Page 54 of We're Not Strangers Anymore

I look up at him. “What do you mean?”

“I have one more small job to do, and then I’m leaving everything to Luciano and Laila. I’m taking you to Sicily. You loved it there, I saw the peace in your soul every time you walked through that vineyard.”

“You’re– done? Just like that?” I ask him.

“Just like that.” He says. “I pictured my future, all I saw was you, Rowan.”

My heart flutters at his words. “So, what now?”

“Stop complicating us. Get your things, we’re going home. Together.”

I stare at him for a moment. “Maybe I don’t want to be with you.”

He leans in, gripping the back of my hair and brushing his lips against mine. “Too fucking bad.”

Rowan

The past few days have been pure torture and bliss at the same time. I just feel at peace, tangled in Grayson every morning. For once it doesn’t feel like there’s so many unspoken words and feelings between us. Almost everything has been drawn out on the table. Every touch he’s laid on me since I came home with him has been gentle, charged with shameless love. No more questions. I feel safe.Emotionallysafe.

“I don’t want to lie to you, Row,” he says as he traces patterns over my skin, the morning light highlighting his sharp features and reflecting off of the bright pools of green in his eyes.

“This weekend has been perfect, please don’t ruin it.” I say jokingly.

“I’m serious. Look,” he starts, but hesitates for a moment. “Your father– he’s alive.”

I prop myself up on my elbows, waiting for him to explain further.

“Not for long though, I’m handling it.” He continues.

“Woah, wait a second. If he’s alive just leave it alone, Grayson. You said you were done with all of this.” I feel my anger building. I should have known things weren’t going to stay like this.

“I also told you I have one last small job to do.” He retorts.

“Grayson, that’s not small. That’s actually a really fucking big deal.”

He takes my hands in his, and meets my gaze. “I’m not asking you to be okay with it. But he hurt you, he hurt my family. I’m only telling you because I promised myself I’d never lie to you again.”

“Grayson–”

“It's okay, baby. I promise you. But we can’t take any more risks. You don’t need him, Row. You never did. You have me.”

“I don’t need you either.” I mutter.

He laughs. “I know, tough girl.” Grayson brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “Let me take care of everything. I’ll show you how sorry I am later.”

I spring off of the bed and throw on one of Grayson’s Sullen T-shirts. “Okay, Grayson. Killing my dad is just no big deal. I’ll follow your lead.”

He rises from the bed, following me to the bathroom as I tie my hair in a loose bun. “Rowan, I’m sorry it has to be this way–”

“Don’t be. Do what you have to do. I don’t give afuckabout that man.” I’ve tried to care, I really have. After the first time I thought my father was dead, I tried to find it in me to cry, or be sad, or just feelsomething. Part of me felt sympathy, but it was short lived. I’ve realized through all of this– I don’t feel the empty hole in my chest that I thought having a decent father would fill. It’s gone. Not because I have Grayson, but because I’ve come to terms with the fact that he will never be the father that I want. He’s not just a bad father, he’s a bad man. If taking him off of this earth could save at least one young girl from the skin trade, it's worth it to me. If he could offer his own daughter up, he’d have no qualms about offering up another innocent human being. A huge part of me is just used to giving Grayson hell because of how thingsstarted out but in reality, I trust him more than I’ve ever trusted anyone.

“Don’t feel like you have to pretend not to care, Row,” he says, looking at me through the bathroom mirror.

I laugh, more out of frustration than anything. “I literally don’t. I’m just trying to get used to the idea of you killing people like it's a normal desk job, that’s all.”

He sighs. “You don’t have to get used to it. After this I’m done.”

I scoff. “No one who kills people for a living is ever reallydone.”

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