The Bad Boy Calls Me Kitten

Chapter Twenty-Three

There are thousands of romance movies out there. So many scenes of kissing, sex, and people saying 'I love you' for the first time. I was a sucker for chick flicks. But at that precise moment, everything and every way an actor reacted to that phrase left me. I could only stand there, gaping like a dumb ass in the dark. 

I suppose I could have done anything in the silent moment that followed. I could have ran away from Scar, leaving him in wallowing rejection. I could have said it back or even professed my undying love to him in some dramatic speech. I could have even kissed him; it would have been an answer good enough. But of course, my little brain had to mess up. I opened my mouth and spit out the first thing that came to mind.

"I think I got my period."

No.

No.

This couldn't be happening.

Yet it very much was. I could instantly feel the dramatic change in atmosphere. Scar stiffened in the darkness. The awkwardness was practically suffocating. It took my mind to register how badly I had just messed the moment up. Was it possible to melt into the floor, physically? I wanted to be anywhere but here. Fortunately for the darkness, he couldn't see my tomato-red face.

Don't say anything, Genevieve.

"I mean- I think I...blood?"

Shut up, Genevieve.

"T-T-That's not what I meant to say! I was just...I...."

Oh yes. This wasn't awkward at all. 

The angels must have taken pity. Even I couldn't bear to listen to myself blabber and make things any worse. In a shuddering moment, the lights flashed back on. The whole floor powered back up at the same time, lights clicking back on and the security systems beeping with life again.

I glanced at Scar. He didn't look as badly hurt as I thought. A few bruises on his face had been reopened, but other than that, Scar was still the beautiful bad boy I knew. Some drops of blood had dried on his cheek. He was diligently avoiding eye contact. A moment of silence passed before he spoke.

"Who brought you here? You couldn't have found this place on your own."

It was like the moment before hadn't even happened. Or maybe he was just a good actor at hiding his feelings. Either way, I was relived for the change of conversation. Something in the deepest corner of my brain screamed at me to talk about what he had said before, but I ignored it and answered his question. 

"Sebastian did. He knew you would need help." I glanced around the room. It was the same as the others I had looked in before, with mold on the discolored bricks and one stiff cot for sleeping in the corner.

Scar's mood instantly shifted at the mention of his friend's name. ''Sebastian?" he repeated incredulously. His voice was laced with anger. "Are you serious?"

"It wasn't his fault, Scar." I said quickly. "Don't be angry at him. After all, it was my fault. I pushed him to bring me here. Sebastian even said that you would hate him for putting me in danger, which by the way, is not going to happen, and I-"

"The door is locked." he cut me off with a growl.

"What?"

"The door. We're locked in here. When the power came back on, it automatically activated the system. All the doors are locked again. If Sebastian is in one, he's stuck. Now do you understand the risk you have put yourself in? They will be coming back for me, Genevieve. What do you think they'll do when they find you in here with me?"

I rubbed my neck. "Maybe we can disable the lock again. Just this one-''

"You don't even understand what you're trying to go up against, kitten." he snapped. "Sebastian could shut down the electricity because he knew what he was doing, okay? He was a former Bratva! You have no idea how to get out. There isn't just one lock on the door, Genevieve. There are numerous ones. Touch one and it'll trigger another, and then we'll both be dead."

"Sebastian-"

"Oh, fuck him!" Scar spat. His fists clenched tightly and a muscle in his jaw moved. He turned away from me and took a seat on the cot, putting his head on his hands. I didn't speak and neither did he. The only thing I could hear was our own heavy breathing.

"You don't know his past." he muttered. "What do you think Bogdan will do when he sees his best employee in front of him? Sebastian Barnes was his best criminal, and Bogdan knew that. When Sebastian decided to leave the Bratva, Bogdan did everything to make him stay. Once you get a taste of what the Bratva has to offer, it's hard to leave."

I swallowed, but my mouth was dry. "You think Sebastian is going to rat us out."

"I know he will." Scar replied simply. "That's why he was so willing to bring you here. He knew how much you mean to me, and he still brought you here without any persuasion needed. People who say they're here for you are usually the ones to walk away first. Rule one of surviving: never trust anyone and fuck, you should know that better than anyone."

"Believe me, I've learned my lesson." I replied dryly. "Like never to trust the man who drugs you two times to get what he wants."

It was a low blow, but my point got across.

"Like I said before, I was just trying to protect you."

"Like I said before, I don't need protecting."

Scar was about to come up with a smart reply when there was a patter of footsteps outside in the hallway. It was directed towards the room we were currently in. Scar glanced at me nervously. He pushed me behind him, instantly defensive. There was a beeping noise as someone punched the code into the lock, and then the doorknob turned.