Page 4 of Heat & Deceit
I lift my gaze then, knowing I won’t be able to leave without hearing what she wants to say. Her eyes are watery, and she holds out her arms to me. I study them, wary, a little unsure.She wants a hug, I realize. Deciding to force it on me, she moves forward and wraps me up in her arms, her rose-scented perfume choking me.
My one hand hangs at my side, and the other remains gripping my bag. I don’t hug her back. That doesn’t stop her. She hugs me long and hard. Finally, she releases me with a sniff, rubbing her hands over my biceps.
“You’ve come so far.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a coin. It means a lot of things. Ninety days sober. Ninety days spent inside this facility. But perhaps the most important, ninety days free of Curtis. I still can’t believe I’m free. I still can’t quite believe what happened after my pack sold me.Rejected me.
“This is for you.” She grabs the hand at my side and presses the coin into my palm. “You call me whenever you need to, okay?”
I nod.
She searches my face. Did she anticipate more of a reaction? Did she expect me to cry tears of joy? She’s been my therapist since I entered this rehab facility. She knows everything about me. She knows about the moment I broke. She knows that I was sold to a despicable alpha. She knows I was forced to take drugs. She knows I was forced to dance...to do more than that. She knows about the day I started craving the escape the drugs offered.
She knows everything.
And I hate it.
“It’s okay,” she says, squeezing my arms. “I understand.”
Does she?
Can she really understand? She can empathize, but does she understand? No, I don’t think she does. She helped, though. Dr. Olivia and the rest of the staff at Sunny Hill give every piece of themselves to help people like me recover.
“Thank you,” I whisper, giving a little.
Her eyes mist again, and she touches her hand to her heart before stepping out of my way. “Your new life awaits, Nova. Make us proud.”
* * *
“It’s a cute place,” Kiki says, leading me up the stairs and toward my new studio. Her long, blonde hair is pulled back in a sleek, sophisticated ponytail that strangely complements her black leather jacket, ripped jeans, and knee-high boots. “We could have gotten something swankier, but Knox said you insisted on this complex.”
Because it’s mid-range. Not cheap enough to be roach infested, but also not expensive enough to make me feel like an even bigger burden. The Hell Hounds would never admit it, but Kody is the only reason they give a crap about me. Kiki’s guys were good friends with my older brother, and now, they take care of me out of obligation. Don’t get me wrong—I appreciate the help, and I definitely wouldn’t have been able to find such a legit fake identity without them. I simply hate relying on people.
Sooner or later, they’ll let you down.
I know that better than anyone.
Kiki continues to fill the silence, either oblivious to my discomfort or determined to make me feel better. She unlocks a door, and I quickly memorize the apartment number.
“And...here we are!” She gestures for me to go first.
“Wow.” I expected some furnishings, maybe a bed and a threadbare couch, but I should have known better. Kiki set up my apartment with everything I’ll need. A new couch. A coffee table. A TV. I move to the kitchen and check the cabinets. Dishes and supplies. Basic pantry items to get me started. I shoot a frown in her direction and move to the other side of the little half-wall separating the bedroom and bathroom from the rest of the apartment. The closet is full of clothes and shoes. A bed with a frame. A side table. Toiletries.
“It’s too much.”
“No, it’s not,” Kiki insists, joining me and sitting on the bed. “You deserve the best for your fresh start.”
“I’ll pay you back.”
“I’ll kick your ass if you even think about it.” Kiki arches an eyebrow. “I checked out that cute coffee shop you said was hiring and pulled some strings. You start work on Monday.”
“Without an interview?” I squint at her. “Did you threaten someone?”
“I would never.” She grins.
Yeah, I don’t believe her. But I need a job.
Starting today, I refuse to let other people save me. I refuse to let people take ownership.
I set my bag down on the bed and spin again, taking it all in. “It’s really cute, Kiki. Thank you.”
