Nero (Made Men #1)(80)
Chloe giggled. “What are we doing for your birthday this year?”
“The same thing we always do; get fat off popcorn, cake, and ice cream, and then watch a movie.”
“Good thing I already packed a bag this morning.”
“Are you ever unprepared?” she joked.
I wonder what is taking him so long. In truth, hardly any time had passed, but Elle could never wait to get out of this place. Elle’s eyes wandered over to look at the wall, just to give her something to do. The school’s football team filled up practically the whole thing. There were so many pictures of the teams over the years. Her eyes were drawn to a particular picture of a team several years back.
The football player at the end of the line-up next to the coach was what got her attention. At first glance, she thought he was a coach because of his maturity and size, but his uniform told her otherwise.
Elle’s heart started to race; she knew him. He had a slightly-younger face of one of the scariest men she had ever seen in her life. The murder.
Chloe noticed her unmoving stare. “What is it?” Chloe turned around and followed Elle’s eyes. “Gosh, he was just as scary back then,” Chloe whispered.
Huh? Elle blinked, looking at Chloe. “What did you say?”
Chloe put her finger over the glass and pointed to the player. “Lucca, Nero’s brother. He is terrifying. Haven’t you met him?”
Elle started to lose her breath, her chest beginning to rise and fall at a heavy speed. She wanted to grab Chloe and shake her.
“Chloe, that’s Nero’s brother? Y-you met him? When?”
“U—uh, after you were attacked, at Nero’s house. I met him in the backyard.” She quickly got out of Elle’s hold. “Elle, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”
“Chloe, we need to get to your car.” Elle grabbed Chloe’s jacket and started running. “Now!”
*
Fuck-Fuck-Fuck-Fuck-Fuck-Fuck. Fuck!
Nero stared at Elle’s poster. She had written a poem on every page in excellent handwriting of all different sizes. Then she had glued them as a mosaic. The whole thing was white paper, filled with black words. It was cool to see which word stuck out at you. Nero had tried to read them, but Elle was embarrassed, saying they weren’t any good. He had caught glimpses and read a few while she was working on them, yet he had never been able to read all of them together until now.
Nero went up to the poster and ripped off a piece. She had seen them.
Nero handed the paper over to Amo and then ran his hands through his hair.
Amo quickly read the paper. “Shit.”
Vincent snatched it from Amo’s hands. “Fuck, man. What are you going to do?”
Nero grabbed the paper from Vincent, folded it up, and put it in his pocket. “I need to meet with my father. I’ll need you guys to stay with Elle. She’s eighteen now, and I don’t trust him not to make the call.”
Nero and Vincent nodded.
“Let’s go.”
When Nero got to the wall, Elle and Chloe weren’t there, and he started to worry.
“Where the hell are they?” Elle said she would be right here.
“Uh, Nero?” Vincent said quietly.
“What?” Nero turned around to look at Vincent and saw him pointing through the glass. “Fuck!”
*
“Chloe, could you please drive faster?”
“No, I can’t, not when I don’t know what we’re running from,” Chloe ridiculed.
Elle tried to calm her voice. “I told you; I can’t tell you.”
“Well then, I can’t drive faster. I could get a speeding ticket.”
“Your dad is the mayor, for Christ’s sake; who the fuck cares!” Shit.
Elle saw Chloe’s face and immediately wanted to take it back. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Chloe.”
Elle sank into the seat and just let Chloe drive the way she wanted to. It doesn’t matter; I’m dead anyway. Elle tried not to think about Nero, but it wasn’t working in the silent car. All the fucking lies.
Elle held her chest. She had fallen in love with Nero only for it all to be one big lie. She couldn’t help thinking about all the times they’d spent together. Yeah, like last night.
A tear rolled down her cheek. She had given Nero a part of her she could never get back. She thought what they had shared was real, but she didn’t even know who the real Nero was. The saddest part was it had been right in front of her face the whole time; she had simply been too blinded by love to see it.
Chloe passed Elle’s neighbors’ house, and that was when she saw a dark car in her driveway with Amo and Vincent on the hood.
Elle’s nerves started to return. She had to get Chloe safely away. She was a goner anyway.
“Chloe, listen to me. As soon as I get out of the car, I need you to drive off and go straight home. Do not go anywhere.”
“Elle—”
“This is not a joke. Do it!” Elle ordered her.
“O—okay.” Chloe stopped the car for Elle to get out.
Elle took a deep breath before she opened the door and jumped out. “Go!” She slammed the door.
When she heard Chloe drive off, Elle contemplated running; however, they had seen that and covered the distance.