An amateur's guide to conning a conman

Chapter 23

" Clock's ticking." The women circled Titus like a predator scouting its prey.

I didn't even dare swallow incase I would break skin.

" Choose Sia." Dante yelled suddenly. " She has a family, kids to take care of."

" Wait, please. No one has to die." I said but my plead fell on deaf ears. The women didn't care.

Titus closed his eyes, " Dante." He uttered and my heart dropped.

" Interesting choice. Prove it."

Without a glance towards my direction. Titus confidently walked over to Dante, grabbed him by the face and kissed him. Their kiss was desperate and clearly Titus did love him.

" Hurts doesn't it." The women leaned down to whisper in my ear. " Don't worry, I'll take you out of your pain."

I blinked quickly. Was this how I was going to die? In a dark room? At the hands of a women who told me a fortune weeks ago?

I closed my eyes and prayed to whatever creator was up there to be kind and look after the Krills.

But the pain never came, instead I heard a flurry of sounds. Grunts and screams. When I opened my eyes Dante and Titus had managed to knock out both men and currently had cornered the women who was laughing humorlessly.

" I was lying. I wasn't actually going to kill the girl. It was all a game."

Dante noticed me and quickly picked the locks free. I was too numb to stand and he picked me up.

" Titus, leave her. It's not worth it."

We made it outside in seconds, minutes. I didn't really know. All I knew was that everything hurt but everything was numb at the same time.

" I think she's in shock." Dante said.

We made it back to the house, how long were we gone? No one was home and Dante placed me down on the couch.

Titus hadn't said anything and I didn't want him to.

" Sweetheart, hey." Titus's voice was kind and gentle.

I looked at him and saw the guilt plainly on his face. I moved away from him until I was pressed up against the arm of the seat.

He tried to move closer but I wouldn't let him. I was shaking and Dante finally stopped him.

" Titus don't. She's still in shock."

" Sia." Dante bend down to my level, " I'm going to help you into bed okay? I won't touch you unless you want my help. Nod if you understand."

I nodded and got to my feet. Everything felt heavy and numb but I eventually made my way into my bed. And Dante helped tucked the blankets in.

He left and quickly returned with my first aid bag, he cleaned up my wounds and I didn't even winched when the alcohol touched my skin.

" We'll stay until Jack comes home."

Dante was so different than his usual mood. He acted like he actually cared for me. Maybe it was because of our shared trauma.

He left the door open just slightly and despite everything. My body was so tired and I just let the darkness consume me.

It was dark when I woke up, a glass of water and a plate of food had been left on my nightstand. I didn't touch the food.

Every movement hurt as I walked outside, using the wall as my guide.

Titus was in the living room, sleeping quietly on the couch and I nearly jumped. He looked so peaceful, his dark hair had fallen over his face, his lips slightly parted. His blanket had fallen to the side and I reached down to grab the corner and tucked him in.

As soon as I did, his eyes opened and bright crimson eyes met mine.

" Hi, how are you doing?" His eyes flicked to the bandage at my neck.

He reached forward to touch my cheek, his thumb brushed over the bandage.

" I'm so sorry." He said. " Gods you shouldn't have gotten hurt." 

I moved away, " It's late, you should get some sleep."

There was a tug of my sleeve as I turned to leave.

" Please let me explain." Titus sounded so small, so soft.

I allowed myself to be pulled down so I was facing him. But I still didn't want to meet his eyes.

" You wanted me to die." I said

" No, sweetheart never." His voice was choked, he grabbed my face, forcing me to meet his eyes.

" Don't ever say that. Okay?"

I nodded, " You chose Dante." It was stupid, I knew that she wanted one of us to die and if Titus chose me, we would still be in the same position.

" I knew what he was doing, he had gotten a majority of his chains loose enough and he just needed time.." his hand dropped and I missed the warmth.

" I'm sorry." He said again, " If I could go back, I wouldn't have taken you or Dante to that place."

" And everything you said back there, was anything even true or were you playing along?"

I reached forward to touch his fingertips, his hand relaxed and almost instinctively wrapped his hand securely against mine.

" I didn't lie about anything." He laughed, it seemed choked like he was holding back tears.

" I like you Sia."

My heart squeezed painfully. I never thought words could be so painful. I believed him, I really did but now everything was so complicated.

" But you love Dante." I said, I wasn't bitter or angry.

" It's complicated." He said after a long pause.

" I don't want you to be with me if you would be happier with him. I don't want to be second choice Titus."

It was silent for a long time.

" Stay with me tonight please."

Everything in me said not to, it was going to make everything so much difficult when he left but if he was going to leave me, what was the harm of staying for a few hours?

I nodded and he pulled me to his chest and I let him. He was warm and he smelled faintly like cologne and something else.

He was whispering soothing words and when his lips brushed against my hair, warmth spread through my body.

As I drifted to sleep something wasn't adding up. I didn't realize it before but the way women stared at Titus wasn't out of playfulness, it was out of anger. How did Titus get into the house? Why was she so angry at him? And why did she make us play the game?