Chapter 90 Best interests

Chapter 90 Best interests


"That isn't safe." 

"I know you don't like it." He crossed the room and took my hands, his fingers warm around mine. "I know you think I'm being reckless. But I can't keep hiding, Calliope. I can't keep watching people get hurt because of me. If I don't do something, if I don't push back, they're never going to stop."

"Damien and Marcus are my uncle's eyes and ears. If we can take them out, if we can make them leave, we buy ourselves time. At least my uncle will take that as a sign to back off. Even if it's just for a while." 

I looked at him, at the exhaustion in his face, the desperation in his eyes, the way he was holding himself together by sheer force of will.

"What if something goes wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing's going to go wrong."

"You don't know that."

"I know I can't keep living like this." His voice cracked. "I can't keep pretending everything's fine when it's not. I can't keep watching you look over your shoulder. I can't keep..." He stopped, shaking his head. "I need to do this, Calliope. For all of us."

I wanted to argue. Wanted to tell him there had to be another way, a safer way, a way that didn't involve him walking into a trap.

But I knew that look in his eyes. The same look he'd had when he'd punched Kieran. The same look he'd had when he'd defended me in the hallway. The same look he'd had when he'd knelt in the dirt outside the annex, begging for my forgiveness.

He wasn't going to change his mind.

"Okay," I said quietly. "But you come back to me. Promise me that."

"I promise."

He kissed me softly, and I kissed him back. 

\-——————————

Ruby pulled me aside after Romeo and Kai left.

"Are you really okay with this?" she asked. "With them going off to fight werewolves in some other pack's territory?"

"No," I admitted. "I'm not okay with it at all."

"Then why did you let him go?"

"Because he wasn't going to listen to me anyway." I sat down on the edge of my bed, my hands clasped in my lap. "He's got this idea in his head that he has to protect everyone. That he has to fix everything. And no matter what I say, he's going to do what he thinks is right."

Ruby sat beside me, her shoulder pressing against mine. "That's really frustrating."

"It's infuriating."

"But you've got to admit, it's also kind of sweet?"

"And also kind of sweet." I managed a smile. "He's an idiot. But he's my idiot."

Ruby laughed, a real laugh, bright and surprised. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but... I think I'm starting to understand why you really like him."

"Really?"

"Really. He's insane. He's reckless. He's probably going to get himself killed." She paused. "But he loves you. Like, really loves you. And that's worth something."

I leaned my head on her shoulder. "Ohh. You really think he does? Thanks Ruby."

"Don't thank me yet. I still have so many questions."

"You should ask them. I don't have good enough answers."

"Later." She squeezed my hand. "Right now, we wait."

\-———————————

Romeo and Kai spent two more days perfecting their plan while Ruby continued to stay in the annex with me without Mrs Vanderbilt noticing. 

They finally stepped out on the third night after sending Marcus and Damien a message to meet them. Waiting was torture.

Every creak of the floorboards made me jump. Every gust of wind against the windows made me hold my breath. I sat on the couch, my phone clutched in my hands, staring at the door.

Ruby tried to distract me. She told me about the latest school gossip, her family drama , she made me even watch her favorite shows with her. I was listening and nodding. 

But my mind was elsewhere.

In the woods. With Romeo. In the territory of wolves who would tear him apart without a second thought.

Hours passed. The sun set. The darkness crept in.

And then I finally heard the door.

\-——————————

Romeo and Kai stumbled through the entrance, and my heart stopped.

They were both bleeding. Romeo had a gash across his cheek, his shirt torn, his arm hanging at an unnatural angle. Kai was limping, his face bruised, his knuckles raw.

"Romeo...." 

"We're okay." His voice was rough, pained. "We're okay."

"You're not okay. You're...." 

"It's not ours." He managed a weak smile. "Most of this is from the wolves. We led Damien and Marcus right into their path. They didn't see it coming."

Kai lowered himself onto the couch, wincing. "They won't be bothering us for a while. That pack made sure of that."

"They're hurt?"

"They're very hurt." Romeo's smile widened. "Badly."

I was at such a loss for words that all l I could do was pull him into my arms.

"Don't ever do that again," I said into his chest.

"I can't promise that."

"Romeo."

"I can't promise I won't ever have to fight. But I can promise I'll always come back to you." He kissed the top of my head. "That's the only promise I can make."

I held on tighter.

\-—————————1

The text came while I was cleaning Romeo's wounds.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, the screen lighting up with a name I didn't want to see.

Mrs. Vanderbilt.

I stared at it, my heart sinking. I wondered if she wanted me to watch the twins, but it already too late and past their bedtime, they would be asleep now. I hadn't been watching them as much these days because they had a flu and were just recovering. 

Calliope. I need to see you. In my study. Now.

I looked at Romeo. He was watching me, his expression unreadable.

"What is it?"

"Mrs. Vanderbilt. She wants to see me."

"Now?"

"Now."

He sat up, wincing. "I'll come with you."

"No." I put my hand on his chest, gently pushing him back down. "You coming with me will be very suspicious. Just stay here."

"Calliope..." 

"I'll be fine." I kissed his forehead. "Stay here. Don't move."

He didn't argue.

\-—————-

She was sitting behind her desk, her hands folded in front of her, her expression unreadable. When I walked in, she didn't greet me. Didn't invite me to sit. Just looked at me with those sharp, assessing eyes.

"Close the door," she said.

I closed it.

"Sit."

I sat.

She was quiet for a long moment, her eyes scanning my face. I felt like I was being examined, dissected, weighed and measured.

"I know something is going on between you and Romeo," she said finally.

I opened my mouth to deny it. To deflect. To say anything.

"Don't lie to me," she interrupted. "I've been watching. And I'm not a fool."

I closed my mouth.

"When you arrived the two of you could barely stand to be in the same room, now I'm supposed to believe that he gives you rides to school, picks you up from your rehearsals and the two of you can sit at the dinner table without bickering?" She leaned forward. 

"Mrs. Vanderbilt..." 

"I gave you a few set of rules when you came here. Maybe I was not clear enough. Romeo may not be my son but he is still my responsibility." She paused, her lips pressing together. "Whatever is going on between the two of you, it would be in your best interests to end it.”