Page 111 of The Reign of Blood

It must have worked for her then, and she’s leaning into it now.

Fuck.

“Hey, is that my favorite asshole?” Janie’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I peer over Addi’s shoulder to find the woman in question. She frowns, clearly noting the state of me before she points over her shoulder. “Take a seat. I won’t be a second.”

I nod, focusing back on Addi, who seems a little more at ease now. Wordlessly, I take her hand, tugging her along with me as I move to my usual booth. Waving for her to take a seat, I drop down into the spot across from her with a heavy sigh.

“Are we safe here?” she asks, nipping at her bottom lip nervously as she looks around the room.

“We are. My father is on the other side of town tonight, but if you would prefer to keep your hood up as an extra layer of defense, then that’s fine,” I breathe, keeping my voice as low as possible, and she nods. “Are you okay?” I ask, hating the words as soon as they leave my mouth.

“Fuck knows,” she admits, head tipped down to look at her lap.

I can’t read her without seeing her since she’s mostly hidden behind the cloak. I don’t like it.

“Choose something to eat and drink, and then you can talk through it,” I state, hoping she doesn’t argue because I can’t leave here without talking to her. I can’t.

Janie appears a second later, a concerned look on her face, but I shake my head, unable to share whatever this is with her. Despite her eyebrows pinching, she relents, a soft smile gracing her lips. “What can I get you guys?”

Addi looks up at her with a smile of her own. “Can I have the steak, please?”

“You liked it last time, huh?” Janie says with a widening grin, and Addi’s cheeks heat.

“It’s about the only reason I’m not mad about being back here,” she admits, making Janie snicker.

“That makes sense. And to drink?”

“Something strong,” she mutters, causing Janie’s eyebrows to rise to her hairline, but she doesn’t say a word as she turns to me.

“Usual?”

“Always.”

“I’ll have it out to you as soon as possible.”

Just as quickly as she came, she disappears. Addi clears her throat, eyes fixed on mine. “She’s nice.”

“Sometimes,” I grumble, and Addi cocks a knowing brow at me, making me roll my eyes. “All of the time,” I admit, anda victorious grin curls the corner of her mouth like she just convinced me to reveal my deepest, darkest truth. Clearing my throat, I tap my fingers on the table as my knee bounces. “So, do you feel better or worse?”

“I feel numb,” she admits, avoiding my gaze as her lips twist. Her eyes glaze over like she’s lost in thought before she shrugs, ridding the emotions from her limbs. “She clearly wants to be there. She’s in no need of being saved.”

“How does that make you feel?” I ask, focusing on my breathing while keeping my eyes trained on her.

She leans forward, bracing her elbows on the table as she rests her chin on her palm. “I had a memory of her today, one I had completely forgotten until I stepped into that room again. She was happy, caring… everything you could wish for. Yet she gave it all away for a foot rub.”

Fuck. When she puts it like that…

“I’m sure there’s more to it than that, though. More you’re not aware of,” I offer, and she sighs.

“I agree, but I don’t think I care to know,” she admits, a tinge of defeat creeping over her as she shakes her head.

“About that,” I murmur, leaning back in my seat as I try to keep myself as relaxed as possible.

“About what?”

My tapping quickens, giving away my nerves, so I quickly pull my hands into my lap, but it doesn’t stop my knee from bouncing incessantly. “Did you notice?”

“Notice what?” she asks, tilting her head at me as her eyebrows pinch in confusion.

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