Chapter 14: Tirone: Chapter 14

“Did you not say you want to go shopping?” I had to say something, anything to keep his hand off my girl. “I wanna buy shit, too. Let’s go to the mall.”

“I’ll take you both later tonight. I have to head back. I have to meet someone,” Furore said.

“How about you go and I take Jo to the mall?” I glanced at her. “Is it okay if I call you Jo from now on? It’s more fitting since you’re dating my father,” I taunted.

Her lips tightened, and Furore just stared at me with a steel face. “I don’t see why not. Jo’s already family,” he answered for her, getting a wad of cash out of his pocket. “All right. You kids go have fun at the mall while Daddy takes care of business.”

I rolled my eyes. “I have money.”

“John McNamara’s cash ain’t no good here. I’m your father, and she’s my woman.” He split the bills and gave each of us a half.

I gestured for her to ride my bike, where she fucking belonged. “Jo?”

“You out of your fucking mind, Rex?” he growled. “My ol’ lady won’t ride no man’s bike other than mine, not even yours. I’m giving her a ride to the mall. You tag along.”

Motherfucker. “What about when we go home?”

“Call me. I’ll come pick her up if I’m done. If not, I’ll send a car.” He twisted the handle and started down the road.

Internally, I roared louder than my bike, fantasizing about all the ways I could kill him. Break every single bone in his body, chop off his dick and let him bleed out, burn him alive, beat the shit out of him until nothing was left of him to be fixed…How did that Lanza guy say his boss killed his enemies? He cut them to pieces after torturing them with his knife or flayed them and fed them to the coyotes? I didn’t remember exactly. I was worried sick about Jo, and that creepy man was bragging about the family members’ torture methods with a sadistic smile on his face, but I should have listened carefully…to learn.

He kissed her when we arrived at the mall, always laying his claim, as if he knew he had to do it all the time because she didn’t really belong to him. It made me feel good, the insecurities I’d planted in him, but every time he touched her, I still writhed in rage on the inside, dying in flames.

Small victories. Think about the small victories. They’ve been fighting since you told him about Mark and yanked him off her before he fucked her. They haven’t slept together since, and she’s going to the same school you are like you wanted, and you’ll have plenty of alone time to reclaim her.

Furore told me to take care of Jo. I almost snorted. He was telling me to take care of the love of my life. Did he not know I was doing all this to protect her, from the malice that awaited her, and most importantly from him?

I assured him she was safe with me. Then he left. We entered the mall in silence, Jo and I, but the second I was sure he was a mile away from us, I held her hand.

She flinched, trying to snatch her hand out of my grip. “What are you doing?”

“Holding my girl’s hand.”

“Ty, you can’t—”

“Let’s go.” I dragged her to the building exit.

“Where?”

I gave her a helmet. “A place I know you’ll love.”

“We shouldn’t…”

“Shouldn’t what?” Be alone where you can let your feelings for me roam free? “Ride together because you’re not allowed on another man’s bike?” Knowing Jo, there was no way in hell she’d conform to that stupid rule.

“I admit, that was a bit…”

“Misogynistic? Ridiculous? Mansplaining shit?”

She laughed under her breath. “All of the above.”

“Then hop on.”

She spied the bike seat and the helmet, but then she shook her head. “I really need to go shopping.”

“I’ll bring you back here after we’re done. I promise it won’t be long, Jo. Get on my bike for old time’s sake. I know you miss it.” And me. Like I miss you.

“You promise we won’t be long, and you won’t…try to kidnap me or…” She pointed at the concealed gun in the back of my jeans.

“You can’t hold me to that moment, Jo. You had another man’s cum inside you when I…” My eyes squeezed shut. “When all I’d been trying to do was protect you, when I’d thought our love was strong enough to stand the distance.”

I couldn’t see her eyes, but the slight tremble in her chin and lips didn’t go unnoticed. Did she finally believe me? Did she finally understand I didn’t abandon her? Did she finally realize the mistake she made when she hooked up with Furore?

Her jaws tightened. “It’s still not an excuse for that day.”

“I know. I’m sorry I hurt you. It’ll never happen again.” Can she say the same to me? Because she hurt me too. Shattered me.

She didn’t speak, but she put on the helmet and straddled the bike. That was enough for now.