Page 10 of Night Moves

“You said you dated him,” Raven asks softly.

“I—I need to go check on Eizlee. She gets fussy in new places.” I stand.

“Willow, you are safe here. It’s almost like lock down when the alarms are set. You know that right?

“And Diesel is good at his job, he’ll watch over you for a couple nights until I can get back to you. Think of this as your home away from home. Just for a couple days. I promise,” Raven continues.

I nod. I do trust Diesel.

“Is there anything you need from your home?”

“No. I’m good I’ve got everything. Is it okay if I use the shower?”

“Sure, everything you could need is in one of the drawers,” she says.

Raven glances at Diego. “We need to head home too. I need to do some research, go back through the police reports and see what else I can find. Finally, I have a place to start.”

She looks at me. “Willow, one more thing before you go.”

She pauses until I look her way.

“Will you give me a name?” Raven asks. “You know I can find out. You’ll be saving me some time.”

“Ryrden.” Even saying the name makes me sick to my stomach.

“Thank you. You’re very brave.”

I’m not. I’m a coward and a fake. If I’d done something more my friend would still be alive. Eizlee would still have her mom. Shame sends me racing down the hall to beg forgiveness once again.

In the bathroom I let the tears fall in the shower. I’m such a fool. A real sucker. My choices in men have never been good. Always so hungry for attention and affection. How did Ryrden say it? ‘Such an easy mark. So needy’.

God, how he played me. Sweet talking me, building up my confidence, buying me gifts and affection. The first month was like a fantasy. And it was.

Working as a scantily clad waitress wasn’t that bad. Hell, it’s Vegas. At least we weren’t topless. The tips were pretty good. I’d do one dance routine with the other women each night. The rest of my shift was waiting tables and trying to upsell the drinks. The first time he pulled me into the hall to have sex I thought it was kind of romantic that he wanted me so badly.

I quit accepting the drinks he’d bring me when I realized I’d often feel lightheaded afterward. That’s when I realized the one bartender was spiking the drinks.

His sweet, considerate, off hours sex became almost rape. Then straight out rape when, and where, he pleased. No consent required. Everything blew up the night he told me to go service a customer. I snuck out, but realized I’d forgotten my purse. I’ve been in hiding ever since.

* * *

After dressing in jeans and a shirt I go to check on Eizlee in the room made up for her. Diesel is stretched out in the chair, Eizlee and the new stuffy cuddled against his chest. White noise plays gently in the background.

He signals to give him a moment, so I continue to the kitchen. Another coffee is tempting. But I feel safe here after seeing what it takes to get in and a really good night’s sleep would be a luxury. I grab a water instead.

I know it’s probably not smart, but I do trust Diesel. Caring like he does for Eizlee, I don’t think he could fake that.

When he comes to the kitchen, he’s changed to a pair of grey sweats and black T-shirt that hugs every muscled contour of his broad chest. So hot, but nice too. And so out of my league. Just like Ryrden had been. He’d played me perfectly. Silly little, small town girl with big town dreams.

Pausing in front of me, he studies me. “Are you doing okay? Really?

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“What can I get you? You’ve been taking care of Eizlee, let me take care of you a little while. I can make you something more to eat, or there’s ice cream and dark chocolate. Studies show dark chocolate is good for stress.”

A laugh erupts from me before I even think about it. This stud muffin is citing documentation on the stress relief properties of dark chocolate. “Do you have a lot of stress that you treat with chocolate?”

He grins, “I can think of a lot of reasons to eat chocolate, stress is just an acceptable reason. You just smiled so you see even thinking of it helps. When was the last time you had ice cream with dark chocolate?

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