I turn to Rocco. The color in his face has returned, making him look a little healthier than he did a few days ago. “Ventured from your prison, I see. Emerging like Gollum, just us creepy and unwelcome.”
He laughs, face twisting in discomfort the shake in his body causes.
I want to ask him about his pain levels, about how his wound looks, but that would look like I care. Which I don’t. I did my part, making him comfortable is of no interest or concern of mine.
Parker greets me on a lazy wave, one I return with just as much fervor.
“Why are you even here?” I bite out, sliding into my seat directly opposite Rocco, irritated at how uncomfortable I feel in my father’s home.
“Your father invited me,” he answers stonily, a shrug to his left shoulder. “Didn’t really have much choice in the matter.”
This family has officially lost it. Both Codi and my father have accepted Rocco Shay into our fold like a long lost relative. I feel like an outsider. The Three Musketeers have been officially severed, ripped apart. We’re no longer an impenetrable wall. We’ve evolved into a cheesy family of five, and I’m the only one that seems to find an issue with that.
Rein and Shay have always been two sides of a bitter and nasty war. Opposing factions fighting for dominance. Now Codi and Parker have seemingly extinguished the bad blood with an unplanned union that has cleansed old wounds. And I’m supposed to accept it with a smile.
Truth be told, I couldn’t care less about the conflict of our father’s once upon a time. But Rocco pulled that feud into our lives with his plan to take my sister’s life. He took on Kane and Dominic’s misguided hostility and quest for revenge, almost drowning us all. We made it through by the skin of our teeth.
Well, some of us.
I think of Mira. The collateral damage in a war she wanted no part in. A stranger that now haunts my dreams. My heart aching for a woman that I didn’t know.
I replay the way she stepped forward to save the life of someone who some would argue didn’t deserve it, over and over again. The confidence in her decision as she did it.
Was he grateful?
I stare at him without apology in an attempt to find answers.
Did it cause him pain to know that in the end, she made the decision that his life was worth more than hers? Or is it forgotten? Has he just moved on with little to no remorse that Mira paid the ultimate price to save him?
“Thinking about hurting me, Rein?” Rocco breaks through my thoughts, his voice just another reminder of the betrayal we’ve all been tied within.
I’m angered that I let my face openly play out my thoughts for him to see.
“Yeah.” I roll my eyes. “I saved your stupid life just to kill you when you least expect it. Please. Ill thought out plans of murder are more your jam.”
I catch the look of regret that flashes in his eyes and I want to grin in triumph.
“Camryn,” Codi admonishes.
“What?” I argue arrogantly. “He started it. Accusing me of hate and violence after I did him a solid. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of little old me?” I tease, turning back to our unwelcome guest.
His eyes bore into mine, fire and hate burning his retinas. “Only that your pitiful existence will rub off on me.”
“I’m pitiful?” My voice raises without permission. “I’m. Pitiful?”
He raises a single eyebrow. “You dress like you’re homeless, and not in a fashionable way. I question your hygiene. You work to repel human contact. I don’t know if it’s on purpose or if it’s just incidental. You’re obviously single and likely haven’t been fucked in years... if ever. You hate pretty much everyone and everything. You’re a hermit. You work and that’s it. And I don’t even know why you do that. You obviously don’t spend your money on anything. I think you’re a nurse because you enjoy human suffering.”
I swallow the emotion caught in my throat. The pain in the words he uncaringly stabbed me with.
“Roc, man, chill.” It’s Parker’s turn to scorn his sibling, but like me, Rocco only shrugs, not concerned with how his words maim.
“Want to hurt me now?” he whispers, leaning forward in challenge.
“What’s your obsession with me causing you pain?” I snap. “You want to kneel and be spanked like a naughty boy?”
He laughs at me. A thick roll of laughter echoing across the room.
“You’re paranoid,” I accuse. “Probably because you’ve fucked too many people over in your life. Case in point.” I point at Codi and Parker. “Maybe they asked me to fix you because they know how much I despise your existence, maybe they were hoping I’d let you die.”
“Jesus, Camryn,” Codi yells. “Rocco, we do not think that. Why are you being so horrible?”
“Not paranoid,” Rocco murmurs, ignoring my sister’s assurance. “Cautious.”
I move my gaze to Codi, watching her blankly. Her perfect blonde hair falls in a curtain around her face, her purple eyes shining at me in anger. She’s beautiful. Most would say unfairly so, but not me. Beauty is nothing but a curse. One that paints a target on your person. It encourages women to judge you. It entices men to see you as nothing more than an object; one they’re free to use and play with as they will. My sister is also too kind. It welcomes undesirable attention from others. Kindness is too often mistaken as weakness. It’s nothing but an invitation for people to take advantage of you.
“I’m being real, Codi. Not horrible,” I tell her calmly. “Rocco has decided I’m aiming for his pain when in truth I don’t think of him at all. You’re paranoid.” I turn back to the bristling asshole sitting at my dinner table. “Not to mention psychotic. You wouldn’t know kindness if it slapped you in the face. You probably kiss with your eyes open afraid to actually enjoy life.”
Silence cups my words uncomfortably and I shift in my seat.
“Beauty, trust me, I’ve never had any complaints about the way I kiss.” He sucks his bottom lip into his mouth and as much as I want to, I can’t pull my eyes away from the way he slowly releases it.
Leaning closer, he drops his voice. “Now,” he drawls. “Let’s talk about the fact that you just admitted you’d thought about kissin’ me."
“Uh.” I scowl. “No, I didn’t.” My eyes dart between his teasing gaze and the wet line of his lips.
I glance at Codi for support but she looks away before I can catch her eye.
“I would never kiss you.”
Rocco shrugs. “Besides the point, you’ve thought about it. You want me. You just don’t want to admit it to yourself.”
I bark out a laugh. “Add delusional.”
The tip of his tongue skates along the top line of his teeth, a salacious smirk tipping along the side of his mouth.
“I’d rock your world, Rein, and you know it.”
I stand abruptly. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Sit.” My dad walks into the room, oblivious to the lead in conversation. “You know the rules, Camryn. Family dinner includes everyone."
“We’re hardly family,” I bite out.
“Contrary to your thoughts, we are. Codi and Parker are engaged, which means he and Rocco are family.”