Page 84 of Five Fingers of Death

I shrugged. “I don’t know, but she never stopped asking about you when you were gone.”

Her head tilted to the side as she studied me. I didn’t move as her eyes took me in, roaming over my whole body as if she was looking for all the possible ways I would be a threat to her. There were a lot of them. I knew it was unlikely she would want me anywhere near her, but my strength could be used for more than evil. I could protect her from anyone ever trying to hurt her again.

“Have you made up your mind?” I grunted.

“About what?”

“If I’m here to hurt you.”

Her lips pursed to the side as she considered that. “I don’t think you are. I want to believe that you only want to help me.”

“That’s enough for now. The rest will come in time.”

“And until then?”

“We’ll just have to work on building trust,” I answered, not sure what else to tell her.

As if that was enough for now, she stepped back and motioned for me to come in. “Vira’s here.”

“Good.”

I looked around the empty space and frowned. “You don’t have any furniture.”

“I know. I—well, I have to go shopping.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “So, why don’t you go?”

“Well, Eva can’t go today.”

“And Vira can’t go alone.”

She shook her head.

I was about to open my mouth and tell her I’d take her, then march out the door, but then I remembered how she was always guarded. She’d had that breakdown because Zavala had ordered her around and commanded she follow all his orders. If I really wanted to win her trust, I couldn’t be anything like him. That meant giving up a part of who I was, which wasn’t an easy thing to do. I wasn’t used to being soft for other people. But Isabelle wasn’t anyone else, and if I was going to keep her safe and hold my promise to Rafe and Knight, I had to go about this a different way.

“Would you like me to take you?”

Her eyes flashed in surprise at the offer. “I—uh?—”

“Just say yes,” Vira said, walking into the room. “God knows I need to get out of here again. And we need someplace to sit.”

“She has a point,” I smirked.

Isabelle cleared her throat delicately. “Just let me get my purse.”

* * *

It was interesting to watch her pick out furniture. Normally, I would hate shopping of any kind. Even the idea of spending any amount of time with a woman at a store would send shivers down my spine. But this…well, I had a new appreciation for shopping altogether.

“What do you think of this one?” Vira asked. She flopped down on a beige couch that looked comfortable enough.

Isabelle walked over and sat down, testing the bounciness, then leaned back and sighed as she closed her eyes.

“What are you doing?” I asked curiously.

She peeled one eye open, watching me as she adjusted her body. “I’m…” She wiggled some more. “I’m trying to imagine relaxing on it.”

“Isn’t that what a bed is for?”

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