Page 13 of Till Death Do Us Part

“You need to sleep. We can discuss this in the morning.”

“But—”

“There’s a bed here.”

“I have to—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence. You have to sleep.”

She carried me through the doorway, and she laid me down in a plush bed. I tried to get up, but my body wouldn’t let me—I sank into the bed, its embrace too soft and warm on my aching body and my bruised mind.

“Sleep,” she said.

“What about you?”

“I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Vera… you’re being ridiculous.” I sat up taller. “You saved my life. I’m not putting you on the couch.”

“You’re the one I’m protecting. I’m not putting you on the couch.”

“It’s a big bed. There’s… there’s plenty of space.” I regretted it as soon as I opened my mouth, blushing furiously. Vera looked away.

“We definitely can’t do that.”

“What?” I scoffed. “You want to show up and tell me to marry you an hour after we met, but sleeping in the same bed as me is outside your moral code?”

She let out a dry laugh. “It’s not outside my moral code. It’s that you’re my type.”

“Oh… what?” I lost my fire, suddenly awkward and blushing again. She raked a hand back through her hair.

“I build up stress in tense mission moments. Adrenaline. Once I’m out, those endorphins have to go somewhere. I have a few women I know. Or I meet a new one. But while it’s just me and you here?” She snorted. “Let’s not play dangerous games.”

I was a full blushing mess now, pulling my knees into my chest. “Ah, well… I, er…”

“Sleep. I’ll be close by.” She turned away without so much as another look my way, raising a hand over her shoulder. “See you in the morning, Elaine.”

“If you’re sure… I’ll see you in the morning.”

As soon as she shut the door behind her, I was closed in alone with my thoughts. Even this small but beautiful hidden space, with bookshelves and paintings, was oppressive and distant now.

I was never going home again. Even if I went back to that place, I’d never experience home as I knew it.

I wondered if Caitlyn was going to be okay. Caitlyn and Matt and Mom and the kids from the library…

Eventually, though, sleep snuck up on me, and it took me into dark, dangerous dreams, the shadow of a gun looming at the edges.

Chapter 6

vera

I lay on the couch for some sleep, and I was just drifting off when I jolted back into wakefulness at a movement in the room.

I sat up fast, reaching for my gun on the table, but I almost laughed when my eyes adjusted and I saw it—the damn cat, positioning itself to jump up onto the couch.

Herself. Apparently she was a girl. Elaine was full of surprises.

I grunted when the palm-sized fluffball jumped up onto the couch with me, sniffing curiously at me.