Loveless♣

Chapter 20

  The street looked as though a huge storm had passed through it,destroying everything in its wake.There was litter all over the place:in front of the houses,beside them,on the steps,on the railings.The entire street seemed to reek of dirt.. and death.It was deserted,too.The only source of life seemed to be a bedraggled stray cat that screeched and produced it's claws when it saw them.The only sound was a distant siren miles away.
  Bella carefully made her way down the sidewalk,parting each litter she came across easily,with a swerve of her feet.Joshua followed,warily.He was not relaxed one bit.His nose turned up in disgust as his eye caught the state of most of the houses.They all looked dilapidated,as though no one had been resident in them for decades.What the hell was Bella doing here?How did she even know this place?Sure,she seemed tough and he knew she'd seen a lot of things,gone through some hard times that made her as hard as she was,but this...this was a horrible place.He could almost imagine the innumerable amount of crime that had been committed here.Hadn't he,a few moments ago,caught the unmistakable smell of gunpowder...and marijuana?
  Bella did not seem fazed by the environment,she moved down the street confidently.Her eyes darted sideways sharply when she heard a sound in one of the alleys.Her hand instinctively went to her back pocket.
   What the fuck?Joshua thought,his eyes widening.Was that a gun in her back pocket?He could see her fingers curl slowly around the handle as she stopped abruptly.Shit.Bella had been holding and he hadn't even realized it.
He clamped her shoulder and she whipped around.In two seconds,Joshua found the gun aimed at his face,and a hard cold look expression on her beautiful face.He raised hands in the air and scowled at her.She quickly retracted the gun,then smiled at the look on his face.She's back,he thought.The raw,sexy,in-your-face Bella was back.Great.His scowl deepened.
"Oh please,Joshua,wipe that look off your face.I wasn't gonna shoot you."Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Joshua dropped his hands."Why the hell are you holding,Bella?"
"What,this?"She flipped the gun in her hand like it was a toy and not a dangerous weapon."I always carry one with me.Gotta have protection wherever you go."
"Fuck that,"he snapped at her."Protection from what?What the hell are you involved in,Isabella?"
She narrowed her eyes at his angry face."I don't owe you any explanation. You're the one who decided to follow me,I didn't ask you to."
"What are you doing in this godforsaken place?"he asked,trying to keep his voice level.The last thing he wanted was a fight.He needed answers.
"You'll find out soon,"she replied in an assuring tone that did nothing but aggravate him."Just don't bitch at me all day,okay?"
He was still frowning.He balled his hands into fists and shoved them in his pockets,then walked past her.Bella rolled her eyes and sighed.So dramatic,Mon Dieu.She walked up to catch up with him.They walked at the same pace,shoulder to shoulder,with Joshua frowning and Bella searching the area carefully.
"Here,"she said.They stopped in front of a house near the end of the street.Joshua's face relaxed a little.The house seemed a tad bit better than the surrounding houses.He made his way up the stairs, but Bella grabbed his arm and pulled him back quickly.He faced her.She held the gun to her lips and motioned for him to keep quiet.
"Oh,for the love of-"
"Joshua!"she snarled,warning signs flashing in her eyes.
"Fine,"he replied hotly,but in a hushed tone."But you owe me a good explanation after this,and it'd better not be lies."
She frowned at him."Fine.But let me handle this,okay? You don't make a sound.Please,"she added quickly when she saw he was about to argue again.
He clamped his mouth shut,and glaring at her,gestured for her to lead the way.
"Thank you,"she mouthed,and held the gun with both hands.She released the safety,and walked up the stairs quietly,her eyes watching the door as though it was gonna burst open any minute and send an attacker he way.
Joshua watched her tentatively. She reached the door,and nudged it open with her shoulder. How had she known it'd be unlocked?Joshua shook his head.She had some serious explaining to do.
Bella's mind was completely focused on her mission.All her senses were acutely alert.She walked stealthily into the house and assessed it.It was empty.Not just devoid of human life,but of furniture,wallpapers and all other house materials.There was a coat of dust on the floorboards,window panes and other built in platforms.She relaxed her grip on the gun and lowered it.She decided to search the house to confirm if it was really empty.Joshua was right behind her,at the door.He was looking at her like was a complete stranger.She gave him a small smile and ventured further into the house.
Joshua rocked on his heels,at the door.He looked into the house,hesitant to enter.It was like there was an invisible glass at the door,preventing him from entering.He knew it was all in his head but still...
This is probably how vampires feel when they haven't been invited into a house.
Shut the fuck up,Joshua.
You're thinking about vampires when the girl you basically kissed senseless an hour ago is parading a rundown house,armed?
The fuck is wrong with you?
You're fucking blind,that's what.
He had to be.How had he not seen the gun all this while?It was her face.He could not get past that appealing face whenever he was with her.The teasing eyes,that haughty smile.
Get a grip,Joshua.She might be setting you up,for all you know,and you're thinking about her goddamned smile.
One mistake,and boom!
You're a fucking dead man.
"Oh,for Pete's sake,shut up,"he said to no one in particular and bounded in.