Page 116 of Wolf

“Yeah?” I whisper.

He works his jaw and opens his mouth but before he can speak, the door opens, and Toni appears holding up her hand. “Okay, let’s get your ribs situated.”

Wolf rises and backs away. Silently I beg him to look at me, but he doesn’t, merely grabbing a pair of jeans off the floor and walking away.

Chapter 34

Lilli

“Have you heard anything?” I ask Miriam after a long nap.

She sets her book aside and says, “No.”

“We can’t just sit here and wait,” I say, and she shakes her head.

“They’re looking. We have to be patient.”

“What day is it?”

She glances at her phone and frowns. “Friday.”

Two more days. We have two more days before she goes back into the closet.

What will they do after that?

Beyond that, what if the sheriff realizes that I’m gone? At this point, I’m not sure which is worse…Mercy there with my psychotic parents or taken away to an unknown home.

With any luck, the sheriff will never know but I’m still worried. Ugh.

“Can I at least go, anywhere but here,” I say waving my hand at the bed.

“Like where?” she asks.

“I don’t care. Downstairs. Outside. Anywhere but these four walls.”

Her lips thin and I truly take in her face as she rises and stalks to the door. She hasn’t rested since I came and to my shame, all I’ve done is make demands and act like a petulant child.

I’m disappointed when Giant appears instead of Wolf but resigned. After the shower incident, I’m sure he’s avoiding me at all costs.

Giant smiles and bends down, picking me up with the utmost care. “Getting a little stir crazy?”

”Yeah,” I say. “I’m sorry to be a bother.”

Miriam coughs and I cast her a death glare that she ignores before picking up her book and following us down the stairs.

Although I would have been happy sitting on the skeevy couch in the great room, I’m delighted when he steps outside, and I lean my head back and let the sun warm my cheeks.

When I open my eyes, Giant sets me down in a reclining chair and I say, “What?”

Giant grins and says, “We’ll put it back inside when you’re done.”

Nodding, I whisper thank you as he sets the chair to recline. It's the first time in days that the pressure leaves my ribs and with a small moan, I smile.

“Good. Yeah?” he says.

“Yeah. Thanks, Giant.”

His eyes brighten and he taps my hand. “You’re welcome, darlin’.”

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