Page 88 of Wicked Tricks

The strength to admit that I wanted that for myself.

Almost instantly my brain started feeding me reasons to run, and it was as if my fight or flight response kicked in at even the thought.

Could it be as simple as going to the man that I wanted, and telling him that I wanted him?

Could it be as easy as Bea made it sound?

As easy as it played out like a movie in my head?

I sighed, and shook my head.

“I think I should just leave it,” I said slowly, pulling out my wallet and leaving money for the drinks and a tip for Jenna.

“Rome,” Bea said sadly, reaching for me.

I pushed in my stool, and waved goodbye to Jenna from across the bar, ignoring Bea’s attempts to continue the conversation. I felt the burning in my throat again that warned of oncoming tears, and I needed to leave.

“We should probably go and tell Diana what’s going on,” I said, not meeting Bea’s eyes before walking out and physically removing myself from the conversation. She shook her head, but followed me.

Right now, we had bigger problems - ones that at least I knew how to handle.

22

Chapter 22

Antoni

Iwas woken roughly in the morning, still sprawled out on the couch, by Ren throwing a cushion at my groin.

“Fuck. Off.”

I groaned and threw the pillow back at his head, but he quickly and easily dodged it.

“What are you doing?” he laughed, looking down at me with a smirk on his face before snatching the blanket from me.

I rolled over, facing the back of the couch and trying to ignore him.

“Iwassleeping,” I mumbled.

“On the couch?”

I grumbled, sitting up and accepting the fact that I wasn’t going to be allowed any more sleep for the day. Rubbing my eyes, I looked around, and the house was still empty.

“Guess I did scare everyone off the other night,” I said.

“Yeah, I’m the only one here,” he laughed again, plonking himself down on the armchair opposite the couch.

Just as he sat down I heard the front door squeal open, and I pulled the blanket up from the floor to cover myself.

“Where is she!?” I heard my mother before I saw her, and I sighed.

The clacking of her heels grew louder as she got closer, and her eyes burned into me as she noticed us.

“Where is she, Antoni?” she demanded.

Ren’s eyes darted between us, his eyebrows clashed together in confusion. He glanced around the house himself, wondering who she could be so worked up over.

I wished that she would drop it, but of course that was wishful thinking.

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