Page 24 of Caught Up

Plus, coercion was much more fun. And yes, I was aware of howfucked-upthat made me sound, but I felt like it showed real growth that I’d so quickly moved past the temptation of tongue removal.

I stopped in front of my target, giving him an affable smile. “Hey, there.” My voice was friendlier than normal, borderline unrecognizable to anyone who knew me. “I’m so sorry, but you’re in my seat.”

He looked up at me, his light brown hair artfully tussled, the black-framed glasses perched on his nose reflecting the overhead light. I wasn’t usually one to judge, but he looked like a pretentious fuck. Like he belonged in a lecture hall, making inappropriate advances on his students. “I’m sorry?”

“No problem,” I said, intentionally misinterpreting his apology.

I clapped him on the shoulder in an affable way, prompting him to stand, and he frowned, even as he started to rise, like he was confused about what was happening but was too polite to make a fuss. Just as I’d hoped. People could be talked into doing all sorts of shit they didn’t want to if the right amount of pressure was exerted. Lucky for me, the professor seemed more vulnerable to coercion than most of the assholes I was used to dealing with.

“I appreciate you moving,” I said.

His frown deepened. “Um...you’re welcome?”

“Thanks.” I patted him on the shoulder one last time before taking the seat he’d just vacated.

Lauren sat there looking stunned, allowing me a moment to take her in. She was just as beautiful in person as she was in the bathroom selfies she’d posted, makeup more dramatic than this morning, hair curled into loose waves. The gloss she wore made me want to lean in and bite her lower lip, but after her violent outburst in the back of the church, it probably wouldn’t end with us making out, so I held myself in check.

Slowly, her focus shifted from the retreating man to my masked face. And then her eyes caught mine and narrowed before dropping to my hands and the words “La Famiglia”tattooed across my knuckles.

“I see my exorcism didn’t work,” she said.

I grinned. “You should try holy water next time.”

She turned fully toward me and leaned in, her voice low. “What are you doing here?”

I leaned in, too, glad for the excuse to get close to her. “Filing my taxes, you?”

“Filing a restraining order,” she shot back.

“Against who? The nerdy professor?” I half rose from my seat, pretending to look for him. “No need for paperwork. I can take care of that for you.”

She yanked me back down. “I’m serious, Junior. Why are you here?”

“I came to talk to you.”

“Well, you can’t be here,” she said, glancing around like she was afraid to be seen with me.

I tried not to be offended. “Why not?”

Her gaze returned to mine, the fire I’d glimpsed earlier in the day returning. “Because this ismyplace.”

“And you don’t let people like me in?” I shifted an inch closer, unable to help myself. “Discrimination is illegal, Lo.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she said. “I meant that this place is just for me, and I don’t want someone from my past coming in here and bringing up bad memories and ruining my night.”

Goddamn it. Alec was right. I needed to apologize to her if the sight of me alone was enough to spoil her evening.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

She blinked and sat back.

“For what I said to you earlier,” I clarified, “but mostly for what happened between us all those years ago. I was already getting dragged into my dad’s shit, and I figured it was better people thought you were just another obsessed moll than someone important to me.”

Her brows creased, large eyes lambent in the soft light. “Wait, are you saying I was in danger?”

I held her gaze and nodded.

Those glossy lips parted, but her response was cut off by a low chime from the overhead speakers. Instead, she said, “The show is about to start. You need to leave.”

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