He sucked in a deep breath off the cigarette and blew it fast. “Using again.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. Same old Molly.” His gaze drifted off. “I should put a bullet in her head and get all her shit over with.”
I snorted.
He glared at me. “You don’t fucking believe I’d do that one day, do ya?”
“Not in a million years. She got you by the pussy.”
He flicked the cigarette away, rolling his eyes. “Thanks for letting my kid stay here, Prez. He’ll be out in a week or two…once she sobers the fuck up.”
“Take as much time as you need. Just keep him out of trouble. And don’t go anywhere. We have a roof to repair.”
CHAPTER 24
Cameron
I bolted upright in Dusty’s bed, covered in sweat. Excessive hammering had snatched me out of a nightmare. Then pain shot down every part of my body, a constant reminder my own life was a nightmare itself.
Running a hand through my mess of a hair, I squinted at the dark orange sun flaring through the windows. How long had I been sleeping? And what the hell was that continuous hammering?
My heart leapt at the door opening without a warning. Then Owl stepped inside.
I grimaced. “You enter Dusty’s room without even knocking?”
He raised his hands up to his chest. “Sorry, princess. Thought you were sleeping. Came to wake you up for your pain meds and to give you some food.”
The tension building in my shoulders eased a bit. “I don’t think I need more of those. I feel better.” That wasn’t a lie; the pain was a lot, but it was the only thing I could feel now. I didn’t want that taken away as well. I was starving, though.
He picked up a tray off the floor and kicked the door shut. “Oh, yes you will. When the ones I gave you wear off in a few minutes.” He set the tray on my legs and went through the medication bottles on the nightstand.
As if on cue, the wounds on my back and legs screamed at me. My shoulders slumped in surrender.
He pushed something through my IV. “Don’t worry. I’m not giving you anything too strong. I know how it is to get hung up on these little bitches.”
“What?”
He sat on the edge of the bed, full of energy and…grace. Even though he was in his late forties, maybe even early fifties, he moved and was built like a twenty year old. “Never mind. Let’s get some protein in there.”
He uncovered one of the two plates on the tray, and I saw a huge piece of grilled steak and a bowl of mashed potatoes. The other plate had a grilled, boneless chicken breast and jasmine rice. “Didn’t know what you preferred so I made both chicken and steak.”
I stared at the tray, the mouthwatering smell of the food filling my nostrils. “You made these?”
“Yup.”
“Thank you.” I was about to grab a fork, but I hesitated for a moment.
“I’ll take a piece of everything if it eases your mind.”
I laughed under my breath, not meeting his eyes. “I didn’t mean…”
“It’s all right, princess. I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”
“Did Dusty tell you to cook for me?”
He nodded. “Wouldn’t let any of the girls do it. Actually, since you’ve gotten in Rosewood, no one is allowed up here alone but me and him.”