Violent Ends
She blew out a breath.
“What is fun?” The few dates she’d been on had been lackluster. “I think I should warn you.”
“What about?”
“About me. I’ve been on a couple of dates, and they’ve been really boring. Really flat. I don’t know if it’s me or just what I’m like or something else. I may be bad at dating.”
“That is not possible. Never take responsibility for a bad date.”
She pushed some hair out of her face. She needed to get it cut. “Okay, what should I blame it on?”
“The guy. If you’re bored, they’re boring.”
She chuckled. “And what if I’m the boring one?”
“Not possible.”
“I think I like you, Gideon Denton.”
“I know for a fact I like you, Emma Colton.”
“A Denton and a Colton going on a date, what is the world coming to?”
****
“You know you won’t make her fall in love with you looking like that,” Tamsin said from the doorway.
Gideon stared at his very bratty teenage sister. Her arms were folded, and she looked so pissed off with everything and the world. He figured it had to do with the extra protection their father had placed on her as she got older. Also, she’d started to cause fights in school, and everything about her personality right now screamed attention.
“Love you too, sis.”
“Have you told her yet that she’s your one and only?” Tamsin stepped into the room and bounced down on the bed. She wore a pair of sweats and a large shirt. Her hair hadn’t been brushed either.
“You’re still going through your rebellion against Mom about looking like a slob.”
“Ha-ha, I see you’re not answering my question.”
“You don’t know who I’m going on a date with tonight.”
“Oh, please, I’m the only Denton around here who doesn’t have my head up my own ass. I see the way you look at Emma. I know she’s your one true love, and it is so sweet and cute.” She pressed her hands together, batting her eyes. “It’s gross.”
“Is this because you’ve got no boyfriend calling for you?”
“Ugh. I heard Mom and Dad the other day talking about who’d make a good match for me.”
“They planning on marrying you off?”
“They wish. If they think I’m going to do as I’m told, they really don’t know me at all.”
“They clearly don’t,” Gideon said. “Why are you here?”
“Landon’s on the phone with his little British princess. Mom and Dad are making up after another fight. You’re the only other person here, and I’m tired of walking around this house with a shadow.”
Gideon had noticed she slammed his door shut.
“It’s for your own protection.”
“No, it’s for their protection. Even Mom thinks it’ll be a good idea to marry me off when I’m eighteen. Ugh, I hate our parents.”
“That’s pretty strong words.”
“So, you want me to curse and add a few more.”
“There’s a lot of hatred inside you right now. It’s not healthy.”
“You know what’s not healthy, pretending to not be in love with a woman you clearly are. Emma deserves to know the truth.”
Gideon sat on the edge of the bed. He’d never considered himself close to Tamsin. Out of all of his brothers, he was the only one that wasn’t always screaming at others to treat her like a girl, like a baby. The youngest of the family she may be, but Tamsin had a fire inside her everyone refused to see.
“Emma’s wanting to leave.”
“The city?”
“Yes, all of it behind,” he said.
There was a short pause. He expected a catty response.
“Can you do that?” she asked instead.
“I guess so. Emma doesn’t have any connections here. Her family is all but dead. I know we can make it work for her to disappear. Change her name. She didn’t make any enemies; her name did.”
“So … running away, changing your name, and starting afresh, that’s even possible?” Tamsin asked.
“Of course it is. No one would know who you were. I can see the benefit of it.” He’d never wanted to be away from this life, but he wanted Emma more. This life was dangerous. They dealt with life and death every single day. Most of the time, it was death. There was always a chance someone would try to betray them.
“I never really thought of it like that, you know, getting away. Will you let her go?”
“That, I can’t tell you.”
“You’d be selfish enough to keep her here where she doesn’t want to be?”
“She doesn’t know I’m in love with her yet. That could change everything.” He pulled on his jacket. “So, out you go. I’m sure you’ve got some homework to do.”
She rolled her eyes. “Good luck with your date. I like Emma. She’s a good woman.”
He winked at her, and Tamsin left the bedroom.
Whistling to himself, he didn’t bother to say bye to his parents. For the time being he was at home because his apartment was being redecorated, but that wouldn’t last forever.