Page 27 of Dark Consequences

“Why?”

Her question is simple but heavy. I don’t know how to answer yet because it’s too complicated to put into words how she makes me feel when I’m not even sure of it myself.

I finish pouring her drink and hand her a cup. “Here, drink this. It’ll help break the fever.”

Lily obeys and drinks the entire cup in one go. She burps and immediately covers her mouth with a cute giggle before her cheeks explode with more color, and she averts my eyes. “Oh my God. That’s so embarrassing.”

I actually find it endearing. The women I spend time with are always impeccably dressed like Barbie dolls and behave like robots. It gets so tiresome and dull that even as delirious as Lily is right now, she’s far more interesting.

Lily leans back against the couch, turning her head toward me. I feel her eyes on me like twin blue flames, burning every inch they touch, and wait her out because whatever is on her mind, she needs to say it in her own time.

“I wish you would have met me before…” She waves her hand in the air. “You know…before everything. I think you would have liked me.”

“I like you now.” The honest admission slips so easily from my lips. .

Lily blushes hard and tucks her face into the couch cushion. Once again, I wait her out. When she raises her head, the blush lingers, but now shadows haunt her eyes. “You don’t mean that. You can’t mean that.”

“I don’t say things I don’t mean, Lily.”

“I’m not good for you.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll be the judge of what’s good for me.”

Lily drops her eyes, nibbling on her bottom lip before releasing it with a pop to whisper, “I’m scared, Raphael.”

“Of what?”

“Of everything,” she says, inching a little closer to me. I hold my breath, afraid to move. If I do, she’s surely going to bolt. “I’m scared Xiao will find me and what he’ll do when he does. And I’m scared for Mei. Scared that if I’m not there to protect her, she’ll become a victim like me.” She reaches out, nearly touching my hand, and then pauses. Her eyes drop to the cushion like she’s just now noticing her actions. “But more than anything, I’m scared that when everything is said and done…I won’t be the same person I was before.”

This may backfire spectacularly in my face, but I’m willing to risk it. I slide my pinky out and carefully hook my finger over hers. It feels like I wait forever before she copies me and wraps her finger around mine. I lift my eyes to her face and meet her turbulent ocean gaze. Emotions crash and spin like a hurricane in the blue depths. Pain, anger, hope, and…lust? No, that last one can’t be right.

“You’re right. You can never go back to being the person you were before.” I push my luck, extending my other hand to gently brush the back of my finger along her soft cheek. Her eyes flutter shut, and a slight smile appears on her lips as she gives in to my touch. I know it has to be the first time a man has touched her with such tenderness in years. “You’ll be better.”

“I hope so,” she whispers.

Between the tea and the medicine, Lily falls asleep, nestled in soft, warm blankets beside me on the couch. She moves from holding my pinky to slipping her entire hand into mine while she dreams. Her simple touch makes me feel like a raging hormonal teenager, which is pathetic because she’s just holding my hand. I’m sure if she climbed on my lap right now, I’d embarrass myself by blowing my load immediately. Good thing that won’t happen.

My phone buzzes. I tasked Dominic with finding this Dr. Rodriguez from Lily’s past and have been anxiously awaiting news.

Dominic: I found the doctor.

Me: Where is he?

Dominic: He just flew back to New York. He was helping orphaned and sick children in Africa.

Me: I don’t care if he’s the fucking Pope himself. He drugged, kidnapped, and raped Lily. Who knows how many others have suffered the same fate? Bring me the bastard.

Dominic: I’m already on my way.

In less than a day, I’ll have my hands on the man responsible for Lily’s every nightmare, and when I do, I’ll make sure he feels every second of the past six years of her pain.

Lily shifts in her sleep and fully turns into me. She snuggles against me like a cat seeking warmth and comfort. The way she sighs when she finds it makes my pants suddenly grow uncomfortable.

Jesus. I need to get laid. But the very thought of finding pleasure between the legs of any other woman fills me with nausea, especially since the one I desire can’t offer me the comfort I want.

Flipping on a hockey game to distract my complicated thoughts, I also take advantage of the quiet moment to check in with my brother. Michael’s on the verge of losing his mind due to his recent houseguest additions. Rose’s suggestion was more of a demand as she asked Evie to stay with her while she recovered from the accident. Which, of course, meant that along with Evie came Enzo too. Because the two are a couple, but not a couple. It’s a strange dynamic that hurts my head just thinking about it.

“No…stop,” Lily mumbles, twisting her head from side to side like she’s trying to escape something…or someone. “Please. No more.”

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