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This tone was unfamiliar to me. His demeanour. His eyes. Did I…

He brushed his tongue on the inside of his cheek, stepping back as though being close to me would burn him.

I hurt Antonio.

I hurt Antonio.

I hurt Antonio…

With his chest rising and falling he stepped back again, looking at me as though I was the dirt beneath his shoe.

Then, he nodded toward the door with dark eyes I was all to familiar with. “Get out.”

CHAPTER 29

Nirah

I entered my bedroom to see both Nereus and Sally sitting up on my bed.

Their conversation immediately came to a stop when they saw me, and Nereus smirked.

“What are we talking about?” I casually asked, walking over and falling down next to Sally.

She cast Nereus a smug look and my eyes darted between them. “What?”

“Were you with Antonio?” she suspiciously eyed me and Nereus lay back, both hands behind his head as he waited for me to answer.

I cleared my throat. “Yes. I was just letting him know that both Nereus and Cesar will be joining us for breakfast.”

She looked over at Nereus who nodded mischievously, then back at me. “You like a boy,” she giggled, sitting up on her knees and my shoulders dropped.

“That’s gross.” I tickled her before standing up. “Now let’s get you ready for breakfast and away from this bad influence.”

“Am not.” Nereus protested.

“No, he’s fun.” She scooted off the bed, then slipped on her fuzzy slippers. “Promise.”

* * *

After breakfast, Nereus and I headed to the mall with Sally. Rosalia had bought her some clothes and essentials, but after Antonio and I decided to care for her we realised she needed way more.

At first Sally was hesitant, but after I told her that not buying what she wanted would make Antonio sad because he wanted her to be happy, she quickly changed her attitude. Manipulating a little girl? Not my finest moment, but it was for a good cause, so I’d say it cancels out.

She’d taken the phrase, shopping to your heart’s content, so literal that we needed to call Antonio because there’d be no space for Sally and I in Nereus’ car.

We decided to pack everything into Nereus’s car since he needed to make a stop before going back to the house.

I strapped Sally into the backseat of Antonio’s car and halfway through the drive she was already passed out.

Not only did I stay silent in fear of accidentally waking her, but truth be told, I didn’t know what to say to him either. With my mind being all over the place, I decided that not saying anything was best. For both of us.

I was torn between admitting guilt—that I hurt the one person I believed was made of steel— and anger, because of what he’d put me through.

He slowed the car down in the middle of the road, and my brows pinched together as I turned my head to look at him.

His eyes were focused in front of him, and when I followed his gaze, I noticed the two cars, driving side by side, were slowing down.

“I need you to go to the back and buckle up.”