Page 109 of Easy Steal

Rome had offered to stay with me for the night, but I told her not to bother. I wanted to be alone. To process the events of the past few days, to feel some semblance of normal. Still, she walked me into the apartment, and lingered as I wandered around, picking up and putting my neglected home back together.

She spoke absent-mindedly, filling the silence with empty words.

I knew that she was still fuming from our encounter with Sierra, but I also knew that she was keeping it inside for now to spare my feelings. It wasn’t like her to keep her thoughts quiet, but I appreciated that she was.

Instead, we spoke about work, renovations we wanted to make to the club, and the possibility of upgrading to new computers. Once she mentioned new software, Iknewshe was trying to butter me up.

“Rome,” I chuckled, cutting her off mid-sentence, “go home.”

“What?” she frowned.

“I’m okay. You don’t need to babysit me.”

“I’m not babysitting, I’m keeping you company. Like a friend does when another friend is upset.”

“Okay, but it’s weirding me out. Stop being so bubbly and nice.”

“I am nice,” she spat.

I rolled my eyes, “yes, Rome. You’re a ray of fucking sunshine.”

She opened her mouth to snap back at me, but there was a knock at the door that cut her off. We frowned at each other, and Rome put up a hand, with her other hand hovering on the gun she had laid out on my coffee table.

I reached for my own, the spare hidden underneath the kitchen sink.

We were all on high alert, between the Redliners, and now finding out that Sierra was working with them.

The person knocked again, this time harder, causing both Rome and I to jump.

Rome headed slowly towards the door, gun pressed flat against her thigh. I followed behind, watching.

She cracked the door open a sliver, and peered out into the hall.

She sighed and shook her head, opening the door wider.

“What do you want?” she said.

“Hello to you too,” Sam’s voice travelled through the apartment.

I narrowed my eyes towards him as he looked around Rome to find me. Rome stepped in front of him, blocking his path. He looked down at her with a completely blank look on his face.

“I could pick you up and move you out of the way, you realise.”

“Yes,” Rome said, crossing her arms, “but I also have a gun.”

“Fair point.” he said, putting his hands in the air. “Look, can I just talk to Liv?”

Rome looked over her shoulder at me, the question mark on her face.

I looked between her and Sam, and sighed, nodding.

“Come in,” I waved him inside.

Rome stepped aside but kept her eyes narrowed on Sam.

“Hi,” Sam smiled down at me.

“Hi.”

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