Kylie Bray (Love, Hate and Billions) novel Chapter 43

Week five

“Can we talk ?”

I'm sitting on the floor in my bedroom, Beggar is sleeping on my bed, which has become our thing- sleeping together.

We get closer as the days go by, and more and more she opens up, except when Vincent steps into the room.

It is not that she isn't familiar with him. They are related, she knows he cares for her. The two of them talk about stuff and even laugh but she, like me keeps her guard up.

“What do you need to talk about Vincent,” I ask him, as my eyes remain focused on my project I'm drafting for finals.

He comes into my room, sitting directly next to me.

My carpeted floor where I am stationed at the bottom of my bed is decorated with open books, my laptop, stationery and Ipad.

His strong scent that at one stage made me melt into a puddle is something I am now gone used to.

He places his hand on my thigh and I tilt my neck to look at him,

“And now,”

My eyes go to that said hand on my leg, emphasizing my words.

“I know I have been a dick. I know I hurt you a lot Kylie. I wanted to keep you at arms length. I didn't want you to get close to me because I feel the same way about you, as you did about me. But my life, the mafia it is no place for you, people die, it is like an early death sentence.”

“You have a weird way of keeping someone you 'like' at arms length Vincent, you were a dick to me.”

He is saying things that I have never heard. Shocked it one way to describe how I am feeling. He is telling me words I have waited to hear, but life is so different now.

It no longer matters as much as it used to.

My feelings for Vincent aren't as bad as my regret for losing my best friend.

Diamond is gone.

“Kylie, these weeks with you here, I see your strength, your loyalty. I know you don't trust me, but to allow my cousin in your house, give her place says a lot. I know I should leave but I can't stay away from you, I don't want to. I want us to start over. Please,” his eyes are earnest.

I can hear this is hard for him, showing me this side of him and I think back to Beggar on my bed, and what she said, give him a chance.

I love Vincent but I am also in a crossfire of wills- right and wrong. I should say no, I know I should but my heart won't let me.

So I do it, I bend my head closer to him and kiss him. It is on this day I start my relationship with Vincent Stone. It is on this day I lay my final card down for my ultimate downfall.

Week six

'hey, miss me yet? Still have some stuff to do should be back in an hour. What you getting up to.' Vincent

I look at the screen of my phone, blushing from another text of Vincent's.

Beggar and I decided to leave the house today. We're on our way to a frat party at my University.

Vincent and I haven't been on an official date, but Deno has agreed to keep Beggar company tomorrow night while I accompany Vincent to a family dinner.

I am nervous and giddy at the same time.

He sends me text and kisses me until I am again melting in a puddle, but now he isn't staring daggers at me when I do.

Now I get chuckles and sweet words. We haven't had sex, not sure why I am still holding back but I am.

I guess when we finally get what we want things are different. I find that I am changing and I can't stop it from happening.

'on our way to a frat party. Wont be home b4 one.' Kylie

'Be careful, come straight back when you done, I will be waiting...' Vincent

Beggar is so quiet in the car, it is concerning. Stopping at the stop street, I drop the volume of the music,

“What's up, don't you want to go?”

She rubs the scar on her neck, “Can we stop somewhere else for a bit.”

Frowning at her sudden request, unease curls in my belly, but I shrug it off,

“Sure, where do you have in mind?”

“I have the address it isn't too far from here,” her hoarse voice laces with uncertainty.

“What's going on Beggar?”

The light changes and I drive to the side of the road switching the car off.

Turning to face my new friend. She's looking great tonight. I used a lot of make-up to cover the permanent scar on her neck.

Her jeans are a pair of Diamonds, fit snug on her thin body, with a loose cashmere lilac top.

I'm wearing a jeans and blue t-shirt with black boots, my normal OUTFIT when I go partying on Campus.

“When you were in the bathroom I heard the buzzer so I answered the door and found this.”

I look down at the tape recorder she hands to me. I didn't even know she had this.

Taking it from her outstretched hand with shaky fingers, I press play, and a man's voice comes through the small speakers,

“Tut, tut, tut, liar, liar, liar, always running, always hiding, you filthy dirty Beggar. Guess who I found.”

I hear a scream of a child- a little girl and I drop the recorder on the cars floor.