20 Days In His Bedroom

Chapter Thirty eight

Kyle's POV

How the hell could Jack do that to me?
He's trying to destroy me—one piece at a time.
I know he had something to do with Selena's lie. If he didn't start it, he sure as hell helped her keep it going. And now? Now he wants to take Twy.

Do I really care about her?

Yeah. I do.
I didn't mean to, but somewhere along the way, she became important. Maybe it's just habit, or maybe it's more. I don't know what it is, but I feel it every time I look at her.

I brought her here. I gave her a room. She's not mine, but I'm responsible for her. And Jack? He's dangerous. He plays with people. With minds. He doesn't give a shit who he breaks as long as he gets what he wants.

Twy isn't like that. She's not like the girls we're used to. But even she has her limits. She could get fed up. She could fall for his lies.

I swallow the lump in my throat.

What is this feeling?
I want to protect her. Not like some hero—more like she's... mine. Not in the romantic way. Not exactly. She's like my little girl. My shadow. My peace in all this noise. I know I've never said it. Never shown it. But sometimes, I feel it—something real.
Something terrifying.

Because once she finds her family... she's gone.

I turn to face her. "What did he do to you?"

She looks at me with those deep eyes. "Nothing. He was friendly."

My stomach knots. He got to her.
So easily?

"Jack is dangerous," I warn.

She frowns. "And you're not?"

What?

"What do you mean?" My voice stays low, but my pulse is racing.

"If Jack is dangerous, then so are you."

She's not blinking. Her gaze is solid. Serious. She means it.

"Am I dangerous?" I step closer.

She doesn't move back. That surprises me.

"You're... I don't know," she says. "Everything I hear about you is always bad. Unbearable."

She balls her fists at her sides, and something inside me cracks.

"And?" I ask. My voice is tight. "Is that what you believe?"

"I don't know." Her eyes soften, but the words still sting. "You said you wouldn't change. It's up to you. But don't act like you're perfect."

"Who said I was perfect?" I narrow my eyes. "You thought I was perfect?"

She shakes her head. "I knew from the day I met you that you weren't anything close. You're the only one who believes that."

She turns her face away. No. Not now.
I've never cared what anyone thought of me. Not like this. But I care now. And it hurts like hell.

"I never said I was perfect," I snap. "I'm not. You're not. No one is."

"You act like it," she whispers.

There's a pause. She takes a breath. "Kyle, I can't deny you're gentle with me. You let me stay here. You're treating me kindly. I always come to you... I don't know anyone else here. But every time I learn something new about you, it shocks me. It makes me upset, and I don't even know why."

She looks down. "Maybe I consider you a friend or something. And I want to see you in a better light. Not for me—for you."

My chest tightens.