Page 53 of Gray Area

“I got some business shit that—”

We are both cut off by shouting coming from outside, and I remember RomanandVivian in my apartment. “Fuck,” I shout as I run.

Chapter 28

VIVIAN

Roman has nestled himself up against me as he loses himself in TV. I, on the other hand, am hyper aware of every noise and shadow. My heart is racing, I can hear the blood pounding in my ears, and I hope Roman can’t hear it.

The last sound that I heard was two loud cars, but it’s been silent now for a few minutes. As time stretches on, I wonder if I should just go ahead and get Roman out of here. But where would I take him? I guess I could go to a neighbor’s, maybe have them call the police.

A creaking sound brings me back to my surveillance. Then the doorknob starts to rattle, followed by a loud banging. Declan would not need to bang on the door, I realize—he’d have a key. Roman stiffens beside me and looks up to my face.

“Roman, let’s go to the bathroom,” I tell him, ready to put my escape plan into action.

The poor kid is frozen in place, so I lift him off the couch, and once he is on his feet I gently push at his back as the door is kicked in. I am immediately rooted in place and shove Roman behind me as a lethal-looking man with long hair and a matching beard forces his way in with a gun pointed at me.

“Who the fuck are you?” he demands.

“Fuck you!” I shout back, thinking if I move, they may shoot me, but Roman can still get out of here.

“Where is he?” the man growls at me. “Where is Roman?”

I feel Roman move behind me at the mention of his name. “Axel!” he shouts and moves quickly around me to the maniac in front of me who embraces him with one arm but keeps the gun trained on me.

“Who the fuck are you?” the thug named Axel demands again.

“This is Declan’s girlfriend, Vivian!” Roman announces.

Another man appears from behind Axel. “It’s the girl!” the dirty blond man says, grinning, his eyes sparkling.

“Yeah, Dad was totally right, Slade,” Roman says to the grinning man.

Slade reaches around and pushes down Axel’s arm and the gun, never breaking eyes with Roman. “Of course he was. Dad knows Declan the best.”

“Well, he’s known him the longest,” Roman offers, and the Slade guy and Roman exchange a nod.

I stand fixed in place, watching the entire scene before me. Axel, Slade, Roman—these are Declan’s brothers. Axel studies me, looking a little less threatening now that he knows his little brother is safe and they have figured out who I am.

Declan bursts into the room and assesses the scene and comes straight to me, pushing his brothers aside. “What the fuck, Axel?” he barks at his brother once he sees the broken door andhis drawn gun. Declan’s eyes look me over, then he takes me in his arms. He presses a kiss to the side of my head, then leans back to look at me. “Are you okay?” he asks me, and all I can do is look at him like he is crazy.

Meanwhile Roman grabs Slade’s hands, and they exchange an oh-my-God look at Declan’s behavior and hop a little like teenage girls.

Declan turns back to his brothers. “Take Roman home and help Dad get him to bed. I’ll be over to help clean up in a minute.”

“Shouldn’t you leave it for the police to see?” I ask him in complete confusion. “Won’t they want to see the damage for evidence?”

All of the brothers before me freeze, and I replay what I said, wondering what made them react that way. It’s Slade who breaks the silence. “Come on, Roman. It’s a school night, you little dork,” he says and ushers him out.

Axel remains behind, still looking at me.

“What, Axel?” Declan says to him hotly.

“I like you,” he says to me, and then turns and walks out like that’s the most normal thing in the world to say to someone after you’ve pulled a gun on them.

I look from the place where Axel just was to Declan. “Axel’s been through some shit,” Declan mutters in explanation.

I nod absentmindedly. “Declan, you are going to call the police, aren’t you?” I ask him, searching his face.

---