I'm Not Broken - TH

•36•

•Toms Pov•
While Chloe is still sleeping, I slip out of the house and head over to my office, telling Haz to meet me there immediately. We need to do something about Chloes dad failing to get rid of Terry. I told him what would happen if he didn't do as told, and I need to follow through. He's a danger to Chloe, and I can't have that in the back of my head all the time.
"What is so urgent that you called me here at seven in the morning." Haz groans, walking into my office looking less than presentable.
"I know we should probably just shoot him but god I want that man to suffer." I mutter and he shakes his head in confusion.
"Who are we killing?" He questions.
"Chloes dad." I state. "Keep up."
"Hold on, think this through Tom." He says.
Is he seriously telling me to think this through? I've wanted to kill this man for years now. I've thought it through plenty. In vivid detail.
"I have. I'm doing it." I say.
"Mate, think about Chloe." He starts. "How would she feel about you going and murdering her dad without even telling her? It's not just you and your choices anymore. They affect her too."
I know he's right, but I don't want him to be. I want this man gone and I don't want anyone or anything to stop me, but.. I do need to think about Chloe. She wouldn't want this.. I just hate the man so much. I want him gone. I want her safe.
"I need to do something.." I sigh.
"Well.. ever thought of the old fashioned way?" He asks.
"You can't be serious." I laugh.
"It's the perfect solution. She can go back to having a normal life without being considered a missing person, and he will either be behind bars or in a mental hospital. Either way, she will be safe." He explains.
"Cops are shit man I don't know.." I go against everything the police enforces. I can't get caught up in that.
"Life would be so much easier if I could just murder whoever I wanted and didn't have to worry about Chloes fragile feelings." I mutter.
"Wow.."
I look up, seeing my girlfriend standing in the door with hurt in her eyes.. god dammit. This wasn't supposed to happen.
"Darling I didn't mean that." I stand up, but she shakes her head.
"Just don't Tom." Her voice cracks, and she walks away.
"Fuck.." I groan.
"Want me to talk to her?" Haz asks and I nod.
"Please do, she's going to be pissed at me."
•Chloes Pov•
I walk outside, frustrated. I can't believe he actually just said that.. that I'm an inconvenience to his need to murder. I didn't realize he felt that way. I wonder what else I manage to ruin for him- robbery? Assassinating the French president?
"Chlo, hold on." Haz jogs up to me and I roll my eyes. I don't want to talk about it.
"What?" I ask.
"He didn't mean it the way you think he did." He says and I scoff.
"So you're telling me he didn't mean that he's irritated he can't just kill people because of me and my oh so fragile feelings?" I ask sarcastically.
"Well.. okay yes but-"
I start to walk away and he grabs my arm, pulling me back.
"Excuse you?" I say and he takes his hand off of me.
"Yeah I won't do that again, but you have to listen to me." He starts. "Tom isn't used to having to run anything by anyone. We're taught in this life that we do what's best for the mob, and only the mob. Then there's you.."
"And I just ruin everything." I mutter.
"No no no, not at all." He shakes his head. "You make it harder, because you are his number one. He cares more about you, and what you think of him than doing what he thinks is best. It's because he loves you Chlo. Don't let a silly comment get between you two."
I'm still pissed, but I know he's right.. the conflict Tom has to deal with between working a job where he has to be aggressive and having a girlfriend who is so frightened by that must be hard on him. I know I make it harder.. especially when he has to deal with all of my baggage too.
But it's a little more than that...
"It's not just what he said.. it's what he meant. He wants to kill someone Haz. I know that may sound normal to you, but that's absolutely terrifying to me. That's a life that he wants to take. Someone's husband, or someone's mother- it's a person." I try to explain how I feel.
"It's not just anyone.." Haz trails off.
"Who?" I ask.
"Your dad. He wants to kill your dad." He says and I let out a shaky breath.
I know I shouldn't give a shit about my dad, and in a way I don't. But killing him? That's only going to make me as bad of a person as he is. Even if I'm not the one physically doing it.
"Shit.. it's not like I can be mad at him for that." I say.
"He just wants to protect you." Haz points out.
"I'm gonna go talk to him.." I say. "You're a good friend to him, Haz."
"Yeah I know." He laughs. "Now go figure things out with him."
I walk back inside, and make my way towards Toms office. I pass Ben who gives me a weird look, probably because I'm in my pajamas, but I don't really care. I walk into Toms office, and he stands up quickly.
"I'm so sorry Chloe- I didn't mean to say it like that." He says.
"It's okay Tom.. I just need to realize we come from two completely different lives." I say. "It'll take some time to figure all of this out. We just need to find some compromises, like maybe I need to stop being so judgey of what you do.."
"Darling, you have every right to be judgey." He shakes his head.
"Well if this is going to work, then no, I can't be judgey." I sigh. "But you also need to be open with me. If you're worried about my safety, you need to talk to me about it. Our relationship won't survive secrets, especially when they involve my dad."
He nods, looking down at the ground. I know he feels bad, but I just don't want to fight with him, I want to figure this out. If anyone is worth dealing with all the drama that comes from the mafia, it's him.
"No more secret meetings. You can talk to me." I say softly.
"I think I've found a solution to your dad that doesn't involve cops, or murder." He says.
"What is it?" I ask.
"You'll see soon enough."

A/N: my next book is going to be enemies to lovers au good girl reader/bad boy Tom and I'm v excited abt it (also will be serving goofy best friend Haz)