Page 35 of Need Him Like Oxygen

“Oh, didn’t know you’d seen her,” he said.

“A few times,” I said, nodding.

“Oh,” Renzo said, shoulders relaxing. I wondered if someone on Cinna’s crew was running their mouth about not seeing her. “Right. Good. She’s always distracted when she’s busy,” he agreed.

Someone called him over then, saving me from more evasions.

But when my gaze slid back to Saff, I saw her watching me with penetrative eyes, her head tilted to the side.

“You’re… lying about something,” she said, making my heart seize in my chest. “But I can’t figure out what.”

“Now what would I have to lie about, kid?” I asked, trying to rile her, so she let it drop. Of all people, I didn’t think it would be Saff who would be suspicious.

“I don’t—“ she started, but cut off as something behind me caught her gaze.

Turning, I found one of Renzo’s soldiers walking in.

Coal was a kid who’d been working for someone who was trying to take over the family after Renzo’s wedding. A guy who’d been strapped to a chair and beaten, but he hadn’t broken. He’d impressed Renzo enough to offer him a job.

Since then, he’d been hungry to prove his worth.

Clearly, he was coming back from doing some sort of work for the family, because his face was bruised, his lip split, and his nose was still caked with dried blood.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without blood or bruises on him,” Saff said, shaking her head as Coal made a beeline for Renzo who had his arm draped around his wife’s waist. “I’m gonna go eavesdrop,” she said, then walked off, saving me from having to try to convince her I wasn’t lying about anything when I kind of was.

I made a round, saying a quick hello to the other capos, just so no one would question where I’d been lately.

Then I made my way quietly out, hoping no one but the guard at the door noticed.

Normally, I was one of the last to leave, never the kind to walk away from a good time.

I tried to tell myself it was just to save myself from more evasions and lies.

The problem was, though, that I knew the truth.

Wanting to leave had nothing to do with the party.

And everything to do with the woman at home in my bed.

Or, as it turned out, stubbornly camped out on my couch.

I really should have anticipated that.

But she wasn’t going to get her way.

Walking over, I carefully placed the gun out of reach, fished the knife out from under her pillow, and picked up the mace from where it had fallen on the floor before finally peeling back her blanket and sliding my arms under her body.

I expected her to pitch a fit when she realized I was holding her. I didn’t anticipate the way she softened into me. Like she wanted to be there.

Exactly where I wanted her too.

It was too short of a walk to the bedroom, no matter how much I slowed my pace. And before long I was lowering her down onto the mattress.

But before I could turn and walk away, I found my wrist snagged in her hand.

I turned back, finding her watching me with something in her eyes that had my chest feeling tight.

“Stay.”

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