Page 31 of Pitiful Lies

“Surely, you back up to a cloud. Can’t you access it from your laptop?” I ask.

“Oh, um, yeah,” she says and sounds surprised that I know anything about the stuff.

I’m not Steve Jobs or anything, but I know my way around computers and software. I have to know it. It’s part of my job as Enforcer.

My legitimate title is head of security for Viper Enterprises, and it’s the same fucking thing. The only difference is I only carry one weapon when I’m wearing that hat.

“But my laptop is older, so it’s slow.”

I make a sound, showing her I heard her.

It’s no big deal replacing her computer, but I’m sure she must be feeling shitty about it.

“Um, I guess I need to find a place to stay.”

“I got it covered,” I tell her.

“Oh, no, I can’t stay with you,” she begins, shaking her head.

My anger returns with a vengeance. I pull over sharply, shifting into park. Then I turn as much as a guy my size can in this stupid fucking seat so I can see her face.

“Little Doll, look at me,” I say, and I wait until her celery green stare meets mine.

“You said a lot of shit before, Sisi, and I listened, so now it’s my turn. No interruptions,” I tell her when she opens her mouth.

The air is vibrating with energy, and I know most of it is coming from me. But it’s not all me, and that’s the only thing I need to convince myself I’m right. That this thing between us is real.

“There’s obviously been a miscommunication somewhere, but the first thing I want you to know is I was planning to drive you to your parents’ house right now. Not because I don’t want you to stay with me, I do. Very much. But I think you need time, and I’m sure this is shocking. By the way, I am sorry about your place. Of course, I had no idea this happened, or I wouldn’t have driven here,” I tell her and suddenly my chest feels tight.

I can’t breathe. Fear is pounding through my blood, thundering inside my head like a runaway freight train.

What if we hadn’t driven back from Florida?

What if she’d been inside when the explosion went off?

Our eyes meet and it’s as if she just realized that same thing.

“Shit. Fuck. Come here,” I say, and I grab her in a hug.

Giselle clings to me, and all the other shit I want to tell her leaves my brain.

She’s hugging me so tight. My neck feels warm and wet, then I feel her whole body shake and I know she’s crying.

Goddamn it.

I’m not good at this. I don’t know how to give someone comfort, but I try. All I can do is fucking try.

I feel helpless and inadequate to the task, and it’s a first. But I hold her to me. I feel her misery, her fear, and I take it all in. I take her in.

If I thought I was obsessed with this woman before, it is nothing to how I feel right now.

No, we ain’t done. She ain’t getting rid of me.

“You’re just saying that cause you feel bad for me. You don’t have to. It’s okay. I’ll be okay,” she says, her voice muffled because she is speaking into my shirt.

I didn’t even realize I said any of that out loud. Oh well. She might as well know my plans.

“Damn right you’re okay, Koukla. I won’t let you be anything else, you hear me?” I grumble, and I mean it.

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