Arranged love

TITAN

“IT WAS ARSON,” Jeffrey states as we stand in the living room of our Royal Suite at Kingdom. He reaches down and picks up his shirt and jeans to start getting dressed. You can never be too careful about who might be wearing a wire. He knows the drill after working with us for so long.

Everyone is here. Bones, Grave, Cross, Luca, and Haven. I guess Nite had messaged Luca. Then Haven called Jasmine. It’s one big party. Emilee has been passed out in my bed for the past eight hours. Dr. Lane is here waiting to check on her. He took her vitals while she slept, but he wants to examine her closely for the next twenty-four hours, so Grave has given up his room for him to crash in while we wait for her to wake.

Bones lets out a growl. “What the fuck was she thinking?”

“She’s been through a lot,” Haven snaps at him. Luca places his hands on his wife’s shoulders to calm her down.

Everyone is on edge.

“Is that what your report says?” Cross asks, sitting on the couch.

He turns to look at him. “No.”

“Thanks.” I reach out to shake his hand. It’ll cost me a great deal of money. His help always comes with a price. But it’s always been one I’m willing to pay.

“Why did you lie?”

We all turn to see Emilee stepping into the living room. She looks like a victim from a bombing. She’s still covered in ash and has black marks all over her skin. Her once perfect makeup is smeared under her eyes.

“Em …?”

“Why did you lie?” she asks, staring at the marshal.

“Why did you start the fire?” Bones asks her.NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

EMILEE

I drag my eyes to look at Bones when I answer him. “It all needed to burn.”

“Jesus,” Titan hisses.

Bones steps into me. His eyes narrowing at mine. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?” he snaps.

Jasmine places her hands on his chest and pushes him back. “Let me talk to her.” She doesn’t allow anyone to protest. She grabs my arm and yanks me back into Titan’s bedroom, then closes the door behind us. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?” she hisses, repeating his words.

I don’t answer.

“They’re going to lock you up in a psych ward,” she snaps.

I fall on the end of the bed. “Let them.” I could use some time alone. Maybe then I’ll get some peace and quiet.

“Emilee, you’re talking crazy.” She falls to her knees before me.

“Nothing matters anymore.”

“Don’t do this.” She shakes her head, her red hair bouncing around her face. “Don’t go insane on me. You’re stronger than this.”

“Am I?”

“Yes,” she barks, jumping to her feet. Reaching down, she grabs my shoulder and yanks me up as well. “You need to get a grip, Emilee! This is your life you’re putting in jeopardy. For what? A mom and dad who got divorced?”

“You don’t know what it’s like!” I shove her off me. It’s more than that, isn’t it? The lies? The betrayal? I fucked my dad’s business partner to save my mother. And he was married to her. I became a fucking escort. I fucked Titan and Bones at the same time. Nothing I have done is sane.

“What? To come from a broken home?” She laughs at that.

“No. To have no one.”

Her face hardens, and her green eyes narrow. “I do. I know it more than you do. But there is a difference between you and me. I didn’t get the chance to run away from it.” And with that, she turns and exits the room, slamming the door behind her.

It opens back up immediately, and Titan enters. “Please go away,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I want to be alone.”

“Last time you were alone, you set your house on fire.”

“Why is it Cross can do it, but when I do, it’s a fucking tragedy?” I say through gritted teeth,

He frowns. “Emilee …”

“Please, just stop, Titan.” My shoulders begin to shake with anger. “I’m begging you. Just stop.”

“I just want to help you.”

I take in a shaky breath. “I don’t want you.” It’s one of the biggest lies I’ve ever told, but it needed to be said. I’ve fallen for him, and it was the stupidest thing I could have ever done.

He walks over to a bag on the floor and unzips it. Nite had grabbed it off my floor when he dragged me out of the burning house. He pulls out my boarding pass that I had printed off before I set the fire. “What in the fuck is this?”

“I’m going home,” I state.

“This is your home.” He points at the floor.

I almost laugh. “What is? Kingdom? Vegas?” I shake my head. “I haven’t been here for years.”

Walking over to me, he glares down at me. “Let me make myself very clear, Emilee. You are not fucking leaving tomorrow. Or the next day, do you understand me?”

“You can’t make me stay.” I say and my chest tightens. I feel so lost. Confused. Utterly alone even though he’s standing right in front of me.

His jaw tics and his hands fist, wrinkling my ticket. I think he’s going to yell at me. But instead he turns his back to me and heads to the bedroom door. He turns the knob but pauses. He turns to face me. And then he’s charging me. Before I can move, his hands are in my hair. His lips on mine. And he kisses me. With passion. With fury. It’s a mixture of love and hate. His tongue enters my mouth, and he takes my breath away.

When he pulls away, I’m gasping for breath. Opening my heavy eyes, I look up at him. “Titan …”

“I let you walk away from me once, Em. I won’t make that mistake again.” Tears sting my eyes at his words. “Did you hear me? I won’t let you leave. Not me. Not this time.” He runs his thumb over my swollen lips. “Stay here with me. Let me fix it. I promise, I’ll get to the bottom of all of it.” The first tear runs down my cheek. “Let me take care of you. Let me love you.”