Chapter Three
My eyes widen in shock,then relief, when I realise who has just entered my flat. I’ve never been more pleased to see someone in mylife.
“Bryce,” I say on a chokedsob.
Smithy lets me go and turns on his heel. “Who the fuck are you?” hegrowls.
“Your worst fucking nightmare. Get out of here, before I teach you a lesson that will land you in hospital.” Bryce glances at me briefly. He spots my split lip and anger like I’ve never seen before erupts across his face. He lunges for Smithy, punching him square on the jaw. The sound of bone smashing against bone is teeth grinding. He punches him a second time, and blood spurts from Smithy’s nose, causing his head to snap back. Bryce moves to hit himagain.
“Bryce, don’t,” I say. I watch as Bryce’s hand hovers in the air. His whole body isshaking.
A slow smile curves across Smithy’sface.
“Well fuck me, I didn’t realise your clients would be so protective. You must be fucking spectacular in bed, Tutti Frutti. Just like Mummy was in her heyday.” He turns to me winking, seemingly unconcerned by Bryce’sthreat.
“Fuck you,” Isay.
Smithy laughs. “She’s certainly got a mouth like her ma. Enjoy, mate. I’m sure she’ll help you dry off,” he says, passingBryce.
“Get the fuck out,” Bryce seethes, following him down the hallway. Smithy leaves, but not before blowing me a kiss. Bryce slams the door in his face, pressing his hands against it for a moment. I can see his shoulders heaving. He bows his head, then slams his fist against the wood. The door shakes in its frame, making me jump. He’s so angry, I’ve never seen him act like this before. I remain where I am, not certain what to do. The whole episode has left me stunned, not to mention the fact my face and lip are killing me from the slap Smithy gave me. Bryce seems to gather himself and he turns on hisfeet.
“Louisa, Christ… Let me look at you,” he says, striding towardsme.
Shame rushes across my skin at the thought of what he’s just witnessed. I turn before he reaches me and open the door into the kitchen, walking quickly towards the cupboard which holds my first aid kit. I pull out the green box and lay it on the table, busying myself with removing the antiseptic liquid and cotton woolballs.
“Here, let me help you with that,” he says, placing a gentle hand over my own. I stiffen under his touch. He removes his handquickly.
“Sit down, Louisa. Please,” headds.
I do as he asks, not because I want to particularly, but because my legs suddenly don’t want to hold me up anymore. He doesn’t say a word as he pours antiseptic onto a cotton wool ball then dabs it against my split lip. I wince. He is exceedingly gentle as he cleans the wound, inspecting it as he doesso.
“I don’t think you’ll need stitches, but your lip may swell and perhaps your cheek too. He hit you hard…” I notice Bryce’s free hand curl into a fist as a muscle feathers in his jaw. He manages to keep his anger in check though. “Do you have an icepack?”
“Yes. The freezer’s over there,” I say, tipping my head in its direction. Even doing thathurts.
“Hold this against your lip for a moment, while I grabit.”
Our fingers graze as I raise my hand to the cotton wool ball he’s pressing against my lips. The brief touch sets something off between us. I can tell he feels the spark just as much as I do. Bryce brushes his fingers against myface.
“Damn it, Louisa. Why did you leaveus?”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t know what else todo.”
We gaze at each other a moment before he pulls away. “Let me get that ice pack, then I’ll make us both a cup of tea and you can tell me what the hell happened, and who the fuck that manis.”
I nod my head, not able to say much else for the moment. Shock has set in, and I am shaking with the sudden rush of adrenalin. Bryce grabs the ice pack from the freezer, wraps a clean tea towel around it and hands it tome.
“Pop it against your cheek and lip. I’m hoping it will help with any swelling.” Bryce switches the kettle on and starts opening cupboard doors to find mugs and tea bags. He’s already grabbed the milk from the fridge. I don’t bother to tell him where to look, the pain has already started to bloom from my lip and up across my cheek. Plus, my back where I was slammed against the door handle is hurting too. When I press my hand against it, a sharp pain stabs me in the ribs. “Shit,” I biteout.
“What is it?” Bryceasks.
“When he hit me, I stumbled back against the door handle. It hurts when I press here,” I say, my hand hovering over thespot.
“Let me look.” Bryce squats down next to me, and lifts my pyjama top up. He gently presses against the sore spot. I almost jump out of myskin.
“Fuck, I’m sorry, Louisa,” he says, smoothing my top back down gently. “It looks like you might have broken a rib. There’s swelling, and it’s already started to bruise.” Bryce slams his fist on the table. “If I see that arsehole again I’m going to fucking kill him. We need to get you to a hospital. I want you checkedover.”
“There’s no point. They can’t do anything for a cracked rib. I’ll take a couplepainkillers.”