SEAN
The next day, Thomas and I spent the whole afternoon scanning through the footage of the security camera of Elijah’s building. Someone stole Elijah’s laptop after Penelope came to see me in Chicago and we needed to find out who and why. After two shifts of coffee and a week’s worth of footage, we finally found the intruder.
A man dressed in a dark jacket and black sunglasses broke into the apartment at midnight and spent two hours inside. And when we walked out, he had something in his hand, something wide and shaped like a laptop.
“Wait.” I stopped at a certain frame where the neck of that man was visible. “See that.” I pointed at the tattoo near his collarbone. It was a bleeding rose and I have seen this same tattoo on the man who was following us back home, the one Penelope watched me kill. “It must have been some signature logo of their mafia.”
“Why a tattoo?” I heard Penelope’s voice from behind. She had went to her room to take a right after breakfast.
“It’s probably like branding. Some high end gangs do that so the police know these men are not to be touched.” I replied.
“Oh.” She whispered.
I angled my neck to look at her and found her hair wrapped around those big rollers that are used to curl hair. She was wearing a bathrobe and had a green clay mask on her face. “What is all this for?” I enquired.
“Uhhh actually… I am going out… with Mary. Before we get pulled into this mess again, I want one night of freedom.” She said and a frown appeared on my forehead. “Before you say anything, We’ll take Thomas with us. He will protect us.”
“No.” I said.
“Seaaaaaaaaaaan!!!” She whined. “Please don’t ruin this. I’ll be a good girl, I promise. I’ll listen to Thomas and you can track my location the whole time.”
I didn’t want her to go alone but she had answers to all my objections. Besides, the way she batted her eyelashes at me, I had no other way than giving in. “Fine. You’ll take Thomas with you. Be home before 10.” I instructed.
“11.” She argued.
“10.” I glared at her. “Take it or leave.”
“Ugh, fine.” She frowned and then walked back into her room.
Rolling my eyes at her, I turned my attention to the laptop screen that was frozen on the intruder's face. "Take out a print of it." I said to Thomas.
•°•°•
I went outside to buy some groceries and when I returned, I found Penelope's best friend Mary sitting on the couch with Thomas. She was trying to have small talk with him while he was passing her hard glares. The girl was dumb as a button but she was harmless so I didn't mind her much.
"Where is Penelope?" I asked.
"She is in the bedroom." Mary replied.
While she annoyed Thomas with her nonsense, I walked into the bedroom to have a talk with Penelope. I needed to give her instructions on how to keep herself safe in such circumstances as I cannot be with her all the time.
"Hey, haven't you heard of knocking?" Penelope growled.
I would have replied if I wasn't too busy ogling at her. She looked like a different person altogether. Instead of her usual hobo look, she was wearing a fitted maroon strapless dress. Her hair was curled nicely and light makeup was dusted over her face, accentuating her already stunning features. The maroon complimented her hair perfectly and then there were her legs. I've seen her legs before but the heels made them appear longer and more toned.
"Where exactly are you going dressed in that?" I asked, crossing my arms in front of my chest.
"Club." She replied, playing with her fingers. The blush on her face deepened as she found me staring creepily.
"Do they need a stripper?" I asked and her eyes widened.
"Fuck you." She showed me her middle finger.
Anytime, I wanted to reply. I didn’t, for obvious reasons.
"Well, if you're going to wear this, you better take this with you." I gave her the pepper spray I bought for her.
"What's that? A pepper spray?" She eyed it suspiciously.
"Yes. And…" I pulled the pocket knife out of my pocket. "This too."
She hesitantly walked towards me and took the knife from my hands. She then put both these things in her purse and sprayed perfume on her neck and wrists.
God, she is pretty.
"Did you say something?" She asked.
"Nothing." I said and tore my eyes away from her.
Once she was ready, she bid me goodbye and then left with her friend and Thomas. I didn't want her to go without me but I didn't want to come across as controlling and overbearing, though that ship has long sailed.
After she left, I tried to amuse myself with Netflix but to no avail. I then made myself a grilled cheese sandwich but I didn't feel hungry enough.
I knew Thomas was there and he would protect her the best he can. But what if somebody distracts him and tries to harm her? The last time, both Thomas and I were with her but she still got kidnapped. What are the chances it won't happen again?
No, I won't follow her.
I should.
I won't. She will despise me for it.
It doesn't matter. Her safety is more important.
Is it really about her safety? Or is it because she looked like a goddess?
"Ah, fuck it." I groaned and stood up.
•°•°•°•
PENELOPE
For months, I have wanted to have one day of freedom away from Sean but now that he wasn’t here with me, I couldn’t keep my mind off him. His piercing eyes, his occasional smirk, his snarky one-liners, his infuriating presence, everything kept invading my thoughts and I kept comparing every guy to him. Damn him!
Thomas was standing near a pole, looking like a pole himself, his eyes plastered on me. He first insisted to stand closer to me but I refused which made him sulk. Who would approach me if I had a giant at my side?
“Why aren’t you dancing? Did you dress up like this to sit in a corner?” Mary hopped over to me and asked. She was wearing black leather pants and a baby blue silk camisole, looking absolute killer.
“I am not in the mood.” I replied.
“Oh come on Pen, stop thinking about all that mafia shit for tonight. You need to relax.” She said and then pointed to my left. “Look at that guy. He has been eyeing you since we came here. Talk to him.”
“But—”
“Look at him. Isn’t he a snack?” She winked at me. She was somewhat right, the guy was handsome, not as much as Sean though. Sean had a strange magnetism, a weird energy he oozes that makes every girl want him. For God’s sake, why do I keep thinking about him?
“Fine.” I walked towards that guy and introduced myself after taking the seat beside him. His name was Aaron and he was a software engineer. His skin was tanned, his jaw square and his eyes baby blue. While introducing myself, I carefully skipped the part after my Dad’s death. I wasn’t an expert on dating but even I knew it was third date material. He then asked me about my favourite drink and ordered it from me.
I was about to pick up the glass when it was snatched from in front of me. My head whipped to my right where I found Sean towering over me. He emptied the glass on the floor and then placed it back on the counter, his eyes switching between me and Aaron.
“When I was telling you about survival skills, I considered you smart enough to know not to accept alcohol from a stranger.” He chewed his words.
“Who is he?” Aaron asked in a confused voice.
“Nobody.” I said and dragged Sean to a corner. It wasn’t easy considering he was almost double my size but he let me nevertheless. “Why are you here?” I glared at him.
“Thomas needed to be somewhere else right now.” He replied but I knew he was lying.
“Fine. Just stand here and act like you don’t exist.” I ordered him. He began to smirk so I added, “I am serious.”
“Sure.” He shrugged and leaned against the wall, looking so damn sexy that it was annoying.
Giving him a stern look, I walked back to Aaron and asked him for a dance. It was hypocritical of me to act like I was angry when in reality, seeing him made a strange rush of excitement through me. I hated that he was the one making me feel that way, none other than a ruthless criminal.
As I was walking with Aaron to the dance floor, I could feel Sean’s eyes on my back and it made me scoot closer to Aaron to irk him.
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