Page 40 of Theo

“I just thought you were being nice. That was your thing,” I remind him, feeling defensive of my younger self. “You were nice to everyone.”

He nods a few times, eyes scanning my face for something he can’t seem to find. “I was nice to everyone back then.”

“Just back then?”

“I’ve done a lot of things since then, Charity. And very few of them could be considered nice.”

“Like murder a few boyfriends and a landlord?” His lips curl between his teeth as if he’s doing everything in his power to hold in a laugh. “Do not laugh, Dickbag.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Viper.”

“I need time.”

“I understand.”

“Now, Theo.”

He sighs, pushing off the bed to grab his pants and underwear from a pile on the floor. He dresses quickly, grabbing his shoes in one hand before he steps toward me. I’m not sure what he plans to do, but somehow, the feel of his lips against my temple shocks me.

“Lock the door behind me, sweet girl.”

Then he’s gone, and I’m left standing alone in my brother’s bedroom, surrounded by the scent of the only man who has ever loved me enough to give up his life for my happiness.

And I just made him leave.

“Another!”

“No,” the tiny blonde woman shakes her head at me, dragging out the ‘o’ sound to make sure I’ve heard her. What did Theo say her name was? Lily? Lacy?

“Lucy!”

“Lucy,” I echo the redheaded woman who just yelled the bartender’s name. The two women chat for a moment while Lucy pours a beer that she easily slides across the counter. “Hey! Why does she get another?”

Lucy’s eyes move lazily in my direction, a sympathetic look on her face. I’m starting to think my words might not be coming across as clearly as I believe they are. “Because she isn’t going to get me killed if she passes out on my bar.”

That doesn’t make sense. “I don’t kill people.”

Lucy snorts, pouring two shots that she passes across the bar to a young man who isn’t paying attention to her. He’s looking at me. I don’t like it.

“I know you don’t kill people, sweetheart, but you are the woman Theodore Grady followed out of here the other night, aren’t you?”

She says the words much too loudly for her to be talking only to me. The man with the shots makes an awkward jerking motion as he spins away from the bar. He’s halfway across the room before I hear Lucy mumble, “Speak of the Devil, and he shall appear.”

My eyes float across the room, unable to land on anything until I see him. He moves with too much grace for someone that large, and it pisses me off. “You piss me off.”

“I know,” Theo murmurs, gently pushing the hair off my forehead. His eyes are full of concern, and I hate it. I don’t want him looking at me like I need to be taken care of, I want to be my own person who makes her own decisions, Goddammit! “Time to go, Viper.”

“No.”

“Okay.” Theo drops into the stool next to mine, his massive body blocking the rest of the bar from view.

“Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Whatever I want! It’s annoying.”

“You want me to stop doing what you want?”

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