The bargain

Chapter Fifteen

Shit.

"I can't do this,'' I push away from him and walk back to the room. His footsteps are loud. He is following me but I just wish I could go back home.

Everyone is going to be worried.

Mom, Charlotte…dad. Dad who just came back from a dark time. Dad is hurt.

I walk into the room and I look around in search of my bag "Where is my bag?"

I look at the door and he is leaning against the wood.

He doesn't even look worried.

There is a confused expression on his face. maybe I acting childish right now. He didn't force me to come here, I came here on my own, so I should be able to leave when I want to.

"You are spiraling again,'' he muses.

I frown "I am not spiraling. I want to go home.''

He raises a brow "I will take you home if you want to but don't leave just because you think I am married."

"Why can't you ever just answer simple questions. Why do you want to keep this mystery?''

"How I feel about you doesn't have anything to do with all your questions.''

His words should make me giddy.

He feels something for me.

I should be happy, right?

But he could be married?

He could be a psychopath, murderer, someone in the mafia. He could be dangerous and isn't it better to nip this in the bud before I actually fall for him?

"Where is my bag?'' I ask him, ignoring his comment.

He smiles and walks over to a door. I don't follow him and in about a second, he is back with my bag. He clicks on a light switch and the room brightens. He glows beautifully in this light.

Fuck.

Focus Harley.

"Here you go.''

I collect my back and he watches me.

I don't know what he is waiting for.

"Can you take me home?'' I plead.

He nods "Of course but you know that is not what you want. You know what you want and you want to deny yourself of that.''

"Tell me your name, I will stay if you tell me your name.''

I sound so desperate. I don't even recognize the tone of my voice. Who the hell is this person?

"I can't do that."

"Why not?''

He walks closer to me and I wait for him to answer my question "I am not married."

"Why can't you tell me your name?'' I retort even though a part of me is relieved that he is not married.

"Because.''

I roll my eyes "Because is not an answer."

He runs his hands through his hair frustratingly. I can see that I am getting on his nerves now and that is not my intention "It is the answer I can give you, can you just trust me and take it?''

I shake my head "Take me home.''

He sighs "Ask me anything else and I would answer. Anything you want to know but my name.''

This doesn't make any sense to me.

He is just making a big deal out of nothing and that is what scares me the most. He could have lied to me, given me any name but his name.

"Take me home,'' I deadpan.

I don't want to do this anymore.

No matter how much I already feel for him, this is not worth it. "You don't know what you are doing Harley. I cannot lie to you.'' he cries.

Pain is etched on his voice and it almost feels like he is as surprised as me.

"Then don't lie. Just tell me the truth. It can't be that bad.''

He scoffs.

I reach for him.

"It's just a name. please just give me that so that I can trust you.'' I grab his hands in mine and he bends his head backward. He is beating himself up for nothing and I can't seem to grasp this situation.

"You already trust me,'' he interjects.

I want to tell him that I don't. that he is a liar but I know the truth. I came here, with him. I fell asleep in the car, not knowing if he was going to hurt me and I gave him that benefit of the doubt. I trust him. I know I do but I need more.

I need so much more than he is willing to give me.

"Take me home.''

There is a flash in his eyes, it almost looks like fear but I have never seen him afraid. I don't think this man has that kind of reaction to anything.

"Fuck,'' he exclaims and I sense anger in his tone.

"I can't do anything to mess this up. I need this to happen. I need you and me to happen,'' he cries.

I furrow my brows in confusion.

He sounds like this is hard for him.

I don't want him to suffer because of me but I also need something from him. he has not given me anything so far.

He reaches for me and cups my face in his hand. His hand is rough and hard, just like all the edges of him.

"Do you want to mess with the order of things? The way things have been. Do you want that?''

I don't even know what he is talking about.

I don't have one clue.

"Tell me your name and I will stay. I will forget about all the questions that have been rummaging my brain and I will stay."

He watches me, still holding my face.

He doesn't want to let go.

I don't want him to let me go.

"Fuck Harley, you have no idea what you have just done.'' He groans and his lips press to mine. once our lips touch, the sparks ignite. He topples over me and pushes me to the bed. I don't fight him as I drop my bag and hit the mattress with a soft thud.

My heart races because he hasn't told me what I need to know but it almost feels like with each kiss, with each touch. I get the answer I want to know.

It is almost like it travels into my heart, in a slow mesmerizing whisper. His name.

With that, I feel like something has been unlocked.

Something sinister.