Ruthless Heart

We drive backto the loft in silence. I sneak glances over at Nero, but he’s scrolling on his phone, looking tense. I sigh. I don’t even know what he was trying to do with that whole romantic dinner scene, but now it’s over, I’m still just as confused. One minute, he’s making it clear he can’t wait to be rid of me, the next, he’s setting up a thoughtful dinner. And my own emotions are just as confusing: I must ricochet between loathing and lust a hundred times a day.

And when he touches me… None of that even matters anymore.

Arriving at his building, we head upstairs to the loft. “Well…” I say, awkward, just inside the doorway. “I should get to bed.”

“Wait,” Nero orders me. I watch him stride to the guest bathroom, and rummage in the cabinet. He brings me a pack of Ibuprofen. “For your head,” he says, eyes searching my face like he doesn’t believe my flimsy excuse.

I smile weakly. “Thanks. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

I start to go to my room, but his voice stops me. “You don’t have to lie. You can just say you don’t want to be alone with me.”

I turn back. “What?” I ask, confused.

Nero gives a tense shrug, avoiding my eyes. “I wanted to do something nice for you. After… all of this.”

My jaw drops, and I feel a treacherous flush of emotion. Softening me.

He was trying to make me happy.

But then Nero pulls himself together. “But clearly, you couldn’t wait to get away from me. Or maybe the evening wasn’t up to your high standards,” he adds, voice twisting sarcastically. “Yacht not big enough for you, Princess?”

I shake my head. The dinner was genuine, I realize. But now he’s angry I didn’t go along with the romantic make-believe? “I can’t believe this!” I exclaim, anger rising. “After everything I’ve been through tonight, you’re mad that I wasn’t in the mood to sip champagne and stare at the stars?”

“What are you talking about?” Nero asks.

It’s just like I suspected. He didn’t know about Chase’s attempt to intimidate me.

“Your evil henchman decided to take a little detour before dinner,” I explain bitterly. “Chase took me out to some deserted warehouse in the middle of nowhere. It didn’t exactly put me in the mood.”

Nero’s face changes. “Did he hurt you?” he demands, stepping forward.

“No, but he scared me half to death, threatening to have me killed!” I reply. “Going on about how I’m keeping secrets, and he’s going to find me out. Tell him to back the hell off, OK?”

“Maybe he has good reason not to trust you.” Nero narrows his eyes. “What have you been playing at?”

“Trying to help you land this deal with McKenna!” I cry, ignoring my guilty pang. Lying isn’t just a choice here. It’s a necessity. “I’ve been busting my ass trying to land you this stupid zoning vote, and this is the thanks I get?”

Nero’s expression turns dangerous. “I show my appreciation by letting you live.”

“I guess that makes you a fucking hero,” I retort. “You know what? You and Chase can go straight to hell.”

I storm to my room and slam the door, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I sink down on the bed, staring at the bottle in my hand. If only I could just take a pill and make all of this better, but it’s not a simple headache I’m dealing with here. My web of lies is growing more tangled.

One day soon, a thread is going to snap.