Page 73 of Obsessions of the Heart

He nodded and turned around to leave, but my thoughts leaked out of my mouth. “What's that room?” I pointed to the locked door. I thought I saw anger flash in his eyes, but after I blinked, it was gone, his eyes holding their normal dark stare.

He shrugged, his voice even and light, which didn’t match the feeling in the air. “Oh, it's just where we keep all of our dangerous tools. Roux likes to keep the lawn shears and chainsaw locked up for safety.”

Safety? It was just the four of us in here, and we were all adults. Smiling wide, I took steps to follow him. “Oh. Good to know.” He eyed me for a second before leading the way out. I looked back at the door, knowing something was in there that they didn't want me to know about. That curiosity lingered in the back of my mind, and some small part of me added it to a list of questions, right beneath the mystery of Ravi’s locked closet.

Ravi and Rion were always telling me to treat this place like it was my home, that their space was my space. Constantly, they validated my place in this house and with them, even when I told them they needed privacy, the insisted they didn't, yet they were hiding something from me. What could they possibly be hiding from me? Was it something to do with their family business?

I was so intrigued that the next couple of mornings, when I switched rooms, I would pretend to sleep in late while taking the opportunity to look around their rooms. While almost everything was open and available to me, Rion’s computer desk had a locked drawer and Roux’s closet was also double locked just like Ravi’s.

I caught myself thinking about it often, bouncing between logic and feelings. Logically, I knew they might have things they didn’t want me to see, and I needed to be respectful of their privacy in their home, but that just didn't match up with their words.

We had been living together for almost two weeks, and it felt like I was getting closer to them, learning more and more about each of them as the days passed. It was a crash course in learning the differences between the boys I'd known inside and out and the men they’d grown up to be.

One thing I knew for certain was they wouldn't harm me.

They were always so gentle, so caring, so attentive. Growing up the way I did, I could tell by just the look in someone's eyes if they held ill intent, and I would steer clear of them. I’d never gotten that vibe from any of these boys, so maybe their secret was something that I didn't really need to know… Or something I shouldn't know.

I tried to text Cin about it, but she hadn’t contacted me back, which was weird but not alarming. She had been like this for the past week, not picking up my calls or answering texts right away. Her replies were coming within twenty-four hours, and she was never able to talk for long. She explained her mom was in town, and it was a big deal for her family.

Now, it was Saturday, so we were having a movie night. Ravi got buckets of popcorn from the movie theater and all the candy and drinks we could want. Each of us was to pick a movie, then we would watch them until I fell asleep and one of them carried me to bed.

Rion’s phone buzzed, and he excused himself while we were all yelling at the screen. Roux wanted some old slasher movie even though it looked so fake. At least it was fun to make fun of, Ravi and Roux seemed into it too.

A familiar urgent feeling came from my bladder, so I excused myself to go to the bathroom. Ravi made a motion like he was going to follow me, but I lifted my hand, palm up. “I can go to the bathroom myself.”

When he opened his mouth, motioning to my torso, I quickly cut him off. “It's fine. Roux’s cream is magic, so it doesn't even hurt anymore. Promise.”

Roux snapped out his hand and hit Ravi, glaring at him before he threw condescending words over his shoulder. “Go ahead, princess.”

I glared at him, knowing that little nickname was sarcastic. I blew Ravi a kiss before turning my back to them to the tune of Ravi mocking Roux for not getting a kiss. I really didn't need Ravi to be so attentive, but it was sweet.

Going fast, I relieved myself, washed my hands, and came back out to Ravi and Roux in a heated argument about the reality of blood spatter and how it wouldn't look like what they’d just seen. Smirking at them, I looked around and saw that Rion still wasn’t back. Instead of sitting down with the guys, I went to find him.

Hearing a low voice in the living room, I figured he was finishing up his conversation. If he wasn't, then I would just turn around and not bother him.

Keeping my back against the wall, I heard his clipped, forced tone.

“Roux finished the job. It might have been a little messy, but you know he cleans up his jobs. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

He paused, and I adjusted myself, trying to hear better. Maybe I could learn something about what Roux did.

His voice took on a harsh, cruel edge. “She is nothing. Someone to pass the time with. Once we’re done, we’ll get rid of her ourselves. No reason for you to get involved.”

My heart screamed, and it became difficult to swallow. Did he mean me? I was the only “she” they had around… right? Clutching my stomach to keep myself from hurling, I tried to take small, slow calming breaths, but the rise and fall of my chest kept getting faster and faster. I needed to get away before I completely broke down.

Making sure to keep my steps light, I backed up the way I’d come, but my head was dizzy and my eyes blurred. What did he mean, get rid of?

That old voice had been dormant for weeks, creeped up from the back of my mind. You thought they cared about you? Wanted you? Would make you theirs? Pathetic. You will always be alone. You are unlovable. Dispensable. A discarded thing that no one wants, including the Ambros triplets.

Digging my nails into my skin, I needed something to distract me from the pain radiating from my soul. I never should’ve trusted them. In the end, they were just like everyone else, leaving me with broken promises and false dreams. Darkness settled into my soul, something thick and corrosive, choking out the pieces of me that had held hope.

“Rin?”

Why did I think this would be any different? Because I had known them before? They were just boys, but now they were men with obligations and expectations. Of course, they couldn’t be with some orphan girl from a backroads town in Virginia. They needed someone to match their level, and that was never going to be me.

“Rin?!”

Someone shook my shoulders, and I jerked back, sneering at the person until I realized it was Ravi, his face filled with shock and concern. Flicking my gaze behind him, I noticed Roux getting up from the couch.

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