Chapter 104 The coward’s son
Chapter 104 The coward’s son
Colt Brady's grin widened as he sauntered closer, his friends fanning out behind him like wolves circling prey. The fluorescent lights of the convenience store hummed overhead, casting everything in an unflattering glow.
"Well, well," he said, his voice dripping with false charm. "If it isn't the infamous Romeo Vanderbilt. What are you doing here?"
Romeo's jaw tightened. "That's none of your business."
"Oh, but it is." Colt stepped closer, close enough that I could smell the cheap cologne on his jacket. "I like to know when my enemies are vulnerable. And I've been waiting a long time to see you vulnerable."
"You've been waiting a long time to lose."
Colt laughed mockingly. "Is that what you think? That I've been trying to beat you all these years and failing?" He shook his head. "No, Vanderbilt. Ive already won. All that’s left is to watch you fail. Waiting for you to fall from grace would be my greatest accomplishment. And now here you are, with a human girlfriend while your uncle runs your pack into the ground."
Romeo's hands clenched into fists. "Leave my family out of this. And my pack.”
"Your uncle is the only reason you're still relevant. Everyone knows it. You're not alpha material, Romeo. You're just a puppet waiting for his strings to be cut."
"Colt…”
"Your father was a coward. Your uncle is a tyrant. And you?" He stepped closer, his eyes cold. "You're nothing but a scared little boy who can't even protect his own little girlfriend."
Romeo lunged.
I grabbed his arm before he could move, my fingers digging into his sleeve. "Romeo. Don't."
He stopped, his chest heaving, his eyes blazing. For a moment, I thought he was going to shake me off. Then he took a breath, another, and stepped back.
Colt's grin widened. "Look at that. The puppy has a leash."
"Colt, get the hell out of here before I break your jaw and end the game before it even begins."
"The game isn't about football, Vanderbilt. You know that." Colt's eyes flickered to me, his gaze sweeping over me like I was something to be appraised. "And this is the girl? The one you've been hiding? Interesting, didn’t peg you for a chubby chaser. She’s cute though."
"Don't look at her."
"Why not? You're not alpha yet. You can't command me." He tilted his head, studying me. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"None of your fucking business."
"Feisty." He laughed. "I like that. Maybe when Romeo loses the game, you'll come find someone who actually knows how to win."
Romeo stepped forward, his body blocking mine. "You're done here. Leave. Now."
Colt held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'm going." He walked backward, his grin still intact. "But enjoy your time with her while it lasts, Vanderbilt. After the game, you're going to have a lot more to worry about than your girlfriend."
He disappeared out the door, his pack following.
The bell above the door chimed as it swung shut.
I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
Romeo turned to me, his face still tight with barely contained rage. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Did he scare you?"
"Romeo." I touched his arm. "I'm fine. He's just an ass. I didn’t think someone could be so annoying but he honestly takes the cake.”
He didn't relax. His jaw was still tight and his hands still clenched.
"He's right, you know."
"About what?"
"About me not being alpha. About my uncle controlling everything. About my father being a coward." His voice cracked. "He's right about all of it."
"No, he's not."
"He is…”
"Look at me." I took his face in my hands, forcing him to meet my eyes. "You are not a coward. You are not a puppet. And you are going to win that game, and you are going to prove every single one of them wrong. I believe that more than anything else.”
He stared at me for a long moment.
"How do you do that?" he asked.
"Do what?"
"Make me believe things I don't believe myself."
I smiled. "It's a gift."
He laughed and pulled me into his arms.
\---
We finished our shopping in silence.
Romeo was still tense, his jaw tight and his eyes scanning the aisles like he expected Colt to jump out at any moment. I reached for his hand, interlacing our fingers.
"Hey," I said. "We're okay."
"I know."
"We got the tampons."
He glanced down at the box in my hand, and a reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "We did."
"We're very prepared adults."
"Very prepared."
He squeezed my hand, and some of the tension eased from his shoulders.
\-——————
We were walking back to the car when Romeo's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, and his expression darkened. He didn't answer. Just let it ring, the sound echoing through the parking lot.
"Aren't you going to get that?" I asked.
"No."
"Romeo…”
"It's Vivian."
I looked at him. "Is she still calling?"
"Every day." His jaw tightened. "She wants me to come home. Like nothing happened."
"And you're not going."
"I'm not going without you."
The phone stopped ringing. Then it started again.
"She's persistent," I said.
"She's controlling. Doesn’t like it when things don’t go her way.”
I watched him stare at the screen, his thumb hovering over the ignore button.
"Maybe you should answer," I said. "Just to get her to stop."
He looked at me, something conflicted in his expression. Then he pressed answer and raised the phone to his ear.
"Hello?"
I couldn't hear what Mrs. Vanderbilt was saying, but I could hear the sharp edge of her voice. Romeo's jaw tightened with each word.
"No, I'm not coming home." Pause. "I already told you. I'm staying at a hotel." Pause. "I don't care what you think." Pause. "This isn't up for discussion." Pause. "Goodbye, Vivian."
He hung up and shoved the phone back in his pocket.
"What did she want?" I asked.
"The usual. She wants me to come home. She wants me to stop embarrassing the family. She wants me to stop seeing you." He ran a hand through his hair. "Same thing every time."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
He turned to me, and something in his expression softened. "I will be. As long as I'm with you, I will be."
I took his hand. "Then let's go home."