"Should I put on something else?"

Melanie's question snaps me out of it and I blink fast, once again aware of my surroundings. I look at the TV in confusion and realize I have no idea what's happening in the movie. I had to have zoned out for close to ten minutes now.

"Shit. Sorry," I curse gruffly and sit up straighter. I offer her an apologetic look as her mouth turns down in worry. "I've been distracted lately."

"I noticed," Her brows go up. "Want to talk about it?"

Do I? Yes and no. Yes because it would feel nice to not feel so alone for once, to share my worries with someone, and no because this isn't the kind of thing Melanie should have knowledge of or I risk making her involved. Hell, I shouldn't be involved in this shit myself but I have to be. I know that. I get that. But would she? I honestly don't know and I'm not exactly jumping at the idea of finding that out.

"I'm good," I finally say and when her frown deepens I know she isn't happy. I tug on a lock of her hair, not wanting her to be upset with me. We've been in a really good place lately but I'm lying to her and I can't keep that facade up forever. More than that, I'm sure Melanie knows I'm hiding something. I know that but I'm playing dumb anyways. "Seriously. It's fine."

She looks away from me and I know I've just made her more upset. I wisely choose to say quiet, sensing that she'll say what's on her mind if I give it a minute. Then she does and her voice is quiet, a little hard around the edges. "I thought we were past the lies."

Damn it. I knew it wouldn't be long before she confronted me. She's been tossing me suspicious looks for days. "I've never lied to you, Melanie."

"Not telling the truth is lying," She insists. "I'm not an idiot. There's something you're not telling me and I guess that's fine but don't tell me that your keeping it a secret isn't a lie."

She has a point and it makes me feel like an asshole. I guess I am lying to her. But it's for her own good and I need her to know that.

"It's not..." I release a sigh of frustration as my mind scrambles to find the right words. "I've just been busy with some things. Things I have to figure out for myself. I really do believe I have to do this on my own so I'm not trying to hurt you."

"Do what?" She finally looks at me and it's clear how lost she is. "What could you possibly be doing that's bugging you so much? You've been quiet and distracted all week, Wolfe. Just the other day you came home and it looked like you were crying. I didn't want to say anything but now it's starting to feel like you're hiding so much of yourself. I thought you finally let me in."

I shift a little uncomfortably. Not many people would be so blunt as to call out their feelings and someone else's but that's Melanie. She doesn't bullshit for a second and she's so confrontational it makes me shit bricks. I know I owe her something before her frustration gets the better of her. I'm not being fair. I know that.

"I was crying that day I came home," I admit quietly, feeling my cheeks warm in embarrassment. Melanie blinks fast in obvious surprise and her mouth clamps shut. I look away because it's too hard to talk about this with her watching me. "I went to visit Gramps' grave. It was his birthday and I...I just really miss him."

"Wolfe," Melanie whispers and I feel the sofa shift beside me, feel her hand rubbing circles on my back. One thing I've learned about Melanie is she's pretty affectionate. She likes lending comforting touches and hugs. She says she hates being touched and that's true but only by strangers. If she trusts you and cares for you, she becomes very soft. Not that I'd tell her that. I think she might punch me if I did. "I didn't realize, big guy. I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"No, I understand my actions are confusing you," I cross my arms, needing some kind of armour. I don't know why it's so hard to let others in. I didn't have any problems revealing my past to Melanie but I think it's because it was my past. This, everything that's happening with me now, is fresh and real and too much to confront. I can't help but put my defences up. "Everything is so different now, Melanie. I'd learned to make the most out of my circumstances but now they've changed all over again. Gramps is gone, I'm talking, and you..."

I trail off then, horrified that I almost blurted my feelings for her. I'm sure she knows on some level but fuck, we've never actually talked about us have we?

"What?" She pushes anyways and she sounds a little offended. I realize that it did sound like I was going to say something negative. "Have I done something?"

"Nothing bad," I say softly because now she has her defences up too. It never fails to knock me on my ass just how similar we are sometimes.

She pulls her legs up to her chest and settles her chin on her knees, looking away again. "Well clearly I did something because you put me in the list of things you can't handle."

Damn it. It's times like these I wish I were a little more experienced with women. I swear I open my mouth and the stupidest shit comes out without my meaning to. It's only after I offend Melanie that I realize what I said was royally moronic, including now.

"Mel," I groan and uncross my arms, turning my body toward her, showing with my body language that I'm open to her. "You know that's not what I meant."

"I don't actually," She throws back. "I'm not a mind reader, Wolfe. You have to say it like it is if you want me to understand."

