Page 97 of Saving Her

“Will you get help? Will you see a doctor? I don’t think someone in your condition should even be sleeping unsupervised.”

His lips kick. “Are you offering to keep watch, shorty?”

There’s a beat of silence where I blink in shock at the unexpected flirtation.

“Fuck,” he curses under his breath. “I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay.” I shake my head, my cheeks heating.

“No. I’m fucking sorry,” he grates. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I know.” I truly believe him, because why would a man like him flirt with a whore like me? It was clearly a mistake. “You don’t need to explain.”

A door opens directly across the hall and Cole steps out, his scrutinizing attention falling on me before coming to rest on Luca.

He raises a brow, drawing assumptions about my presence before he clears his throat. “The jet is here. It’s time to leave.”

I beat back the burst of apprehension and retreat from the end of the bed. “Am I allowed a few moments to see Tobias one last time? I won’t wake him.”

Cole gives a short nod, his face remaining tight.

“Thank you.” I hate those words. I hate that I’m giving them to him. But they’re necessary. He cleaned up one of my murder victims and I desperately need him to clean up the second.

I turn back to Luca. “Thank you again. For everything.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I don’t wait for the discomfort of this farewell to set in. Once I leave here, I won’t think of my harsh protector again. I can’t. People like Luca are only a temporary fantasy.

I hustle from his bedroom and make my way to Tobias, my heart squeezing at the sight of him resting peacefully in the single bed. I make sure not to get too close and remain hovering at the door, the brush of light footsteps approaching seconds later.

“Cole said you’re leaving.” Keira comes to stand beside me.

I nod, not dragging my attention from Toby.

“You’re not waking him?” she queries.

“No.” As selfish as it is, I’m going to leave without saying goodbye. He doesn’t need to witness my theatrics. The poor kid has already been through enough without having to deal with whatever direction my unpredictable emotions decide to take.

“All he does is speak about you,” she continues. “He said you’re like a mother to him.”

My eyes blaze, the promise of tears hovering close, yet so far.

“You can call him any time.” She keeps her voice low. “You can video chat and email or text. Whatever you like.”

“I don’t have a phone.”

“I’ll make sure you get one. And if there’s anything else, you only need to ask Sebastian. He’ll get it for you.”

With dirty money, no doubt, but I keep that thought to myself.

“Did Luca tell you how your brother came to be a part of our family?” She leans against the doorjamb, her body turned toward me.

“No, and I don’t want to hear it. I’m not ready.”

“I understand. But if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m always—”

“Keira.” I turn to her. “I appreciate the offer, but I can whole-heartedly tell you I will never,everseek out the daughter of my rapist as a comforting shoulder. I’m sure you can understand that, too.”

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