Page 50 of Two for Joy

He must’ve let slip to his therapist, who could’ve noted it down on file. Romeo’s frown deepened with his self-thought explanation. It would mean someone was watching Chad a bit too closely for his liking.

Unless…

Romeo’s heart picked up pace, and he stared unblinking at the ceiling. The monstrous part of his mind had sat bolt upright at his new explanation.

Chad was the killer.

He’d taken the good out of Chad and turned him into a killer. The thought was both exciting and alarming. The monster in Romeo’s mind was purring, happy with the thought of breeding its darkness into someone else.

Romeo closed his eyes and rolled onto his side. “Impossible.”

He had a whole week to speculate before he’d be face to face with Chad again.

Chapter Nine

When the door to the visiting room finally opened, Romeo stared unblinkingly at Chad.

Chad, darting his eyes, bowing his head and acting all sheepish. He sat down opposite Romeo, swallowed hard, then looked Romeo head on.

“Concealer sucks.”

The hot bubble of anger rose up in Romeo’s stomach. He could only look at Chad’s eye, the purple eye, the swollen flesh. It looked as if he had tried to dab concealer onto the bruise, but it hadn’t helped. It looked like someone had stuck a plum to his eye, then squashed it.

“It looks worse than it is.”

“Who the hell did that?”

Chad exhaled through his nose. “Gareth…”

“He punched you in the face?”

Chad gave him a grim smile. “Yeah.”

“Well, I’ve nowpickedmy number one…”

“Don’t even joke about it.”

“For once, I’m not joking, Chad.”

“Look, I deserved it. I hit him first.”

Romeo leaned as far as he could over the table. “And I hope he’s got an equally messed up eye.”

“Split his lip actually.”

Romeo’s bottom lip tingled. He remembered Chad’s mean right hook.

“Splitting lips a specialty of yours?”

“It’s on my CV and everything.”

“What was the fight about?”

“I wouldn’t call it a fight.”

“Chad?”

Chad gave him a pointed look, then whispered, “You … kinda. This—this whole situation.”

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