Jo
Ty and I stood in the bathroom with only our gazes discoursing. The tension in the air between us could be sliced with a knife.
“You remembered that night?” He finally spoke.
“I’ve never forgotten. I remember everything.”
“But you want to forget.”
“You’re making sure I never will.”
“You’re blaming me for opening your eyes? Since when do you like to be fooled, Jo? Since when do you wish to live a lie?”
“I’m not blaming you for telling me the truth, but you can’t deny you didn’t do it for me. You only spoke when it was convenient for you, to break Furore and me up.”
A sigh erupted from his chest as he slumped against the wall. “I can’t live without you, Jo. I don’t know how.”
“I used to feel the same way when you left. I wanted to die when you weren’t next to me.”
“We don’t have to feel that way anymore. We’re both here, and we can be together forever.”
“It doesn’t mean we’re not toxic. We bring out the worst of each other. You pulled a knife on your father, Tirone.”
“I’d do anything for you.”
“Don’t you dare. I never asked you to hurt anyone on my behalf. That’s all you.”
“Let me rephrase. I’d do anything to have you.”
A knock on the door set that dark promise a finality.
“That must be Fort,” I said. “Stay here. I won’t be long.”
I shut the bathroom door and headed out of the room. Fort had the medical supplies. I took the bag and examined his forehead. Band-Aids covered the wound. “I was going to take care of that.”
“Already did. Not my first time, and it’s just a scratch.”
“Okay.” I fished the keycard to his room from my pocket and gave it to him. “Your room is right next to mine. You should rest.”
“I’m here to keep an eye on you, teach, not rest. You should go to bed. You’ve been through a lot.”
“Neither of us will be doing any sleeping tonight. I’ll just watch a movie, try to get my head off things so I can gain some clarity.” I waved the bag. “Thanks for these. If Ty comes back, send him over so I can patch him up.”
“He won’t. He’s probably running back to his mama.”
“You don’t know the first thing about Tirone Lazzarini. He will be here first thing in the morning, if not sooner. Good night, Fort.”
“Night, teach. If you need anything, I’m one knock away.”
“Um…actually, do you have a…backup?” I pointed at his gun, in case he was confused. “I don’t have mine.”
He stuck his hand in the back of his pants and brought out a pistol. Then he handed it to me. “Don’t shoot me like you did with Hook.”
I labored a chortle. “No promises.”
He waved a hand in dismissal and entered his room. I went inside mine and locked the door.
Tirone’s smoldering eyes met me. I stood where I was, resting my back at the door, my hands clasped behind me. He strode toward me, closing the distance between us. He reached for my hand, unclasping it from the other. He took the bag and put it aside, and then the gun. “I get the bag, but the gun?”