Fuck me, she's such a spitfire. And she looks oddly adorable scowling at the TV and clearly trying to be upset with me. If I was a stranger to her I'd be a little terrified at the hard look on her face but I know Melanie and I know she's only upset because she cares. It's pretty fucking endearing that I can't help but chuckle under my breath. It's tougher than it should be to stop myself when she swings her incredulous gaze on me.

"You're laughing at me?" She demands. "What is even remotely funny to you right now?"

I try to get it together. I swear. But I can't deny how entertaining it is watching her lose her shit over something she has absolutely no reason to be worrying about. Does she really think she's one of the unbearable things in my life right now? It's pretty hilarious to me.

"I'm two seconds away from kicking you in the balls," She deadpans. "Stop pissing me off, Wolfe."

I know she's dead serious which makes it even funnier. Call me an asshole but I'm secretly pleased that she's this upset over the thought of not being important to me. My smile widens at the thought.

"Fine. Screw off," She mutters and abruptly stands, storming off toward the kitchen. I'm not too worried, though. I bite the inside of my cheek and follow after her with larger and faster strides. I catch up to her almost instantly and she notices, spinning on her heel and craning her neck back to glower up at me. I'm easily a foot taller than her but she's not at all intimidated. And I fucking love that. "Okay, what is your problem?"

I don't answer. Instead I grab her by the hips and effortlessly lift her up while she yelps in surprise and clutches my shoulders. I place her on the island and my arms rest on either side of her to lock her in. She's almost at eye level with me now so she searches my face with uncertainty, her eyes dipping down to the space between our bodies when she realizes how close we are. Fuck, she smells good. What I wouldn't give to bury my face in her neck and just breathe her in.

"What are you doing?" She questions and her voice sounds a touch breathless.

"Getting your attention," My lips kick up a notch in amusement. "Have I got it?"

"Clearly," She grumbles and I have to stop another laugh. I think she notices because she rolls her eyes but this time it's accompanied by a ghost of a smile. "The world is lucky they don't know how annoying you are. You know that, right?"

I nod so solemnly that this time her smile expands, taking my breath away. Melanie has sharp features so she always looks serious. It's when she smiles that her face transforms completely and makes her the kind of beautiful that could make a man cross-eyed. I catch her chin and tilt it up, bringing her face closer to mine. "The world is unlucky they don't know how amazing you are. You know that, right?"

She visibly softens and the fire dims from her eyes. Her hands play with the hem of my shirt and I don't think she even realizes she's doing it but it warms me all over. There are about a thousand things I can think for her to do with those hands instead, the very same things I would do to her without hesitation. She makes me fucking insane. I rarely have thoughts like these about women but with Melanie it's like I'm the most experienced and sex-crazed man, ready to unleash on her. Where does it come from? How does she bring it out?

"Kiss-ass," She murmurs and snaps me out of it. She raises a brow knowingly at the look on my face. Shit. I'm being more obvious than I thought. A smirk starts to form on her full lips. "You okay there, big guy?"

"No," I answer gruffly, honestly. "You drive me fuckin' crazy sometimes, Mel."

The humour on her face slips and she swallows soundly at whatever look is on my face now. My eyes hold hers intensely as she whispers, "The feeling's mutual."

Fuck. I can't believe how badly I want to kiss her. I swear holding back is putting me in physical pain. Resisting her feels so wrong but I have to. At least until I figure my shit out. This thing...my job...I'd only be putting her in harm's way. Until I can't be honest about it how is it fair for me to claim her as mine? How can I let her in if I have secrets? And I don't know if I'll ever be ready to tell her about this because it might change the way she sees me. I'm not an idiot — I know Melanie has feelings for me. Ones that are probably as intense as mine. But is it fair for her to be with someone she doesn't really know? Whose darker sides she's completely oblivious to? Doesn't she have the right to know me completely and truly before deciding if she wants me? I don't want her to get into something she'll regret and as hard of a pill it is to swallow, she could grow to regret me.

"You're doing it again," She says softly. I look at her in question and she elaborates. "Pulling away. One seconds you're so carefree with me and the next you act like you have to hide who you are."

She really does see right through me. I release her chin and settle my hand on the counter again, sighing deeply. My mixed signals are frustrating me too but I don't have a rule book about this shit. I don't know what to do simply because I've never had to do it before. "It's complicated, Melanie."

"No," She shakes her head adamantly. "It's only as complicated as you make it. I could do it too, you know? Push you away when things get scary. Guess where we would be if I did that, Wolfe? I wouldn't be living with you. I wouldn't have opened up to you. I sure as hell wouldn't trust you. But I had to believe that things would be better if I stuck it out and took a chance on you. It's not easy being vulnerable or putting yourself on the line but it's bearable if you care enough. I cared enough to face my fears for you. Can you say the same?"

