He won’t back down from a threat, no matter how vague. Enzo just nods, as if he thinks the point has been made. Lachlan gives him a polite word and then he turns away, leading us out of the conversation and away from the shade of the looming warehouse.
None of us like being threatened, but right now, I can understand why Enzo is on edge.
If there’s instability in our territory, we need to get it under control. We need to figure out what’s causing it and squash it, fast.
We keep our shit in order. Whatever this is, we have to stop it.
Now.
CHAPTER13
Rose
I’m in the library, which has become my sort of safe haven in the house, working on my laptop. I’m scanning a few different websites looking for curating jobs, indulging in the fantasy that I’ll be able to live a normal life and actually pursue the career of my dreams once Aiden and I get married.
It’s a pipe dream, but those are the only kinds of dreams I have these days.
It’s been several days since that incident in the bed, where he brought me to climax with his hand and then came all over my back. Neither of us have mentioned it, and we’ve both taken to sleeping as close to our sides of the bed as possible, leaving a two foot gap between our bodies.
In fact, Aiden has barely even spoken to me or looked at me since that morning.
Part of me feels like I should be glad, since it’s a lot easier to keep my sanity when he’s not looking at me or speaking to me, or–even worse–touching me. But at the same time, I can’t help the little voice in my head that whispers awful things to me, reminding me of how this is just like back in high school, when he acted like he wanted me so badly and then threw me away like trash.
It’s just one more reminder, as if I needed it, that my heart will never be safe with him.
As if summoned by my thoughts of him, Aiden suddenly looms in the library doorway. I can sense his presence before I see him out of the corner of my eye, and I drag my gaze away from my computer and look up.
He’s wearing dark pants, a crisp white shirt, and a casual suit jacket. He looks professional and also somehow a little savage, with just a hint of his tattoos visible beneath his collar.
“Our wedding will take place soon,” he says. “You need a dress.”
My stomach flops like a fish. I’ve known this day was coming, but I had no idea it would be quite this soon.
“Fine,” I say. The word tastes like ash in my mouth. “I’ll go shopping this weekend.”
“No. We’re going now.”
My heart does acrobatics in my chest. I blink, setting my computer aside.
“It’s bad luck,” I blurt. “If you see me in my dress before the wedding. It’s bad luck.”
Aiden smiles, but there’s no warmth in it. It’s even missing the smugness he usually has when he’s making me do something I don’t want to.
It occurs to me that maybe, this is one thing we have in common.
We both don’t want this.
“I think you and I are beyond hoping for good luck,” he says in a low voice.
My heart aches, my chest tightening as if I’ve been pummeled by every word.
He’s probably right.
“All right. I’ll go,” I say. It’s not like I have a choice.
I barely pay attention on the drive over. Something feels different about this. Aiden isn’t gloating, isn’t trying to make me squirm. I don’t think it’s even entered his mind to touch me.
I don’t know what this change in him means, but it puts me on edge.
