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“If it wouldn’t mean forever to her, I would,” Nico snaps, and I want to kick my own ass because the depression that envelops my best friend is heartbreaking. Nico smirks, but I sense his sadness and wonder about that, but I won’t ask.
He leaves the room, and I turn my head to CJ. “I’m so sorry; I didn’t mean to say that out loud. It was just a thought, and then my lips formed the words.”
“It’s fine.” She waves her hand, but I know it’s not. Her heartbreak slams me hard because, while they’ve bickered for years, neither has acknowledged their sexual tension or that they have feelings for each other.
Being outright rejected by Nico has done something to CJ, and I’m sure when she moves away, it’ll likely be for good. Her family and mine do business with Nico often enough that they’d bump into each other frequently, and she wouldn’t be able to get over him, so why would she come back?
“I’m sorry, CJ. I wish he would get his head out of his ass already.” Reaching for her, I hold her hand reassuringly as she works to get herself under control.
“It’s better I know what he wants and feels now instead of getting involved and having my heart broken.” She puts on a beaming smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, let alone her heart, and I know my friend is devastated.
Deciding a subject change might be in order, I ask about school. “How’s classes?” I did some online ones for a while, but I just wasn’t feeling them, so after my last semester, I didn’t re-enroll.
“Good, I suppose. Boring, really, but I graduate this year.” A forlorn look enters her eyes, and I can already tell what she’s thinking.
“Do you have any job offers yet?” CJ will be a fantastic teacher. She loves kids, and if she goes for the grade I think she is, she’ll change so many little lives.
“I have an interview in Virginia next week and a part-time offer in South Carolina, but I’ve also been looking at teaching abroad. Might be a good time.” I can tell she’s not into any of it. I know she was hoping that Nico would finally man up and see her as an intelligent, competent woman once she was done with college.
The idiot just ruined that. I still can’t believe he said what he did.
“Well, wherever you wind up, I’ll at least get to travel, finally!” Her smile is genuine this time as she grips my hands tightly.
“You’ll help me house hunt.” Nodding my agreement, we grow silent as Nurse Selena comes back in to let me know I can go home in the morning.
As excited as I am for the news, I’m more concerned about my friend. Something is going on with the strong-willed woman, and she’s keeping it to herself.
As we begin talking about her options for the future, Holy enters the room, and this knot that sat in my chest loosens. Nico follows behind, and I watch the change in CJ. She stiffens and refuses to look at the man. Holy notices it, too, and raises a brow at me in question. I faintly shake my head and accept the hug from CJ before she leaves. Holy sends Nico on an errand so he can’t follow after her, and I sigh. For a man who insists he’s no good, he sure cares about those around him.
“Carter will be here in a little bit with some food.” My stomach grumbles at his words, and he grins. “Figured you might want something more than Jello and popsicles.”
Yawning when he climbs into bed with me, I don’t waste a second cuddling into his chest when I notice blood staining his fingers.
Pushing my hand under Holy’s shirt, I offer him the comfort he so freely gives me as I fall into a deep sleep, knowing I’ll always be safe under his care.
CHAPTER 18
Holy
Johnny’s family has been in the business for about as long as mine, so when he offered up a space to keep Dr. Graves and whoever else we captured, I had no idea what I was in for.
The basement of a warehouse with soundproof walls and blood staining every surface possible wasn’t what I had in mind. “You guys always had this place?” I look to the man as he leans against a concrete wall.
“Gramps had it built during the depression. He used to be a bootlegger, I think.” At his casual shrug, Malice chuckles from the corner.
“Murder and booze, sounds like a good combination.” I don’t disagree with my brother.
Graves is chained to the floor with two of her soldiers, looking a little sick in the eyes. “You ready to talk yet?” I ask her. I know Johnny and Malice have been checking in on the trio, but they haven’t given a shit about the conditions they’re in.
“Talk about what?” Her chin lifts in challenge. “We weren’t doing anything wrong.”
“She keeps saying that,” Malice growls. “Odette is distraught over Della being taken and forced into some sketchy shit.” And if there’s one thing you don’t fuck with is my sister-in-law, as far as he’s concerned. “It’s not good for the baby, Holy.”
“Yeah, I know.” I’ll be just as angry if something happens to either of them. “Forcing a gifted woman into healing until she nearly dies isn’t wrong?” The woman scoffs at this.
“She’s an abomination and should have been willing to help figure out how she got that way. Instead, she’s greedy and hides her ability.” How Graves fails to see Della’s reasoning is beyond me.
“So, you meant to kill her?” I’d really like the woman to hang herself for me. My gaze slides to the guards, who have remained silent thus far. “What about you two? You good with torturing women, children?” I still think of the girl Cowboy had clinging to him for a couple of days before she was forced to leave the hospital with social services.
