Page 50 of Mistaken Prejudice

His expression closed up. “No one deserves to be abused. Especially not by those who are supposed to protect and love them.”

A lump formed in my throat. Was he talking about one of his brothers? There was still so much I didn’t know about him.

“I agree,” I said with a strangled voice.

Andrei pushed the door open, and we were struck by the warm breeze of a summer night dream. Yes. It took me less than a second to forget everything we discussed and enjoy my day with Andrei. It suddenly occurred to me that I’d forgotten to discuss something important.

“So I’ll see you on Monday, boyfriend?” I emphasized the last word with a goofy smile. Andrei’s whole face lit up before he gave me a dirty look.

“Good night, Miles.” He started to walk back to his truck.

“Good night, boyfriend,” I called after him, my voice dripping with satisfaction. He didn’t say a word, but before he climbed into his truck, he looked at me over his shoulder. The smile on his face was everything I needed to assure myself this was real.

Chapter 15

Andrei

“Will you buy me presents?” Jess asked for the tenth time today as he lay on my bed and watched me pack my suitcase. He kicked his legs in the air while Levi helped me fold my clothes. I had a little less than an hour before I needed to meet Miles at the airport. At first, the plan was for him to pick me up from here, but after Chief insisted on being the one to drive me, I told Miles we’d just meet there.

Butterflies danced in my stomach every time I thought about us being alone in Paris. Technically, we wouldn’t be alone. Despite being busy with shows, Elliot would still be there and even Daniel would join us in two days. I didn’t mind it at all. For starters, Miles said we’d have our own separate floor. Secondly, I visited his house a few more times this week and got to eat another dinner with Daniel, and we got along just fine. In fact, fine was an understatement. With him being a successful attorney and with my plans on becoming one, we had a lot to talk about.

“Of course I will. I already have the list of candies you want me to buy for you,” I answered Jess as I put my favorite pair of sneakers in my bag.

“Sweet!” he said and jumped off the bed so he could wrap his long arms around me and kiss my cheek. “I’ll miss you, Chica.” He pouted and I ruffled his silver hair. He switched from pink to platinum a few days ago and he was rocking it.

“I’ll be back here by Monday.”

He rested his head on my shoulder as I continued to stroke his soft hair. “What if you’ll have too much fun there and won’t want to come back to us?” His question was ridiculous, not because it was childish but because there was no chance I’d ever leave him or any one of them behind.

“We talked about it, Jess,” Levi spoke before I could. “Andrei won’t leave us behind. He’s going for one weekend. That’s all.” Despite the calmness in his voice, I did notice the worry in his eyes. We were all just a bunch of kids who still tried to overcome their abandonment issues. While Levi and I used to have families who just gave up on us, or we gave up on them, Jess never had one. Growing up, he jumped from one foster home to the next until he met Levi. Instability affected a child, and I guess we were all living proof of that.

“Yeah, Jess.” Diesel’s gravelly voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turned to find him leaning against the wall, playing with his lighter. The small snapping sounds from the metal lighter irritated me, always had, yet I’d never tell him that. He peeled his back off the wall and moved to sit on his bed. We both shared this room. While I had the right side, he owned the left. “Stop being so needy,” he sneered at Jess with a bored expression that made Jess wince.

“Stop being so mean,” Jess mumbled quietly as he pressed his cheek harder against my shoulder. A small gesture he did whenever he sought comfort.

“What did you say?” Diesel snapped back, ready to fight over nothing. Lately, that’s how he was. Always burning on low steam, ready to start a fire.

“He said that you’re being an asshole and he’s right, so stop it,” I argued with my gaze set on him. The corners of his eyes crinkled, but he said nothing. Instead, he moved from his bed toward the open window and pulled out a pack of smokes. With his jaw clenched, he lit up the cigarette and blew the smoke out the window.

“What about the Fool’s Moon?” he asked while staring outside. Fool’s Moon was an epic rave that took place every few months on a full moon—dancing, music, and drugs. We often went raving together, mostly on school breaks, and Fool’s Moon was our favorite party by far. The party would take place next weekend, and I was excited about it.

“You know I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I declared.

He looked at me over his shoulder. “Will he come?” His voice was low and unwelcoming.

I closed my suitcase and rose to my feet. “Yeah, I invited Miles, and he said he’ll come. Is that going to be a problem?”

“A problem?” he asked sarcastically. “The more, the merrier, isn’t it?” A fake smile covered his features and was erased as soon as his eyes dropped to his hand. I watched as he used his fingers to flick the ash off the cigarette and then moved his shirtless body to shut the window.

He was so angry with me, and there was nothing I could do about it. Well, there was, but breaking up with Miles was not an option. The problem was that his anger wasn’t solely directed at me but at everyone—especially Jess, who was an easy target for him.

The room reeked of cigarettes and resentments, and we stood in silence while the stench trickled in.

“Are you ready to go, champ?” As always, it was Chief who saved us from ourselves. He leaned on the doorway with his hands crossed over his chest, dressed in blue jeans and a white tank top.

“Yeah,” I answered with a sore throat and grabbed my bag off the floor. “I’m ready.”

***