I sit and stare at my food, my appetite gone.
He sighs, long and heavy. “I want you to learn to trust me. I want to be able to trust you. I will never lay hands on you, Lilly.”
I look back up to him, because of the way he says my name I know he means it.
“Ever.” He locks eyes with mine, his face filled with sincerity. “But don’t cross me. Loyalty is everything. Don’t mistake my generosity for weakness.”
Like a bucket of water getting thrown over me, that moment is sobering and wakes me up to reality. He may be different from any other gangster I’ve known, but it’s right there in his veiled threat. There is no trusting him. And he sure as fuck shouldn’t trust me. Because I am done trying to reason with him. He can keep his head up in the clouds where he thinks everyone plays by the same unwritten rules. Meanwhile, when this all goes south, it’s me that’s going to be paying for it.
“I will find a way to leave, one way or another. I can take whatever crossing you looks like because what’s waiting for me is worse.”
I’m not even angry anymore, just resigned and over it. I stand, leaving the food behind.
“I’m going out the front door for air, since that’s what it’s for.” I turn and walk out, not looking back.
I spent the rest of the night avoiding him. But when my eyes were struggling to keep open, he stood in the doorway of the lounge room to walk me to bed.
There was no way I wanted a repeat of the morning when I woke up in his arms. So, when he lay down on his side, I swiped a pillow from the bed and curled up on the corner love seat across the room. He didn’t argue, drag me back in, or even make a move.
But when I woke up in the morning, I kind of wished he had. My neck and back hurt, and I felt stiff all over. Although I did find a quilt wrapped around me, keeping me warm.
I’ll need to think of something else for tonight, the chair is not going to cut it. At least he was gone when I woke, and I was able to go back to my bathroom and get ready for the day.
Yesterday, I was told I’d have another shopping trip. This time I plan to stop at the salon to get rid of my bleached blonde hair.
Once I was dressed, I followed the voices to the kitchen, and when I opened the door, a beautiful little girl with curly black hair around nine or ten years, looks directly at me. She’s dressed in one of those horrid catholic school uniforms I once had to suffer in. As soon as she sees me, her red, teary eyes nearly explode. She glances at Dave, who sits by her and eats his breakfast.
Ren is leaning against the counter and drinking a cup of coffee. He’s already dressed in his black suit, and I mentally curse at how good looking he is. Tommy is plopped up on the counter and the blonde, Dante, is nowhere to be seen, thank God.
“Morning!’ I smile to everyone.
Dave nods.
Ren just stares.
“Hey, Lily.” Tommy smiles at me and I feel my heart leap with relief that he’s still not upset with me. “Ready to go on another adventure today?”
“You bet.” I smile back and make my way over to the little girl. “Good morning, what’s your name?”
Even though children are not in my future, for many reasons. It doesn’t mean I don’t love them and find them adorable.
“Evelynn,” she says with a shaky, sad voice. “But everyone calls me Eve.”
“I’ve only ever known one Evelynn. And she was really sweet, but everyone called her Lynn. Between you and me. Eve is so much better than Lynn.”
Her cheeks flush and a smile sweeps across her face. Dave looks down at her and raises a brow, surprised.
Without saying a word, Ren places a delicious smelling cup of coffee in front of me. His kindness catches me off guard, making my heart warm.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
He nods and resumes his position leaning on the counter, watching me with a guarded look on his face.
I ignore how that makes me feel, and look back down at the little girl.
“So, does that mean you’re ready now?” Dave asks her.
My guess, this little nugget belongs to Dave.