style. Sliced strawberries for color. Sheet cake to serve. The caterer was covering everything else. Thank the good goddess. Just the thought of having to do a full wedding spread this weekend made my legs ache.
Thank goodness for small favors. I could just present my cakes, make sure they got stored correctly, and show someone how to cut them before serving it. Easy peasy, lemon squeazy.
As I’d hoped, my mind began to slow as I worked my way through the party plans and requirements of the weekend. I could feel sleep tugging at me. Pulling me under, away from the day that was so full of ugliness.
I heaved a sigh and sank into her welcoming arms.
Chapter 22 – Ryker
An ear-piercing scream had me jumping to my feet, fists ready before my brain could catch up. I blinked my eyes clear as another scream shattered the silence.
Willow.
I burst into the loft, expecting to see someone standing over her, a knife brandished in the low light. But it was just her. Still on the couch, huddled under her blanket. The low light from over the stove didn’t cast a lot of illumination.
“Please don’t. Please don’t hurt her. I’ll try, Ethan. Please, she’s just a little girl.” The words sobbed from her chest as I crept closer to her spot on the sofa.
She was flat on her back, arms down at her sides. Her beautiful eyes were open wide, but blind and shuttered as she watched the horror only she could see.
“Willow?”
She jerked. Tried to sink further into the cushions that supported her. “Shh, baby. Shh. Go somewhere else in your mind okay. He can’t hurt you in your mind.” Her hand twitched by her side as if she were trying to pet someone’s head. Only her fingers moved though.
“Willow,” I said again. “Wake up.”
Her eyes fell closed as her mouth twitched. “Shh.” It was more like a leaky hose than words, but her fingers continued to move.
“Cupcake?” I tried. I didn’t want to move her, to have her wake up and find me leaning over her or touching her. That path led nowhere either of us wanted to go.
Her breathing shifted, slowed slightly.
“Cupcake. Wake up,” I said a little louder.
She jackknifed into a seated position, her fists curled into claws. “You can’t hurt me now, you fucker.”
My eyes widened as I shifted towards the kitchen. That could have been leveled at me or her phantom.
“Cupcake, are you with me?” I moved back and flipped a light on without taking my eyes off of her.
She slumped back down onto the couch as if she were a puppet and her strings had been cut.
Fuck. “Cupcake. Answer me.”
“You better have a good fucking reason for being back in my house when I told you to leave,” she said. Her tone was waspish and snappy.
I almost sobbed out a breath. Thank fuck. “Well, next time you scream bloody murder, I’ll just leave you to your horrors.” I stomped towards the door, unsure I could talk to her without demanding answers. Forcing her mind down deeper, darker paths. “Lock the door behind me.”
She laughed. It was hard and damp around the edges. “I would have done that the first time if I’d been able to, you asshole. Leave. I’ll be fine. Tali should be back any minute.”
My hand curled around the knob, my anger pulsing in my brain when I heard her sob. I stiffened. No. Get your ass out the door. You don’t need this kind of trouble just to get into her pants, the asshole side of my psyche argued. She’s not going to put out anyway. Go call Synra, slake your thirst that way.
Another sob broke through her control. Damn it. I stormed back across her apartment, scooped her ass up into my arms, and stalked to her bedroom.
“Put me down, you motherfucker. Now.” She beat at me with her fists, scratched down my arms with her fingernails.
“Stow it, cupcake. I know I’m an asshole. I’m a worthless human being at the end of it, but fuck if I’ll let you just cry yourself to sleep on the couch.” I swallowed back the rest of the words that crowded my mouth. Changed them. “Besides, your Amatuccis would have my ass. I’m not the masochist.”
She stilled, held her body rigidly against me. We made it to her room. I bumped the light switch with my elbow. The messy bed from earlier beckoned me to just toss her into it. Be done with the whole night.
Treat