Page 11 of The Lie
“Roman?”
My heart feels like it’s in a fist, and I can’t breathe when Hunter says his name. I’m so worried about him right now. Swallowing, I nod and tremble in Hunter’s arms, worried about where Roman is and who’s taking care of him.
“I can’t just be yours when my heart is pulled to him. I know you want to be more with me…I want that too. But if it that means having to choose, I can’t…I won’t.” I whisper the last words; my hands shake in his, I’m worried about what he will say.
It’s selfish of me to want them both. I never thought it was possible to have feelings for more than one person like this. Not until I came back and they were all at my house. That’s when I realized I couldn’t choose. It might not be right, but it’s how I feel.
“Roman. He hides behind his grunts. But he loves you so hard, Mila. I can see that, always have. I know it would completely break him if I was selfish and asked you to be mine and mine alone. I couldn’t live with myself. I couldn’t be happy knowing I hurt him because we both fell in love with the same amazing girl. Same goes for the girl who fell for us.”
I let out a shuddering breath and choke back a sob. Hunter is too good for me…they both are. I smile as he wipes away a lone tear. When I press my hand against Hunter’s chest, it’s hard and warm. Why is this so hard? Why does my heart want them both?Need them both.
“Hunter. I want us. I want that with Roman too. I’m so conflicted about what I should do. The easy way would be to walk away and keep you both as friends. But then it’s not that easy and I’m being unreasonable. My heart will break every time I see you with someone else. Wishing it was me.”
God, why is this so hard?
“Mila, I feel the same. I can’t have you with anyone else. I would want to break their face. It’s not unreasonable.” He brushes another tear away with his thumb, and I sniff. Another tear falls, and he leans in and kisses it away this time, my heart breaking at how sweet and caring he is. But this is Hunter. This is how he’s always been, even when we were kids; nothing has changed. It’s been hiding underneath for weeks, but I saw it. I knew he was still in there.
“Roman is like a brother to me. Hell, we’re blood brothers.” He holds up his palm, and I laugh as I hold up mine.
“To say this isn’t a strange situation would be a lie.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “But it also makes complete sense as well. Which should weird me out. How much we’ve all been through and the connection we all have together.” He smiles and wiggles his brows and I chuckle.
“Mila, I’ve dreamed about the day I would ask you out, and it might have gone a little different than this.”
I pull away to look into his eyes—he’s asking me out?
“Oh, sorry, was thatyouasking me out, Mila?” he asks with a huge grin.
Smiling, I let out a giggle. I guess that’s what I was trying to do.
“I’m not sure what people are gonna think about this…but I don’t care. Because, at the end of the day, I will have you and I’m all in.”
I crush my lips against his and the butterflies are still there. Just like always.
Only, now, they mean so much more…they’re a promise.
Of our future.
“We need to find Roman.”
FIVE
ROMAN
Ihear yelling and sit up, almost forgetting where I am.
The Sons of Death MC has been my sanctuary from the outside world for the past week. I still haven’t gotten used to it, all the sounds and partying. Hell, I want this to be my new normal, but I also feel out of place here. Despite it being somewhere I hoped so desperately to fit in.
The room around me lets in light through the thin cream curtains draped over the only window. Duct tape holds it together where the pane of glass is broken. I would say it’s been like that for many years.
There isn’t much to this room, which houses a man double my age and size. The old mattress I’ve been sleeping on reminds me that he’s lived here a long time. Trucker is exactly as his name suggests—a trucker for the club.
The room isn’t much for someone who has lived here for two decades. A wonky chest of drawers, the baby blue paint is scratched and peeling off in places, revealing a neon pink underneath. A green lamp and an ashtray with two thick gold rings inside that somehow don’t slide off the other end.
A stack of bike magazines is used as a bedside table where I have left my phone. I haven’t charged it or spoken to anyone since I walked out that hospital door. Mila hadn’t woken up; she was in a coma when I left, and I couldn’t bring myself to see her. I did that—my fucked-up life broke the one good thing I ever wanted.
I’d known that would happen. From the start, I told myself I couldn’t have her in my life. I couldn’t let the dark that tainted me consume her. But I let her in…just a little. Enough to destroy my heart as I held her broken body in my arms.
The Amarto family hasn’t contacted me…but I have to get to them before they find Mila and follow through with more of their threats. She was just a warning, and I heard it loud and clear.