I have no answer to that. Her words are a punch to the gut and I'm stuck in place because I know how wrong I am here. And yet I can't make myself move. I hate myself for it. Then Melanie's face clears of any emotions and I blink because I have to wonder how she did that so quickly, so effortlessly. She looks so impersonal that I take a step back, appalled because she's never looked at me like that before. My chest sinks heavily.

"You know what, Wolfe?" She starts, her voice empty. It's hard not to flinch. "I don't like wasting my time. How about you come find me when you get your shit together?"

"Melanie..." I don't know what to say but I don't want things to be like this.

She hops off the island and holds a hand up to stop me when I try to reach for her. I reluctantly move out of the way for her and she pushes her shoulders back, heading to her room without so much as a backward glance. It's when I hear the click of her lock that my eyes drift shut and I know I've fucked up worse than ever. I told myself I wouldn't do this again, not after pushing her away that day after our last appointment where I went ghost for two weeks. But at least back then there was still a gap between us, there was so much about each other we didn't know. This time it's so much worse because everything has changed. We've gotten closer than ever and I know Melanie has opened herself to me completely. This time I know it hurts more.

I hesitantly make the walk to her room and put my ear to her door but I'm met with silence. I have no idea what she's doing in there but I can't stand the thought that she's locked me out, literally and figuratively.

"Melanie," I speak loud enough for her to hear me, bracing my hands on the frame of her door. "Melanie, I'm sorry. I promise down the line I'll tell you everything but right now...it's just bad timing. I don't mean to upset you."

Still nothing. Fuck. I'm seriously contemplating picking her lock or some shit when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out immediately because Melanie is the kind of person who'd rather text me her answer if it means she can avoid speaking to me. But it's not her. It's the asshole that's making everything so fucking hard in the first place.

D: Come to our Boston headquarters. Emergency.

My jaw clenches. Technically it's not his fault because I'm the one who approached him for this job but fuck, I just want someone to blame and I didn't think I'd still be doing this shit. I haven't gotten what I signed up for and I'm helping these guys more than I'm helping myself. It's goddamn frustrating.

Me: Busy right now.

I've never really denied a request because these aren't the kind of guys you mess with but damn it, I have other things going on. I'm not surprised when I get an answer immediately.

D: Don't get tough, kid. This job is your in. You don't work for us when we call you, you don't use our database.

D: What's it going to be?

My nostrils flare as a I breathe out in irritation. He's right of course and I don't really have a choice here. I chose this. I made my bed and I'm not done lying in it. Getting really fucking close though and that's the only thing that keeps me going.

Me: Fine. Be there in thirty.

D: Show up without the attitude or don't show up at all.

Jackass. I don't bother with a reply and put my phone away before I launch it across the house like I'm tempted to. I think I'm more mad at myself because I'm beginning to realize maybe I shouldn't have done this. But I fucking swear I thought it was the answer at the time.

"Melanie," I call out again and my voice is softer. I've already made her upset and it makes me want to kick my own ass. "I have to go take care of a few things. I hate leaving shit like this, you know that, right? I'll be home as soon as I can."

I wait a few seconds, nearly a minute, but it's all silence. I deserve it. I know that. It stings but she needs her space right now and I have no choice but to give it to her.

My feet feel like they weigh a ton as I make my way to the door and lock up behind me. I'm dragging myself, dreading this altogether. It only gets worse when I get on my Harley and drive off, heading towards the remote location that's a little ways from my place. I've never actually been there before because they didn't need me. I'm able to do the work from my home computers just fine. I guess it is an emergency but that makes sense because these guys don't fuck around. They get shit done and only ask for assistance when it's absolutely necessary. If they say they need help then they really do need it and I know that. Doesn't mean I'm happy about it, though. Their fucking timing couldn't be more hopeless.

"Damn it," I mutter to myself when I pass a cross light that I'm partly sure was red. I'm so fucking out of it but it can't be helped. I can't stop wondering what the hell is wrong with me. Just when I thought I'd finally let one person into my life I just pushed them away again. I know I'm doing it for her own safety, because I don't want her to get hurt, but am I also using that as an excuse to not get close to her? Am I that scared to just have someone in my corner for once? Most people are scared of being alone but I'm scared of sharing a life with someone, of not knowing if I'll have them forever or if I'll lose them, and for the first time in my life it's costing me.

I'm in a shitty-ass mood when I finally get to the building that skillfully appears like a private bank but is used for something else altogether. I park my motorcycle and make my way inside with hard and aggressive stomps. There's a guy casually leaned against the entrance who straightens up when he sees me, his eyes widening for a fraction of a second as he cranes his head back to look at me.

"Uh, this is private property," He stutters.

