Page 67 of Slayin Villain
“You know what?”I gritted my teeth, grabbing a pack of smokes.“Fuck both of you.”
“We’re tryin’ to,” Pagan quipped, already yanking drawers open like he owned the place.“But you’re moving too slow.”
I dropped down on the edge of the bed.This was punishment.Not the kind with fists or chains.This was club justice, slow, humiliating, and loud.
“Can’t believe I’m rooming with Rome,” I muttered.
“Can’t believe it took this long,” Irish said, dropping a bundle of condoms into the box.“You two been acting like bitchy exes for weeks.Fuck and get it over with already.Am I right?”
I rolled my eyes at Irish’s attempt to sound like anything but the fucking leprechaun on steroids that he was.
“Think of it like couple’s therapy.”Pagan grinned again, then clapped me on the shoulder.“Except with more holes in the drywall and less crying.Hopefully.”
“There will be crying,” Irish added with a shit-eating smirk.“From someone.Maybe Rachel.Maybe Ember.Maybe you.”
I stood, ready to punch something when I heard it, the unmistakable sound of heels on the floor outside.I turned to the door just in time to see Ember, her curly hair twisted up in a messy bun, a soft dress hugging her frame, standing there looking hesitant.
She hadn’t expected an audience.Her eyes flicked to Pagan, to Irish, then back to me.
“Hey,” she said quietly.
“You here for the garage sale?”Pagan asked, holding up a pair of my boxer briefs.“Got plenty of used goods.”
“Get out,” I snapped, glaring at them.
Pagan just laughed and walked out with a wink at Ember.“Here to say congrats to the new roomies, sweet thing?”
Irish followed, but not before muttering, “Better stock up on whiskey and patience.”
The door clicked shut behind them.
Silence stretched between us.
“Is it true?”Ember finally asked, eyes locked on me.“You and Rome… living together?”
I crossed my arms.“Yeah.Club’s orders.”
She looked down.“That’s fucked.”
“So’s running off with him,” I shot back, unable to hold it in any longer.“You thinking about it?About leaving?”
She didn’t answer right away.Just stared at my half-packed bag like it told her something I wouldn’t.
“Don’t turn this on me,” she said finally.“You only gave a damn once you thought I was pregnant.”
I took a step toward her.“Maybe.”I wasn’t going to lie.Not now.“Something shifted.When I saw that test, I… I saw a future I hadn’t let myself want.”
She blinked, thrown off by my brutal honesty.
“You can’t just fuck around with me when shit gets scary, Villain.”Her voice cracked, raw emotion leaking out.“You don’t get to claim me when your other girl’s got your real kid.”
“You think I wanted this to be a game?”I growled.“You think I meant to fall into bed with you and wake up giving a damn?”
She stared at me, lips trembling.
“You made me your secret,” she whispered.“Your backup plan.You never claimed me.”
I stepped closer.“You want me to claim you now?”I was too close.My voice too low.“Right here, in the middle of my life falling apart?”
