Fromthatpointon, the day only got shittier and so did my mood.
Scarlett’s father practically nutted when I phoned him to let him know not one, but both of the Vitalis brothers had crashed our brunch.
Alec, the fuckface who aided in the surgical removal of my heart from my body three years ago, was gone by the time Scarlett and I came out of that bathroom.
Demitri had stuck around like a fucking parasite.
I thought when I told Scarlett’s father that the youngest Vitalis was basically stalking his daughter, he’d lose his mind like I had.
Or at least give me the clearance to introduce my fist to Demitri’s smug face.
Instead, SAC Avery proved he was a useless piece of shit all around the board.
“The enemy has laid himself at your feet, Agent. The potential intel of a prolonged encounter like you’ve been given is outstanding. Keep him with you as long as possible. You can get back enroute to Quantico with Scarlett whenever he—”
I hung up before he finished.
And before I unleashed a lashing of profanity that would have left his face red for days and me unemployed.
That’s how we ended up back at that same pothole of a motel we’d left behind just this morning.
In a brand new room.
On the first floor.
With Demitri fucking Vitalis staying the night.
This road trip fucking blows.
Currently, Scarlett was tucked into a tiny ball on the edge of the bed nearest me, her knees hugged to her chest with her head resting on them and facing away from me.
Demitri was on the floor right in front of her like an obedient dog sitting at the feet of its owner.
Me, I had one hand resting on the butt of my gun and one wrapped around the neck of a bottle of Jack. My ass was sore from sitting guard in a chair that every second convinced me more it was made of rocks rather than anything comfortable.
The T.V. had been running in the background for hours now.
Scarlett hadn’t uttered a word since we left the cafe.
She hadn’t even looked in my direction.
I’d been exerting so much energy trying to convince myself I wasn’t bothered by her ignoring me that my hairline had broken out with sweat from the effort.
I was bothered. I wanted her attention, and I wanted it badly.
I wanted those sorrow-kissed eyes on me so I could drain out the sadness and fill them with anything else. Literally anything other than that. Her sadness fucking crippled me on a whole new level.
I didn’t even have to wonder if I’d tear the entire world apart just to get rid of it.
I knew I would.
When Demitri stepped out to go down to the lobby to pick up the Thai we’d ordered in, I held my breath and hoped she’d break her silence. Less than five minutes later, he was back, and my appetite went to shit.
We three ate while a cable channel played Weekend at Bernie’s. Demitri made annoying commentary throughout, always tossing a quip in Scarlett’s direction and turning to see if the joke landed him a smile.
He was awarded four in total.
Only two were real.