Page 78 of The Dollhouse

“I’m not staying here,” Zoey stated, snapping me out of my thoughts and earning herself a scowl from Roman. “I’m not. I want to be with Lake, especially if you two have to go off—”

Roman grabbed a bandage and started wrapping her arm with it, not exactly gentle. “You’ll be safer here. I have cameras and guns, should you need one to defend yourself.”

“There are cameras in my place, remember? And if you’re so keen on me having a gun, give me one, then. I’ll take it home with me.” Zoey did not sound like she particularly wanted to use a gun, but she would if she had to.

Did she have it in her? Could she point a gun at someone, stare them down over its barrel, and pull the trigger, all while knowing she would be the cause of their demise? I couldn’t say. She wasn’t batshit crazy like Lola Harding, but there was something in her struggling to find its way to the surface. Maybe she was tired of having life constantly kick her to the ground. I couldn’t blame her.

“It’s fine,” I said, causing both of them to snap their heads in my direction. “You go on ahead, and I’ll meet you there. I’ll make sure she’s safe with Lake before I meet you.”

Roman stared at me, his lips pursing into a frown. He was not a man who bent to just anyone, but tonight the circumstances were not ideal, to say the least. I knew the gears in his mind turned, all the possibilities I’d thought of he was already aware of. Roman wasn’t stupid.

“Fine,” he said. “But if something else happens to her, I’ll hold you responsible.” He pulled away from her, storming off, probably to fetch a gun to give her, at least for the night, leaving me alone with Zoey.

She smiled at me, but that smile did not hold its usual liveliness. It seemed hollower. “Thank you,” Zoey whispered, reaching to set a hand atop mine on my lap, “for backing me up. I… I don’t want to be alone tonight, not after that.”

“I wish I could stay with you,” I muttered, hating that I had to go off and deal with what was family business. The Lucianos and the DeLucas—bad blood, to say the least. “But I can’t.”

She pulled her hand off mine. “I get it. I know you guys do… well, things you don’t really want to talk about with me.”

I found I couldn’t explain what I felt, not with words, so instead I leaned closer to her, pressing my mouth on hers and giving her a kiss that was actually tender for me. Usually I took her mouth hard and fast, rough and wild, but tonight was not a good night for acting like an animal. Tonight, I realized, I needed to make sure this girl knew how much she meant to me, and how badly it would destroy me if I lost her.

Zoey was surprised by the sudden kiss, but she didn’t pull away. She sat there, her body inching toward mine on the chair. Her lips were soft and supple, just as they always were, teasing and tempting. She tasted like life, sweet and addicting in a way words could never describe.

I pulled my mouth off hers just enough to whisper the truth, “You know I love you, right? Fucking pink hair and all.”

The smile she gave me right then made everything worth it, I swear. She said nothing in response, but she did grab me by the collar with her good arm and pull me close again, smashing her lips on mine.

That’s fine. I already knew where her heart lay. With me. With me, with Roman… with that stupid Lake guy.

When the kiss was over, I helped her to her feet, and as we left the room, heading into the hall, Zoey shot me a look. “How was Lola tonight?”

The sound that left me was an annoyed one. Zoey knew how much of a sore spot that one was with me, mostly because I didn’t like being forced to act as her talent agent. Or manager. Or whatever. I’d much rather be with Roman, and by extension, Zoey.

Never thought I’d have a thing for pink hair, but here we were.

Lake

I helped Zoey unpack. We didn’t bring much; a few days’ worth of clothes for us both, though Roman said there was a small town nearby, where we could buy new clothes, if we had to, but I didn’t like spending money all willy-nilly…

And I couldn’t believe I thought the wordswilly-nillyjust hours after my girlfriend had gotten shot in the strip club she worked at. The same strip club her other boyfriend—you know, the one that kidnapped me twice—owned.

Yeah, things were complicated around here, that’s for sure.

It was a small cabin in the middle of nowhere, a few hours away from the city. Had shitty cell reception, but I’d managed to send my professors emails saying I wouldn’t be in class next week, along with texting my boss that a family emergency had come up, so I’d need some time off. Here’s hoping I didn’t screw future me over.

But I had to come. Zoey had argued tooth and nail with Roman and Carter to bring me along. After seeing her injured arm, after hearing what happened, how could I willingly let her go with them without trying to be at her side?

She was shot. I mean, mygirlfriendwasshot—she could’ve died—so, yeah, I wanted to be at her side, even if it was just for support, even if the future was full of unknowns.

Roman and Carter were in the other cabin, with the others. It sounded like they couldn’t find someone, but to be fair, I wasn’t really listening to them. All I could focus on was Zoey and the state of her poor arm, and try to stop myself from thinking about how much worse it could’ve been.

We sat on the bed together, and Zoey was silent, something very odd for her.

I leaned closer to her, set a hand on her leg. She’d changed into baggy shorts, her feet bare, a tank top on her chest. She wore no bra; I had to help her out of it, and help her put on the tank top, not that I was complaining. I just… I hated seeing her in pain while knowing there was nothing I could do.

“Are you all right? Do you want anything?” I asked quietly. “I think I saw some food in the cabinets in the kitchen. I could try to make something.”

Zoey looked at me, her blue gaze twinkling as a teeny smile graced her face. “You, cooking? Oh, Lake. I think we both know we’re better off starving.” The smile fell away as she added, “Besides, I’m not really hungry right now, anyway.”

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