Chapter 140: Unwanted Guest

All three of our heads whirled around when we heard Grace’s sudden appearance. My lip curled in disgust.

*This fucking hoe! Don’t you fucking dare!*

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Amy didn’t shy away from the beautiful woman’s rudeness.

“What I mean is…” Grace’s hips swung with each step towards us. “Has it crossed your mind yet where Isabella and my dad are at?”

Amy looked alarmed, as if she had forgotten to ask that question until now. She looked down at me with uncertainty. “Suki…?”

*Shit.*

I could feel Julian’s gaze turn intense and burn into my flesh when staring down at me, putting me under sweating pressure. I said the swiftest thing that came to my mind. “They’re out for a date night. They trust Julian to take care of me.”

“A date night.” Grace snorted with a roll of her eyes and she crossed her arms. “It’s going to be one long date night.”

I could practically see Amy’s heart beating out of her chest from panic. “What is she talking about? Sukia??”

“It’ll be a long movie.” Julian’s only male voice broke the building chaos. “Right, Grace?” His blue eyes darkened when they met the identical gaze of his sister.

Grace’s humored sarcasm shifted as she huffed and looked away. “Yup. A very long movie.”

“Alright.” Amy flopped down on the couch next to me. “Well, if that’s the case, then I’ll just stick around until they get home.”

*Shit!*

I glared daggers at Grace as her smile turned into a grin. She was deliberately trying to stir shit. My nerves were making me twitch with anxiety. At this rate, Julian will have to do something about Amy’s nosiness. The thought of him losing his temper and hurting her filled me with doom. I couldn’t let her end up like that naïve, clueless woman. I can’t!

“Jeez, Amy, what’s with you?” I grumbled in annoyance. “You don’t need to helicopter me! I’m not a child.”

Amy looked taken aback by my sudden hostility. “I–I just want to make sure you’ll be ok until Isabella gets back. I’ll leave as soon as she does.”

I could feel Julian’s finger lightly graze the top of my shoulder, back and forth, from where it was resting on the back of the couch.

*Fuck. He’s not happy.*

“Thanks, but no thanks. I’m tired, and knowing you’re under this roof with that thing doesn’t make me happy.” I gave Grace the stink eye.

“Hey!” Grace fumed.

“I can handle myself just fine.” Amy crossed her legs and turned away from Grace. “Besides, Julian will be around. Right?” She looked at my stepbrother with deep suspicion. I could tell that she was going to take the chance to interrogate him.

Bad idea. She may have been right about him being dangerous, but she didn’t know just how far he’d go.

*He’s a fucking murderer!* I needed her to leave ASAP. I could feel Julian’s patience running thinner by the second. If I could just get her out of here with her knowing that he’s killed several people then that’d be even better, but Julian was watching me like an eagle circling a bunny. No way in hell that was happening.

*Maybe… But I don’t want to risk my best friend’s life attempting.*

“Yeahhh, no. No.” I struggled to keep my regular sass. “I know how you see him, and I don’t want to leave you alone with him. Besides, you’ll end up embarrassing me. Somehow.”

“I won’t–”

“She said…” Julian made us go silent again. “That she’ll be fine. She’s pregnant. You’re making her uncomfortable.”

Amy sweats as she eyed Julian cautiously. That tiny hint of icy hostility was enough to make her stand back up. Just a glimpse of his anger was enough to put me on edge, too.

“Now, please leave.”

Amy still looked hesitant as she looked from Julian to me.

I gave a nod and a brief smile. “Trust me. I’m fine.” Though my voice was reassuring, there was the faintest hint of desperation in my eyes that I hoped Julian didn’t notice.

Amy noticed. Her hands tightened into fists and her breath shook. “...Ok. Alright, I get it.” She peeked at Julian. “I’m sorry I intruded so rudely.”

Julian gave her his classic, charming grin that swept all women off of their feet. “It’s alright. Suki is lucky to have a friend as caring as you.”

“Yeah.” Amy looked back at me and smiled one last time. “She is.” After that, she turned her back to me and walked to the door, completely ignoring Grace. “I’ll talk to you later, Suki. Answer my texts too!”

“Uh,” I quickly looked for an excuse. “My phone died, and I lost my charger. I’ll go buy another one soon.”

“Oh.” Amy’s brows lifted. “That’s new.”

I awkwardly laughed when I realized I fucked up with my fib. When you live on the west-side and you lose something valuable, you’ll never see it again. I always kept important things to me close to outsmart the thieves on the streets with me. And Amy was fully aware of this.

Julian looked at me suspiciously, his eyes reflecting his mistrust.

*Fuuuck.*

Amy’s smile returned. “Well, let me know. I’ll see you later, Suki.” She gave Julian and Grace a farewell too before leaving.

My heart twisted at Amy’s words. That was the last thing Jack said to me before he disappeared… and reappeared dead in a ditch.

He never saw me later… I hope Amy will keep her word. If I lose her too, I’ll…

I was snapped out of my thoughts when Julian pulled me into a warm embrace. He breathed in my scent while kissing my cheek. “You’re so cute when you’re like this.”

*I’m so what now? Like what??*

I kept my thoughts off of my tongue. I didn’t want to know the answer to that. “There. You got what you wanted. Happy now?”

“Yes.” Julian continued to give my cheek slow kisses.

“Then can I make demands?” I leaned my head to escape the suffocation.

“Depends on what they are.”

“Keep that shitty ass collar off of me.”

“I can’t.” His response wounded my hope. “What if you run away and get lost?”

*He’s treating me like a fucking dog again!* I struggled to restrain my anger and aimed at making him feel guilty instead. “I can barely breathe with that fucking thing on! And it’s rubbing my skin raw!”

“Uh-huh.” Grace walked over. I almost forgot that hoe was still there. “She’s just lying to get away from you.”

*Who’s side are you on?!* I wanted to scream at her. One minute she’s trying to help me escape and the next she trying to keep me caged here. Who am I kidding? She just enjoys seeing me suffer. The only reason I didn’t cuss her out was because I knew Julian was going to choose me over his twin, just like he said he would.

“Leave her alone, Grace. I decide what to do with her.” Julian’s voice was cold as he held me tighter, almost squeezing the air out of my lungs. “She’s *mine.*”

Grace dramatically gasped when Julian took my side over hers. “What the hell, Julian?! I’m your sister! Why are you siding with that whore?”

As the twins began to bicker, something caught my attention. I didn’t hear Amy’s car start up. Silence. My heart began to thump in my chest. *No… don’t tell me! She can’t be that stupid!*