Page 105 of Toy No More

“Clear!” One of them calls out, signaling the others to come in. Agent Evans and Colton enter. They both pause upon seeing Jasper’s body lying in a pile of his own blood beside us.

“Shit,” Colton mutters. “We needed him alive…”

Evans, on the other hand, draws her brows together at the sight of bloodied me and trembling Apollo clutching his ear. “It-it was self-defense,” I say quickly, holding in a painful cough. “I swear it.” I stare at her without wavering, making sure she believes me.

“It’s all right,” she says with a nod and kneels down. “This was our fault.” Her voice is marked with genuine unease and her green eyes clearly show remorse. Thank god. And lucky for her, I’m too exhausted and banged up to even get angry. “Some of Jasper’s men had taken a few of the sex workers hostage before we could get them all out. They put up a pretty good fight when we tried to reach here, too. I’m so sorry it took us so long. You both need medical attention,” she adds quickly.

One of the agents hears her and when she shares a look with him, he leaves, hopefully to fetch someone.

Apollo next to me nods, blinking tiredly. “H-Him first,” he mutters, glancing at me.

Agent Evans makes a pitying, soft expression. “There’s enough attention for both of you. Don’t worry, it’s…it’s over.”

Hearing those words releases some kind of knot inside me. It also makes the rest of the adrenaline that’s been keeping me going evaporate out of my body. The heavy, cold exhaustion gets stronger, so I rest my head against Apollo’s shoulder to keep myself up.

He touches me gently, anxiously, and releases his pheromones. Smiling, I sink into the comforting scent of cinnamon sugar.

It’s really over. We’re free.

Chapter 28

Dani

“Everythinglookstobehealing wonderfully, Mr. Jones,” the audiologist notes in a satisfied tone. When he pulls out the otoscope out of my ear, I shudder a little. “The fluid buildup is completely gone, and the antibiotics cleared the infection nicely.”

I still can’t get used to this new name.

‘Paul Jones’ doesn’t fit me at all, but I guess that is the point…

“Would you say the tinnitus has improved since the last time we saw each other?” the doctor asks while he puts the instrument aside and goes to sit back in his chair.

“It comes and goes. Not as often as it did a month ago,” I say, anxiously fiddling with my hands in my lap. Ever since I started wearing my nails long and painted with all sorts of 3D art on them, it became a habit for me to tap them together to soothe myself. I don’t know why hospitals make me so damn nervous. Dr. Rose and the team here have helped me so much in the past three months, but it always feels like I’ll get some horrible news coming in. “I hear whispers a lot better in that ear, too.”

“That’s very good,” he says, smiling, and taps his fingers on the keyboard behind his computer. “The hearing should continue to improve. I can’t tell you how much of it will return, but you seem to be heading in a positive direction. Your balance was great when we did the test.”

It’s true that I’ve gotten used to everything better than I would’ve expected. I guess it comes with just being grateful I’m alive. Everything else became…sort of secondary.

“I bought a white noise machine like you recommended,” I say, remembering I wanted to mention it. The doctor raises his eyes from the computer screen with a happy wiggle of his brows. “It makes falling asleep much easier when the tinnitus hits me.”

That and Kobe’s snoring, for some silly reason.

“I’m glad to hear it,” he says. “We’re heading in a really good direction, Mr. Jones. I will see you for a checkup in about a month and a half again.”

Nodding with a thankful smile, I shift in the seat, waiting for the audiologist to finish his notes, and set up another appointment. When I get up, ready to walk out, he stops me.

“Oh, almost forgot to say,” he blurts, making me turn in the door. “I love your eyeshadow! Meant to compliment it the last time we saw each other.”

I blink in surprise. “Th-thanks.” I put a little more effort into it today. The bronze and gold all across my lid are blended halfway to my eyebrows. I’m a simple man; I love the sparkle. I blended the black cat-eye liner out just a bit to hold everything together and added some light peach color underneath and in the corners of my eyes. “I appreciate that,” I add quickly, so that he doesn’t think I’m uncomfortable by his praise. We share a friendly handshake before I walk out.

Even now, I get so flustered about it. I spent so long with Jasper ridiculing me for wanting to wear makeup and making me feel it was something shameful, something to be hidden… I finally feel confident and supported to express myself, but that hint of insecurity is still there.

Closing my eyes, I try to shake that sensation, just like I do every time the past tries to creep into my head and take hold. What’s important is the here and now. Like Kobe sitting in the waiting room ahead, and the way his face lights up the moment he notices me coming through the hallway.

I smile back at him, my heart fluttering.

“All good?” he asks as he stands up. Before I can even nod, he reaches for my hand, like he always does. It sends a wave of heat through my cheeks every single time.

“You really didn’t have to come here with me. Just to wait around.”

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