Page 71 of Blood & Lace
"Go to work," I said. "We can have dinner tonight."
Lucero lit up. "Really?"
I nodded. "Yes, and don't bother cooking. I'll pick something up on the way home." When he smiled and gave me that crazy look as if it meant something more than it did, I held up a hand. "I'm doing this because you've been behaving. And if you don't follow me then I guess you deserve a treat."
He grinned at me. "Yes, Onyx."
I glared. "Stop it."
"I didn't do anything."
He was saying that, but the look on his face was like he had a secret and he knew what was really going on. If I couldreach him, I would put his head in the kitchen sink, turn on the water, and drown him. Instead, I sighed and pushed my fingers through my hair.
"I'm going to go get dressed and leave before I kill you."
"You don't mean that."
I made quick work of putting on a simple outfit. I snatched up my wallet. "I do!" I called before I slammed the door behind me.
The door opened. "I love you!"
I shoved my finger up in the air, and tried to wipe the stupid smile off my face.
********************
Adam's door was locked.When I tried to open it, it didn’t budge.
"Adam?" I called, my fist banging a little harder as my heart tripped. "Hey, you home?"
What was I asking? He wasalwayshome. My brother didn't leave the house. Ever. So if he was gone…
No, I didn't want to think about it. Didn't want to dream up scenarios where he was sick in there or at the hospital again or…
You know he's not dead. He can't be. No, someone would have called me by now.
"Adam? Adam!" I called, my heart racing as I hammered against the door. "Please, please open up!"
The door cracked. Adam's eye filled the space, the chain still connected. I sucked in a breath, relief flooding me as I saw him.
"Hey," I said. "What's wrong? Let me in." I lifted the bag in my hand. "I brought take out and groceries."
"Leave them," he muttered.
I frowned. "Why?"
"I said leave them, Louis."
My heart throbbed. I laid a hand on the door, trying to see more of him, but all I could see was that eye.
"You're not… you're not hurting yourself, right?" I whispered.
I jumped as the door slammed in my face. My heart hammered harder, pulse racing as I stood there and stared at his door. He was getting bad again. When he was like this, it was a toss up of whether I should leave him alone and let him regulate, or I would get a call soon. There was no in between.
"Adam, please," I begged. "You don't text me back. Don't answer my calls. Please let me in."
The door opened more. When I could see a part of him, the chain now off, I quickly assessed him. My eyes swept up and down his body, taking in every inch as quickly as I could. Adam closed the door a little more.
"That's why I don't want you here," he snapped. "Did I ask you to look at me? No. But you're going to sit here and give me that fucking look of pity while you think about how big of a burden I am. I don't need that. Leave me alone."
