and some heavy ass flirting. You know I don’t play those games.”
Tali rested her chin on my shoulder. “Maybe he’ll be different.”
I shook my head. “And probably he won’t be. Not interested, Tali. Leave it alone.”
She sighed as she straightened. “Towel secure?”
I nodded, tucked the free edge under my arm. “Ready.”
She helped me hobble back out into my bedroom. In the bright light of morning, the muted tones of a sundrenched village on a white-sand beach greeted me. Thin, layered materials, wide open space, and minimal furniture made up my gypsy oasis. This was my happy place.
In the closet, I got dressed. Going for comfort and ease, I pulled a sundress on. Panties were Satan’s handmaidens at the moment, so I’m free-balling it for the day. I’d just have to be sure not to be back lit for too long.
I pushed my feet into a pair of comfortable, girly flip flops and let my hair air dry. No fuss, no muss. Some moisturizing cream, a flick of mascara, a swipe of lip balm, and I was ready for the day.
Tali was sitting on my bed, her nose in her phone. She looked up when I came out. Nodded. “Beautiful as always.” She pushed up from the bed. Pecked my cheek. “I’ve got to run. Nathaniel is having a meltdown about the presentation today. I’ll be back around six tonight. Love you.”
“Be safe, tell Nathaniel to pull his tampon out. Love you, too.”
She dashed from my apartment, her chuckle wafting in the breeze behind her.
I slowly shuffled to the living room. By the time I got there, I was out of breath. Close to passing out. “When are the pills supposed to start working?” I asked Rafe as I took a breather leaning on the couch back.
“Any time now. And they won’t help with pain really. Or at least not mainly. We need to get that blood moving, pushed out of your joints so your lymphatic system can remove it. Movement and light stretching is going to be the best option. But you’re still going to have to go at quarter speed, Will. Moving too much or too fast will just make everything worse.” He looked me over, his arms crossed over his chest. “Good choice on the clothes though.”
“Thanks.” I pushed my hair back off my face. “Where do you want to start?”
He shrugged. “Wherever you do. I’m at your service.” He dropped into a bow.
I smirked. “Oh yeah?”
He straightened. “No. Not really. But you get to decide where we start. Everything after that is up to me.”
I held up the burner phone. “Let’s go get me a new phone first, then.”
He nodded and came over to help me. Grabbing my purse in his free hand, he helped usher me from the apartment. “Elevator this time, Will.”
I chuffed a laugh. “No shit, Sherlock. We don’t have a year for me to get down the steps.”
Chapter 11 – Ryker
What the fuck had I been thinking, charging into Willow’s bathroom like a hero? I hadn’t been thinking. That was the problem. The whole fucking point. She’d needed help and I’d just reacted. Like metal to a magnet, I was drawn to her.
That shit stopped today. Right now. From the sounds of things, she had enough men in her life who were more than willing to take a bullet for her. The only bullet I’d take was the one I’d put in her pussy before I fucked her.
“Penn, are you even fucking listening?” Amatucci snarled as his driver took us to the District Attorney’s office.
I flipped through my short term memory. “You want to know what other evidence I have. Well, you’re just going to have to find out when I tell Jerrod. I don’t share my secrets, Amatucci. Get used to it.”
He mumbled under his breath. Something about torture and pain. I blocked it out. I was used to people being pissed off with me. A good ninety-nine percent of them always were. I didn’t mind in the least. Usually preferred it, to be honest. Fewer expectations and easier to get what I wanted.
“What are you doing to keep Doctor Douche away from Willow?” I asked him. The question had been plaguing me. Eating at me for the last few hours.
Willow wasn’t weak, no matter what she thought. But she was broken somehow. Broken and hurt. And angry. Fuck, was she angry. Her body fairly vibrated with it.
I could understand it. Lived with the same monster deep inside myself. I didn’t think