Page 55 of Burning Truths
Shoving it away I step forward and lift my head, “You said if I needed anything.” I remind him.
Leaning back he steps to the side and holds out his arm in welcome, “Come in, Kens.” He says.
Romero’s dorm is simple. It’s an open concept like mine but instead of making it full with things that fill a home his is bare of anything other than the essential. Typical man cave with video games, sports gear, and junk food wrappers on the table. It’s cleaner than I thought it would be and that takes me by surprise that I would even notice something as trivial as a clean house. A low laugh slips from me when I realize that I’m thinking about sports and junk food instead of the fact that I was sold and.. Stopping that next thought, my steps pause at the back of his dark brown leather couch.
“Go ahead and have a seat. I’ll be right back with what we need.” Romero says.
Doing as he says my ass sinks into the soft cushion pulling a sigh from my lips. I don’t have long to look around before he’s walking around the corner with several things in his arms. Dropping them on the coffee table he sits beside me. He reaches out to grab my wrist making me jerk my hand away. The reaction is sudden and unexpected, taking us both by surprise.
“Easy.” He says, lifting his hands. “You wanted me to clean you up and that’s all I’m doing.” He reassures me. “I promise.” His words are soft this time.
Nodding my head I slide my hand into his and let him get to work. Using this time to my advantage I decide to get as much information as I can from someone who isn’t involved.
“Romero.” His name rolls off my tongue.
He hums in response,
“I need to know what’s happened in the last few weeks.” I probe.
His soft eyes peer up at me from what he’s doing, “I don’t know where to begin.” He huffs out a dry laugh.
Biting my bottom lip I search for the right question, “Where isAlly?” I ask. I saw the photos so I feel like this answer is obvious but I need to know if Hank was right.
His head tilts but he goes back to cleaning the cuts, “She’s been locked away at the Stones apartment the last time I heard. Not for a lack of trying to get the hell out of there from the look plastered across her face every time she’s at school.” He snips. His tone is almost protective.
So Ally has been living with them but she’s not happy like the photos showed. A face pops into my head and I fucking hate myself for even bringing it up but the question pours from my mouth anyway. “And the woman with Oakley?” I ask.
Sure, I avoided what I really wanted to know. Avoided saying the name that brings nothing but horror into my bones.
His thick brows dip over his eyes, “That’s the blue haired girl, right?”
I nod.
“Look, I don’t know much about them other than the blue one is a little off her rocker if you know what I mean.” He lets out a chuckle. “The others don’t come around much. Hell the brothers haven’t been in classes since everything went down.”
“What have they been doing?” I rush out.
He finishes wrapping the white ace band clipping it to my palm once he’s done. Tapping my knee he motions for me to flex my fingers making sure it’s not too tight.
“I’m not in their circle. I don’t run those types of scenes, Kens. You know they don’t trust anyone and now I see why. This shit has been crazy for everyone. The school board is on edge because West has completely dropped from the team. Cole is fucking dead and yet they seem to continue on as if he never lived. Now they have G and his boys scouring the streets for any sign of you. They even-” He pauses.
“They what?” I urge.
Looking up at me his eyes meet mine, “They brought in outsiders. Word has it they dragged one of the founders and Ally into the woods and forced her to kill him. Del Mar has been under the thumb of Ry-” He skips over his name, “his thumb. At his mercy and Kens,” he squeezes my knee, “He has shown no mercy when it came to finding you.”
I can hear his words but none of them connect. Confusion and smoky illusions collide in a bloodbath we were bound to be. Panic creeps into my blood turning it into ice. Warm hands cup my cheeks.
“Breathe Kenna.” He begs.
He begged me not to leave them. He begged me to live for them. Green eyes held me and cried for me to stay with them.
“Kenna.” Harsh hands shake me.
Fingers snap in front of my face bringing me back into Romeros dorm room. Worried chocolate eyes assess me before leaning back.
“I think I should call one of the brothers.” He says under his breath.
“No!” I shout. Jumping to a stand my leg bumps into his, knocking me off balance.