Page 4 of You Know I Love You

My brother stands there for a half beat before he storms out of the room. I know I'll hear about it when I get home, but for once, I don't care. I never make waves or do anything I’m not supposed to. I’m eighteen now. Everyone else is growing up and starting their lives. I should get to do the same. I’m not here telling everyone else what to do.

“You ready?” Teddy asks me. West is still keeping her close.

“You’re not going with West?” I ask. He won't let her out of his sight. The man showed up to our school once.

“You both can come with me,” West says.

“We drove here,” I point out. “And I don’t drive, so I can’t drive it back.” Teddy's car is parked outside, and I am the world's worst driver.

“I’ll handle your car.” West places a possessive hold on Teddy’s hip, making it clear to her that where she goes, he will be going.

“No one will touch it, and I’ll take Willa home,” Vasily says, moving closer to me. I want to stay. If I go home, I’ll just be up in my room all alone. I spend most of my time alone in my room these days. I don’t want to be by myself again tonight, but I’m also not sure if I should be hanging out with the likes of Vasily. I don’t even know him. Yet I can feel this unexplainable pull to him.

“She can come with us,” Teddy pushes, her gaze focused on Vasily. Untrusting. I find it endearing that she is that way when it comes to me. I can’t really be upset with her for worrying over my safety. Vasily is a stranger. I mean a very, very hot one but still a stranger.

“I want to stay,” I tell her, knowing I’m going to win this one. Just a few hours ago, she and I were discussing how things are changing and how I should have the freedom to make my own decisions. Everyone needs to stop making assumptions about how I should live my life.

“Your brother will lose his mind,” she points out.

“I can do what I want.”

Teddy nods. “All right, but I want his number.” She points to Vasily.

“Give me your phone, Princess.” I pull it out, unlocking it before handing it to him. I watch as he pulls up Teddy in my messages and sends her his number. “Now you have it too.” Heat rushes to my cheeks as he hands me back my phone. He wants me to have his number.

I give Teddy a hug and tell West bye, leaving Vasily and me all alone.

Chapter Three

KING

Now I’ve got her all to myself. That couldn't have worked out better if I’d planned it. The fights have resumed, some people not being the wiser of what had taken place. I keep Willa close to me, but I don’t think she is enjoying the fights.

I feel her tiny body cringe with each blow someone takes. A few times she even turned her head into my chest. As much as I’m enjoying that, I don’t enjoy her discomfort. Other people's discomfort has never fazed me before. It’s not my problem. I’m finding that’s not the case with Willa. She’s so damn small, and those expressive, wide eyes of hers have me feeling protective over her.

I debate shutting the place down for the night, but maybe she hasn’t asked to leave because she thinks I have to stay. "Do you want to get out of here, Princess?" I whisper next to her ear.

"Can we?" she asks, letting me know my intuition about her not wanting to be here was correct.

"We can do anything you like."

"I'm not ready to go home yet." She gazes up at me, her big, bright eyes reminding me of a doe. "I mean, if you have things you need to do, it's fine. I?—"

"You're it, Princess," I tell her. "Come." I lead her through the crowd, and she lets me. Not once has she tried to get away from me or create space when I pulled her close. Only feeding the beast inside of me that wants to consume her.

“Where are we going?”

“Out the back way,” I tell her.

One of my men sees me coming and opens the back door for me. “You said you didn’t want to go home?”

“Not yet.”

“Then you’ll come with me.” It’s not really a question, but she nods her head nonetheless. I lead her toward the dock.

“Where are we going?” she asks when I will release my hold on her so that I can step onto the boat first to offer her my hand.

“For a ride.” I hold my hand out to her, and she stares at it before glancing back toward the island. My fingers itch to reach out and grab her, but I make myself wait. It will be so much easier if she chooses this.

---