Page 53 of Psychological War

“Oh no, no, uh, go ahead. We’re just going to watch this movie.” I smiled stepping towards the large sectional couch.

“Thank you,” she mumbled. “Tobias, Mommy’s going to shower. Listen to whatever Salem says.”

“Gots you, Mama.” I tried not to flinch at that word. Instead, I watched as he lunged onto the couch next to me.

Mila nodded her head and turned on her heel, leaving both of us sitting there on the couch. Wasting no time, I turned the movie on and brought the throw blanket to cover us up.

As much as I wanted to get lost in the movie, I found myself unable to fully focus on it at all. Instead, my mind went to everything else. Zane, who I met four years ago, but he had no idea. He had no clue that I was the one who knocked him out in that alleyway when he was following me. The longer I kept it a secret the more I felt my heart ache. I didn’t want to have feelings for him, because instead of staying in Boston and ending this torment, I was hiding out at home while he healed. I could handle the scars on my body from Remo and his little team he had. I wanted him to think he had easily beaten me down, until Zane showed up. The moment he appeared in my apartment doorway, the anger seeping through him gave me chills. No one had ever gotten that angry seeing me in that much pain. It ignited my heart and caused me to feel things for someone other than my family that I didn’t know what to do with.

I didn’t realize I was so wrapped up in my head when I felt the side of the couch dip down next to me. I knew who it was without having to look over, his body fitting closely next to me. I found myself curling up, wanting to be closer and feel his warmth.

“You left.”

Peering up at him from my eyelashes, his face was so close to mine I could see the scar across his nose and the faint freckles that almost seemed to match my own. His eyes that bored into mine were so gorgeous that I couldn’t look away.

“Salem,” he warned. “Why did you leave?”

“You needed to rest.” It was such a weak excuse, and he knew that, his eyebrow raising told me so.

“I’ve been resting for four days; I think I’m good on the whole resting shit,” he barked back at me causing me to flinch. I had no idea what caused me to flinch, but the look on his face told me everything. He was honestly pissed I left him alone upstairs again. But the moment I flinched, he softened, barely. But it was there.

“Give me three more days of rest.” It wasn’t a question. I would knock him out again if I had to.

“One.”

“No.”

If it was even possible, he brought his face closer to mine, our noses touching. “One,” he demanded.

“I said no.” I glared back.

I could see him fighting with himself, wanting to fight me. But I would win. I had control over him even if he didn’t like it.

“Two?”

“I can work with two.” I smiled.

“Two days. I need to start training again,” he muttered to himself.

Looking away from him I looked back at the movie. I watched as Mulan shot the fireworks into the mountains. I waited until Zane’s focus was elsewhere until I smiled. “Two days starting tomorrow.”

He whipped his head towards me, trying his best to hide the pain that shot through him.

“No discussion, no arguing, none.” I didn’t dare look at him. I had no idea if he had power over me to change my mind yet. And I didn’t want this to be the thing that I changed my mind about.

“One condition.”

“Depends.” I sighed.

“What fucking movie is this?” he grunted.

I couldn’t help the laugh that came from my lips. I covered my mouth with my hands, trying my best not to wake Tobias who was lying to my right. But the fact that Zane was asking me about a Disney movie had me blushing.

“Mulan.”

“Who is Mulan?”

“Oh, buddy, it’s a good thing you have two days of full rest.” I giggled.

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