Page 25 of Ravaged By the Dark (The Righteous 2)
Arek followed Renee into her kitchen that barely fit two people and leaned up against the counter. He had no idea what the hell he was doing. He should leave and not come back, let her live her life without the typhoon of insanity he would undoubtedly bring into her and J.J.’s lives. He was in no position to take on a serious role in either of their lives. Hell, he killed people for a living, fucked a new girl every week, and a kid…
He had never spent more than five minutes with a child, any child.
How the hell could he pull off being boyfriend and role model?
Yet, the thought of leaving, walking out the door, and never coming back, was something he couldn’t even fathom. This girl and little boy had gotten under his skin in a way that no one else ever had—in a way he didn’t even know was possible.
“I don’t have anything fancy, but I did just grocery shop.” Renee’s voice shook as she rambled. “There’s milk, juice, soda, water, or coffee. I can make coffee. I don’t keep alcohol in the house. My mother was an alcoholic. Did I already mention that? Anyway, what would you like?”
He couldn’t help but grin at her nervousness. He’d seen the heated look she’d been giving him off and on all day. She tried to hide it, but it was there. She wanted him as much as he wanted to lay her out on the table like she was his next meal.
But he said, “Coffee sounds good.”
He spotted brochures on the tiny table and leaned over to grab them. They were apartments and not just any apartments, but ones in New York.
“Are you thinking of moving?” He held up the brochures, and she blushed as she turned to the sink to fill the coffee pot with water.
“I was, I guess I still am. I don’t know. All I do know is that I can’t stay in this house,” Renee said.
“Why do you have to move?”
“It’s complicated. Let’s just say it’s better if I move far away, and to be honest, this place is too much for me to pay for with…well, everything going on.” Renee didn’t look at him. The thought of her leaving and never coming back caused a thread of panic to erupt in his chest. He couldn’t let her walk away.
“Why New York?”
“The dance school I’d love to attend is there. I sent in a submission video and am waiting to hear if I got accepted. If I do, then I’ll have some choices to make, but no matter what, my brother stays with me.”
He smiled at the determination in her voice. She was no child. She was a fine, grown-ass woman. Still, the idea that her mother took off, stole her savings, left her with all the house and no doubt bills for the house was horrible. Then on top of that, she left Renee with her baby brother was like being dealt a poker hand that most would fold on.
“I’d like to see you dance,” Arek said.
“I’m pretty sure you’ve seen me dance a few times.” Renee looked at him from under her thick lashes, a deep blush creeping across her cheeks.
“I don’t mean that kind of dance, although if we could turn that into a private show, I wouldn’t complain,” Arek teased and loved her sweet laugh and the way her eyes crinkled at the corners in response.
How could someone be so sexy and adorable at the same time? He moved, so he was standing in front of her. She pushed back into the counter, her breathing quick as her eyes darted from side to side as if she was looking to escape. He held up the brochure.
“I want to see you do this.” She looked at the image of a theater on Broadway and the dancer flying through the air. Her eyes flicked back up to his.
“I don’t do ballet,” she whispered and then swallowed hard. Arek gripped the counter on either side of her small frame, and her pupils dilated.
“Are you afraid of me?” he asked softly into her ear.
The room was so quiet that he heard her swallow, could feel the nervous tension radiating off her sexy body. The scent of her coconut and kiwi body wash fueled his senses. Arek held himself perfectly still, all too aware that like the deer she portrayed on stage, one wrong move would send her running.
“Yes,” Renee said, her voice so soft he almost missed her answer.
“I won’t hurt you. I’d never hurt you,” Arek said, taking in her fearful expression.
“Maybe not physically.” Renee looked away from him. From the little he’d learned tonight of her life, no one had stuck around. She’d already told him with a bit of probing that her father had taken off, then her stepfather, and now her mother. He didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand she was terrified of letting anyone get close to her. Yet, there was something else too, something he’d picked up on the bus as well.
“Is there more to it?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Those eyes that reminded him of tropical lagoons stared at him in confusion.
“Has someone hurt you, Renee?” She bit her lip and broke their connection by looking away. That was all the confirmation he needed. Whoever this guy was, he was going to find him, and he was going to fuck him up. His mind was already dancing with all the possibilities.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Renee crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to look at him.
