Page 71 of Wicked Tricks

“What if she-”

“Zar!” I snapped, turning around and grabbing her by the shoulders, stopping her before she had the chance to follow me out the door, “no one, OK?”

She pursed her lips but nodded once, “be careful!” she shouted as I slammed the door behind me. I pulled out my phone again, reading the text over and over before I got in the car.

Why the lookout?

What did she know?

What didn’t I know?

I drove there fast, weaving between the traffic as the sun disappeared. My hand gripped the wheel tightly, my fingers dug sharply into my palm.

How could my mother do this?

So badly, she wanted me to take control yet here she was, meddling as if I were an incompetent child. My phone started to ring, and my mothers name appeared at the top of the screen. I growled, stabbing the decline button.

She rang again and again and each time I declined the call. I did not want her in my ear right now, telling me what to do.

I knew what I had to do - I had to make things right with Rome.

I turned sharply onto the almost missable road that led to the top of the mountain. Swerving around the tight corners, I got to test the limits of my car’s handling capabilities. I looked out over the city, the dots of lights starting to contrast against the darkening sky and thought about the first night that Rome brought me here. This girl, who intrigued me so much that I just had to see her again and again. This girl, who softened me even though she was so tough and hard.

I didn’t understand it, I didn’t try to understand it.

My tyres chirped gently as I pulled to a stop, and she came into view in the light of my headlights. Her car faced me, ready to leave at any moment. I recognised the escape tactic and realised that she still didn’t trust me.

She leaned against the hood of the car with her arms crossed.

I met her eyes, as I shifted my car into park, and we gazed at each other for a moment. Her eyes were dark and accusing, her hair blew gently in the breeze and caressed her chest. I felt the violent daggers she sent me through her stare, but I couldn’t help but sit back in the driver’s seat and just take her in for the moment.

Maybe this woman was going to kill me, but I still felt the need to go to her.

I stepped out of my car, closed the door and made my way towards her.

“Hey,” I said softly, putting my hands in my pockets to show that I didn’t come to hurt her.

She didn’t reply, but was silently bouncing her leg against the car.

I leaned against it too, testing the waters.

My shoulder grazed hers and she jumped, instantly moving away and cutting off the physical connection.

“I met your mother today,” she said.

I nodded, “I heard.”

She shook her head, “how’d you do it?”

“Do what?” I frowned.

“Did you go through my phone while I was sleeping? Did you go through Bea or Sierra’s room? Was Grace just a distraction so you could snoop around Lilith’s while I drove eight hours away from the city? Or did you go through my shit after you fucked me?”

“No!” I said.

“How then?”

“I didn’t, Rome. My mother found out from someone.”

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