On The Run

Chapter Nineteen

I stare silently at the ceiling for a few minutes, before even bothering to TRY to comprehend that.

"Chrome... Is your father?"

He turns over so he is now facing me.

Yes. And that is the only reason I stayed with The Raptors. Because..."

He coughs a little and shakes his head, trying to cover up his slip.

To bad that I caught it.

"Because...?" I drawl out, and he sighs.

His breath smells like flowers.

"Because the leader's son is supposed to inherit the position. And if you leave, they come after you."

I suck in a breath and shake my head.

"Why? Why are The Raptors so different from The Sirens?"

He offers me a small smile before answering.

"The Raptors are a dark gang. The Sirens arent. Simple as that."

We lay in silence for a few more minutes, before I started to ask more questions.

"Hey, if you can't stay with Chrome now, where are you gonna stay? How are you gonna stay alive? What have my parents thought of you staying here all month?"

I bombard him without stopping, before he finally holds up his hand, chuckling.

"One at a time," he murmurs, before beginning to answer.

"Well, I'm not sure where I'll stay. Haven't really even thought of that until now, to be honest."

I can hear the stress in his voice, and place my hand over his.

"We could tell my parents that your dad died. They'd let you stay here."

I smile at my plan, and he chuckles.

"I'll think about it. Anyway, I've grown up with The Raptors. I know their tactics, and their ways of going about things and fighting. I can protect myself." He states firmly, and I purse my lips.

"We can protect you. The Sirens, I mean." I nod but he shakes his head.

"No. The Raptors are much too dangerous. I can protect myself," he repeats firmly, before sighing and moving on to my last question.

"You're parents thought it was 'sweet' that I had stayed here all month," AJ mumbles quietly, attempting to turn away.

I gently grab the other side of his face to stop him, and turn his head back so that he is now facing me again.

"That's because it was," I murmur, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

And I feel him smile into it.