I eye him, less than impressed. This isn't the kind of security I expected from this place. I could take this guy in five seconds.

I hold his stare as I take my phone out of my pocket and his eyes hastily go to my hand like he expects me to pull out a gun or some shit. He relaxes and reads the message I've opened up, the one that'll grant me access inside. The guy nods and moves out of the way for me and I walk inside the building, past all the desks and computers and the men who look nothing more like bank tellers in plain sight. My ass. They all watch me with equally suspicious stares that I don't return and ignore them while I walk to the elevator. I'm confident no one will approach me or try anything. I don't always take advantage of my size but I can't deny I milk it occasionally. Everyone here knows I can kick their ass if they get funny so I'm not the least bit worried.

I ride the elevator to the highest floor, crossing my arms and leaning back as it takes me up. I glance up from the corner of my eyes and note the cameras that blink red as they watch me. I have no doubt all eyes are on me right now and it makes me smirk a little. For as tough as these shit-heads acts, it's a little funny how wary they are of me. It makes me feel a little more confident being in their space even though I know they aren't the kind of people I want to fuck around with.

The elevator opens up to reveal two heavily armed and suit-clad men, both of them blocking my way out as they stare at me. One of them has his hands on a gun.

"Who let you up?" The stockier one asks. I merely blink at him because he should know the answer to that otherwise this place is seriously lacking security.

His friend, taller and a bit slimmer, raises his brow. "Let me guess — you're that new tech guy. Mute?"

I swing my gaze to him and nod. He's clearly the smarter of the two based on the knowing look in his eyes. His little friend is still clueless.

"How can we be sure?" He asks and looks back and forth between us.

"How many guys do you know are the size of a goddamn building and don't speak a word? Jesus, Paul." The guy scoffs and jerks his chin to the side. "Just back there. Name's Linus, by the way."

I nod again in acknowledgement and shoulder pass them. I have no interest in the small talk. I want to finish whatever shit they need me for and get back home. There's only one door at the end of a slim hallway so I stop in front of it and knock. Almost immediately it opens up a crack and a new pair of eyes land on me. I can't see his face but I can still tell this guy knows what he's doing. You can tell a lot about a person from their eyes and this guy has seen too much. My guard goes back up.

"Yeah?" He demands.

I show him the text and he reads it, opening the door all the way and stepping aside. Now that I can see him better I take note that he's shorter than me but he's definitely packing muscle. I look around and find guys of similar size, all of them with the kind of faces you know you can't cross. I'm officially in the lion's den of this place. My shoulders push back instinctively and I'm on red alert as my eyes seek out one person.

He's at the front of the surprisingly large room, hovering over a computer and barking orders at the guy who's tapping away on the keyboard. Almost like he can sense he's being watched, he turns around and spies me. I tense up without meaning to. This dude's a mean looking motherfucker and I know I'd be inviting hell into my life if I ever got on his bad side. He's who I need to be cautious about.

"About time," He smirks. I try not to stare at the burn mark that extends across his cheek, from his temple to the corner of his mouth. Just knowing who he is, I know the story of how he got it is one I don't want to hear. "Took you long enough, kid. I was starting to get angry."

The guys in the room all chuckle but I know it's out of fear. No one wants to be on his angry side so they're kissing his ass right now. I hold my ground, not even so much as flinching, and he raises a brow right back. The silent standoff grabs the attention of everyone and the room goes noticeably quiet. Guys like him, you immediately submit to. I should be laughing at his jokes, avoiding his eyes, keeping my head low. Instead I'm letting him know that I won't act like one of his bitches and he hears me, loud and clear. The little sneer that forms on his face is clue enough. I'd be a little scared if it wasn't for the flash of respect in his eyes.

"Dante," the guy who was working on the computer calls. "Another dead end."

Dante doesn't look away from me. Instead he slowly tips his chin toward the computer, beckoning me in silent challenge. "Think you can handle this one, kid?"

I won't know until I see it for myself but I nod anyways because he's not really asking. He wants me to get shit done, I have to get it done. You don't question anything Dante tells you. That's the kind of power he holds because of who he is.

The leader of the South Bloods.

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A/N

PLOT TWISTTTTTT.

For those of you who are lost, the South Bloods are a gang and they were mentioned multiple times in book four. They are the gang that ultimately run New York because they're that powerful AND were originally created by Greg's father. Greg also used to be part of the South Bloods until he walked away because they're too dangerous. SO WHY THE HELL IS WOLFE INVOLVED WITH THEM? Any guesses?

The plot thickens and things are about to get juicier! A lot of darker stuff coming your way so be ready! And don't worry, Wolfe and Melanie will figure their shit out.

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Happy Reading :)