Page 113 of Orion Ruined

When I rejected him, I withdrew to my room and I’m still here. I’m too agitated to sleep, though. Later on, I hear Kai and Logan arriving, checking in on me as I pretend to sleep.

If only I knew what to do.

CHAPTER 19

ORION

She said no. No. And she was asleep when Kai and Logan got here. That’s never happened before. Not wanting sex when the three of us are here. I’m not convinced it’s because of her period. She’s had periods while here and that never stopped her. Could it be that she found out about her sister? I doubt it. I burned that piece of paper, and neither Kai nor Logan would tell her. She was restless all night. I know she barely slept. And for the couple of hours that she did sleep, she sobbed a few times. I had to tighten my arms around her body, and only then she would calm down.

Her short breaths on my chest told me she was awake. Something’s torturing her. Or maybe I’m just a paranoid man who’s been betrayed too many times.

Whatever it is, when she finds out about her sister, she’ll be crushed. We discussed last night what the best way to do this is, and agreed we won’t be the ones to tell her. Once we find Milan, he’ll have to come clean one way or another. Which will give her an opening to kill him, and when she does, it will be a revenge kill, thus eliminating any guilt that would come afterward. To get revenge for herself, for her freedom, for her sister. To claim her life back. Because without that, guilt will ruin her life.

I stayed up almost all night. Lying next to her without doing anything, it’s hard. I was hard. I am hard. Logan’s sleeping on her other side, having snored for most of the night. For him, as long as his body’s touching Maisy’s, he sleeps like a baby. At some point in the night, they were holding hands. She was definitely awake then.

The first ray of sun falls on her face, and suddenly she frowns. Her chin begins to wobble and she buries her head against my chest. Her shoulders shake with silent sobs.

“Shh, you’re just having a bad dream, Maisy,” I whisper. “It’s okay. We’re here.”

Kai sits up on the floor and looks at us. I shake my head at him, willing him to go back to sleep. I don’t want her to wake. Not when she’s like this.

Logan opens his eyes and rolls over to face us, covering her body with his, practically breathing down my neck. I hope it will calm her but her sobs grow louder, and now she’s full-on crying.

Logan whispers in her ear as he holds her tight. “Hey, Maisy, shhh, we’re here. It’s just a dream, sweetheart.”

Realizing we’re all awake, she stops for a moment to wipe her eyes, but it does no good. Her shoulders continue to heave and she gives in, covering her face and just sobbing.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m… I’m so sorry–” Her voice falters.

“Maisy, you were dreaming.” I pull her closer and kiss her forehead. “Wake up.”

Kai sits on the bed and all three of us look at each other. Is this just her period? No way.

“Hey, baby girl, come here.”

The moment she hears Kai’s voice she crawls into his arms, still crying. “I’m sorry, Kai.”

“What for? It’s only a bad dream. Don’t worry, baby girl, I’m here. We’re all here. You know we’ll never let anything happen to you. You know that, yes?” He lifts her chin as tears streak her face.

She nods, and more tears roll down like rivers. “I’m sorry. Yes. I had a bad dream.”

She wraps her arms around him and remains like that for a while. Her breathing eases off. All of us are exchanging glances, worried for her.

“I don’t know why I cried. I think I love you so much and I don’t want anything to happen to you.” She looks at us through red eyes and wipes her tears dry. “That’s all.”

“Is that all?” Logan raises his eyebrows at her and laughs, and all of us join in.

She smiles, too. “Can we go out today, the four of us? Like, for lunch? Is that possible?” she asks sweetly, looking at Kai. Of course the fool will do anything she wants.

I catch Logan’s eye. It would be dangerous. But not unheard of. People know the three of us have met already, and we were fine. No one got killed. It was a good meeting, everyone agreed. This could be seen as the second official meeting.

Instead of responding, Kai looks up at me. “I can arrange it at Gianini’s. But we all have to agree to it.”

“I’m game,” Logan says, and strokes Maisy’s arm. “I’d love to take you out, Maisy. You deserve it.”

“I think she does. Gianini’s makes the best pizza in the city. And I kinda own the place. Well, nearly.” The arrogance in Kai’s voice is considerable. She’s already ours, no need to show off, I feel like telling him.

“Very well,” I concede. “I’m not gonna stop this if you two are up for it. We’ll decide later what story to use.”

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