didn’t give a fuck about me and never had plans to pay me back, my brain had somehow twisted that into thinking if I help him every time he asks maybe just one day he would care about me. Ask me how I’m doing or if I need help with anything.

It hasn’t come.

I lean forward and grab a wad of toilet paper to wipe the snot off my face. It’s pointless because more comes right after. I rest my elbows on my knees and let my head hang between my arms as I try to gather myself.

I don’t know how much time has passed before the door handle jiggles and a fist knocks on the door. “Open up, cara.”

I sniffle as I wipe my tears on my sleeve.

“Open up, or I’m coming in. You should know a little lock isn’t going to keep me from you.”

Chapter

Sixteen

GIO

I’m a fucking asshole.

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. Anyone with two fucking ears could hear the hurt in her voice. I knew it was below the belt, but she’s so goddamn stubborn and hellbent on doing everything herself it just slipped out.

She’s never run from me before.

Even if it was just to the bathroom, I got a taste of what Matteo felt with Wren when I heard the lock click.

It’s cute she thinks that lock will keep me from her.

I rinse the flour off my hands and dry them on the hand towel she has hanging off the handle of her oven before going to her. If there’s anything I learned from Matteo and Wren’s shit, leaving her alone for too long will only cause me a bigger headache.

I try turning the handle, already knowing it’s locked, but I’ll give her a little show of acting like that’s what’s keeping me from her if that’s what she wants.

“Open up, cara.” I rap my fist against the door.

My stomach clenches as I hear her sniffle and not answer.

Fuck.

I made her cry.

My head falls back as I squeeze my eyes shut. Goddamn it.

I rattle the handle again. “Open up or I’m coming in. You should know a little lock isn’t going to keep me from you.”

I lied.

I’m not giving her any more time to decide if she wants to let me in. I’m coming in. As I crouch down, I pull out my lock pick. Sticking it in the hole, I move it around slightly before I hear the familiar click.

I stand up as I open the door and stop dead in my tracks at the sight of Bronwyn sitting on the edge of the tub, her eyes red and face blotchy as tears stream down it.

“Cara,” I say softly as I pull her up into my arms, wrapping her up tight. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.” She lets out a sob into my chest. “I shouldn’t have made the comment about your dad. I’m sorry.”

My nose scrunches up in disgust as I feel her rub her nose against my shirt, wiping the snot off. I guess I deserve that.

“No.” She sniffles. “It’s okay. I needed to hear it from someone else. He’s never cared about me. I don’t know why I thought that was ever going to change.”

I squeeze her a little tighter.