Page 52 of Together We Burn
“Really?” Surprise and disbelief dripped from my tone. Alex and I weren’t exactly on each other's Christmas card list.
“He asked me what I’d have done if it was for Chris. I did try to say that I wouldn’t need anyone to help me fight my battles.” I chuckled, dropping my head to rest against her towel clad chest. Hesitantly, she placed her hand on my head and laced her fingers through my hair. “But I can appreciate why someone like you would go through with this.”
I sighed, grateful that it seemed I had managed to make her understand. The whole situation was a clusterfuck, and I wished I had never signed up for any of it. Emilia and Will be damned.
Stefany’s fingers flexed against my scalp. “What about my mom?”
I tensed. I really fucking hated thinking about that woman.
“What about her?” I asked, leaning back to look up at her.
“How does she fit into all of this?”
I took a long pause, thinking about the day Emilia approached me. “She heard about my synthetic drug.”
She chuckled humourlessly. “The miraculous drug.”
I squeezed the back of her thigh.
“Yeah, well, Will wasn’t the only one to offer his help with distributing the drug, following successful formulation of course. Back when my idea was running into more problems than getting closer to the achieved goal, Emilia requested a meeting. That wasn’t unusual, given the industry I work in. Do you know how many new small independent biopharma companies appear out of the woodwork a year?” Stefany shook her head. “A lot. So, when Emilia came into my office, I thought she was going to request a different kind of partnership, not one whereshewould help me out.
“I was confused. I mean, there were a small number of people who knew about the project, considering it’s not legal. And when I asked where she got this information, her reply was only that she has people working for her everywhere.
“I thought that was just hyperbole. You know, like when people say there’s a Starbucks on every corner. And when I told Will about the meeting, the cogs in his head started turning. And the rest, you know.”
Her face took on a darkness as she acknowledged what I’d explained with a nod. I wasn’t done, though. This story had been kept in too long, and since I’d started…
“I’m still working for her,” I said, bracing for impact. Stefany stiffened, and I tightened the grip I had around her legs; scared with that admission, she’d try to run. “Your mom is dangerous and unpredictable and whatever she’s got planned… she can’t succeed. You’ve seen the kind of people she works with, sex traffickers, organ dealers. When everything came out that night in the warehouse, Will and I agreed our arrangement needed to continue.”
Her jaw ticked and her nostrils widened as she continued to process.
“I asked him to tell you. About our deal. About your mother. Everything.”
“Why didn’t he?”
“He said you’d do anything to make sure Chris stays safe,” I replied, sitting up straight, then reaching to tuck her hair behind her ear. Stefany nodded. “You’ve got the biggest heart out of anyone I know, Stefany. I can’t imagine how you’ve managed to avoid contact with her for eleven years. If I got the chance to speak to Brad for even a minute, I’d do it whenever I could.”
“I’m sorry about your brother.”
“Me too, baby.”
The silence was heavy as we stared at each other. I didn’t want to be the reason for the look of sadness that had filled her eyes at the mention of her little sister. I brushed my thumb across her cheek and smiled, knowing what I was about to ask next would cheer her up.
“Would sticking a needle in me make you feel better about everything?”
The smile she gave was equal parts menacing and salacious as she noticed the glass of scotch on my desk and went to pick it up. I quickly took it from her hands and stood from my chair, reaching for the bottle too.
“Oh no, I’d prefer my nurse to have a steady hand and a clear mind before she sews a dirty word into my back. I’m a CEO; I can't have ‘dickhead’ permanently on my skin,” I said with a wink, and began walking back to the bedroom.
I stopped off at my closet, pulling out sweats and an old university hoodie for Stefany to wear. Thanking me, she took them and went back into the bathroom to get dressed. I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath, reminding my dick to remain calm, but the thought of her dressed in my clothes while smelling of my body wash did weird things to me.
“Do you want to come in here? The light’s better.” Stefany popped her head out of the bathroom. Bringing the small sewing kit—if you could call one of those hotel kits a “sewing kit”—I found her rummaging around her shorts pockets. Pulling out her zippo, she gawked when I handed her the small cardboard packaging.
“This is your sewing kit?” she scoffed, opening the box and pulling out a needle and black thread. “Do you not have any dental floss or fishing line? Anything that’s less likely to cause an infection?”
“Do I look like the type of guy who goes fishing?” I deadpanned as I made my way to straddle the toilet again. Letting out an aggravated breath, Stefany flipped the lid to her lighter. The sound of the hissing of the flame coming to life as she passed the needle through it, and then the distinct click as it closed, echoed in the bathroom.
“Ready?” she asked, leaning in close, and stuck the sharp needle into my skin, stitching up the battle scar I’d wear proudly just for her.
