Page 54 of Tristano

I push her ahead of me, smacking her ass.

She giggles, but continues on, leaving me to smile as I watch her swing her hips.

The girl owns me, heart and soul.

I think it’s about time I claim her as well.

ChapterTwelve

“Idon’t think this is a good idea,” Tris tells me for the sixth time.

It might not be, but I can’t leave without a word. Most of the girls won’t care, but Meredith will. She will worry, and I don’t want that.

“I have to go. I know you don’t like it, but it’s something that’s important to me. Ricky will watch my back. I know you want to be there, but I can’t be seen with you here. Not until we are out of here. I don’t want the drama it will bring.”

He knows it’s true. Even though I made him put a hoodie on when we went to the store for boxes last night, he still might be recognized. I mean, we passed at least two cops I knew on the short walk to and from the store.

Thankfully, they only nodded and kept on. Seems like word of my banishment has spread. Normally those same guys would have stopped and shot the shit with me.

I’m a pariah now.

“Are you sure you can trust this Ricky guy?”

“Yes. He’s the only one I trust. It’s not like I’m going in as a sting. I’m not even going to dress as Sabrina. I just want to tell her what’s up so she can stay safe and maybe convince the other girls to stay safe too.”

He heaves out a sigh. “You keep your phone on you at all times. Ricky gets my burner number and updates me every five minutes. That’s my compromise. If I don’t hear from him, I will come down there.”

Moving closer to him, I rest my hands on his chest. “Have I told you that this possessiveness is kind of working for me?”

“Don’t change the subject.” He growls.

It’s like he doesn’t even know how sexy it is that he’s gone from aloof friend to possessive boyfriend overnight.

Yesterday he was still walking on eggshells and trying to appease me. Now that I’ve admitted that I want to be with him too, he’s cranked it up ten notches. It’s hot as hell. If I didn’t have anywhere to be, I might try and convince him that the healing I really need is the kind he can give me between my legs.

I can’t get distracted though. We almost have everything packed up already. At least, everything I want to keep.

“Ricky is going to want to know who you are,” I admit softly.

“Then tell him. We are a team, remember?” he reminds me gently.

Leaning up, I get right in his face. “Agreed. I’ll let him know.”

I go to move back, but he grasps me behind the neck, keeping me right in his face.

My heart races. I want him to kiss me again. I thought he might last night, but he kept his hands to himself. At least, until we went to bed. Then he spooned me, but no matter how much I wiggled, he refused to go further.

It was quite annoying, but I get why he did it. Tristano has never been one to rush anything. He takes his time and plots out his course. He has this easygoing personality that makes him seem like he never takes anything seriously, but I see through the I. He’s more than what he wants people to believe.

He’s intelligent, kind, caring, and possessive as fuck. He is harder on himself than anyone else could ever be. He wants to make the people around him proud, and I know for a fact that he would give his life for anyone in his family.

So when he only brushes a kiss to the tip of my nose, I don’t let the disappointment show. Instead, I smile.

“Be a good girl,anima gemella.Do not make any reckless decisions. I’ll see you in a little bit.”

“I’ll be safe and back before you know it.”

The knock on the door breaks the tension of the moment. Moving back from him, I go to the door. Opening it, I smile at Ricky.