Page 23 of The Burnt Heart

My stomach flipped violently at the sight. Her muffin was uneaten, just crumbled up into smaller pieces on the plate. My breathing sped up. Was she sick? Even though I knew it was reckless, I turned on my heel and passed by for another look. It wasn’t enough. I wanted to plaster myself on the glass and provoke her into interacting with me. Only my promise to Logan had me inching reluctantly away. She’d asked us for space, and I had to respect Adelaide’s wishes. For now. Pushing would onlymake her hate us more if that was possible. A rough hand yanked my collar and Jonah growled in my ear.

“Quit it Stokes. I don’t want to hurt you, but you can’t be doing this.”

“You can hurt me. Just let Adelaide see, it might get me some sympathy.” I grinned, letting him see how unhinged I was. My insides were a jangled mess, a blistering storm that strained to break free and create havoc. He growled, marching me away from the café, and released me with a jerk. His rough treatment didn’t wipe the manic smile from my face. Jonah rolled his eyes and looked at the sky.

“Is this going to be a thing?” he sighed, gruff and low.

“Adelaide wants two months of space, but if she thinks I’m going to go that long without seeing her?” I snorted and Jonah scowled, carding his hand through his hair.

“So what? You going to try it on with me every time? Who’s looking after your girl if I’m tied up scrapping with you? Give me a break, it’s already hard enough now that she’s spending time with Taillight Ray?” His bushy eyebrows pressed together, world-weary.

“He’s a prick, right?” I leaned in conspiratorially. “Must have a secret drug problem or a rotation of mistresses. You’d prefer me, surely?”

Jonah grumbled to himself and marched back to the café. I trailed behind him, winding my fingers around my silver stud.

“Let’s make a deal,” he tossed over his shoulder. “I’ll let you check on her, but if I see you, you’re gone. You try to get close, talk or grab at her, deal is off. Agreed?”

He was tossing me a lifeline. One I didn’t deserve. My lungs flooded with sweet oxygen. Like I hadn’t taken a full breath since Adelaide had left. How far I’d fallen that even an unfettered glimpse of Adelaide was the highlight of my day.

“Done. Deal,” I spat into my hand and held it out to him. Jonah’s lip curled with disgust. Okay, I guess we weren’t shaking on it. I held out my pinky, and he dismissed it with a derisive snort.

“Why’d you do it?” His gaze turned back to the blonde in the window, but his jaw was tight.

“Ask your boss,” I sneered, veins hot with frustration. Logan wanted to tell Adelaide what had prompted us to take such rash action, but I refused. He wasn’t the one whose life had been threatened. Antoni was still sitting on the information he’d read in my letter. I didn’t have anything else to lose, but I didn’t want to bring innocent people into this mess. Desperate people make mistakes. But if we accused her father of violence, would she believe us? I didn’t want to know the answer to that question. Her father was her hero. When you grow up in the foster home we did, you learn it's safer to keep things close to your chest. Even when you think you can trust someone, it might not be safe. I loved Adelaide, but I didn't know if I'd ever be able to shake off the fear that lived inside of me. I'd protected Briar, Logan and myself when we were younger, thrown my body on the line for them. But even honing my skills as a boxer hadn't allowed me to protect myself against the massive contingent of Orazio men. What use is an excellent right hook when you're knocked out from behind? Pinned on the ground by more bodies than I could shift. Antoni ensured it wasn't a fair fight, ever, and that haunted me. I prided myself on my ability to protect those I loved and in the end I failed.

“She doesn’t believe any of that shit Nicole said, so what was the real reason?” Jonah pressed.

“I don’t mean Adelaide. I mean her father.” I ground my teeth. Jonah flicked me a flat look, but surprise flared deep in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. If I have to put my life on the line, I’ll do it.”

“Well, fuck off. Try again tomorrow.”

I didn’t linger, pulling back as the hulking security guard muttered under his breath. There was a lightness in my step, a purpose that had leeched out since we imploded everything. I ducked into a florist and pulled out the piece of paper where I’d made notes.

“Hi, how can I help you?” the woman at the counter asked, trimming some stems. I hummed at the list I’d made.

“Do you have white tulips? I need a bunch of those, please.” The florist gave me a knowing smile and slid a card over to me.

“Do you want to write an apology message to go with these flowers?”

I huffed a laugh. Of course, she would understand why I’d picked those flowers.

The internet said they meant forgiveness and new beginnings. The message I wrote wasn’t an apology though, it was a promise for the future.

I’d take you to For Food’s Sake, they have better coffee, and I’d order an apple crumble muffin to share.

I’d promised Logan I wouldn’t approach Adelaide for two months, but I had no intention of letting her forget me. Adelaide could go out with Ray as many times as she liked, but I would always be there watching. I intended to let her know just how well I knew her. She wanted to go out with other guys? I’d be there every time, reminding her I could do better.

Every. Time.

It wasn’t arrogance, just fact. There was no one outside of Briar and Logan, who knew Adelaide better.

By the time two months were up, I’d have a complete list of dates I had to make good on and I couldn’t wait.

13

Adelaide

“Don’t move, I wouldn’t want to nick your skin.”

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