Page 24 of Faron
Faron’s growl vibrated through my back. “Try breathing somewhere else.”
Rico sneered. “You keep this one for protection? Or pleasure?”
I stepped forward.
“You have thirty seconds to leave.”
He laughed. “Or what?”
Faron moved.
Chest to chest. Quiet and deadly.
“You scare kids in here again,” he said, “I’ll take your fingers first. Then your teeth.”
Rico blinked. Just once. Then backed up, slow. His boys stumbled after him.
He spat on my floor. “Puta.”
Faron didn’t flinch.
When the door shut, he turned to me. Hands on my arms.
“You okay?”
I barked a laugh. “You gonna body slam every man who looks at me sideways?”
He kissed my forehead. “Yup.”
And for the first time in a long time… I felt safe.
25
Blue
We walked home in silence.
The kind of silence that didn’t need words.
Bear met us at the door, tail wagging slow. He nudged Faron’s hand, then flopped on the couch like,Good. You’re both where you belong.
I didn’t turn on the lights.
Faron stood in the kitchen doorway, watching as I pulled out the first aid kit like it was a sacred ritual.
“Sit.”
He did.
I took his hand. Angry knuckles. Torn skin. My stupid heart throbbed.
“Stubborn idiot,” I muttered.
“Meanest doctor in LA,” he replied, smile soft now.
I cleaned his wounds. He watched my face like it was a map to someplace worth surviving for.
“You know this won’t stop.”
