Page 53 of Heartfelt Pain
Finally, he settles back, quiet as he watches me. My hand remains flung over my eyes.
I dismiss him. “You can leave now.”
He doesn’t speak as he stands up, pulling his pants back up. There’s a rustle of clothes and I expect him to be gone, but instead, he lifts one of my legs.
I move my hand and find Roma pulling my pajama shorts back up my thigh.
It’s Trevino, I realize a beat later. Roma might silently take my orders, but he’s not about to leave me naked for another man to find.
Fine, I let him finish pulling up the shorts. But that’s it. “You’re not taking my underwear with you.”
I grab them from his hand and settle back. He’s crestfallen, but a half-second later he tugs on his leather jacket and opens the front door.
It’s not right away, but I’m not sure if it’s a minute or ten before Trevino lets himself back in.
I keep my hand over my face but when he passes by I hear him mutter, “I’m never sitting on that couch again.”
CHAPTER 12
Ren
I’m stepping out of the shower when I hear a vacuum start. I can’t remember the last time I ran the vacuum.
“What the—” I stop in the middle of the kitchen and realize it’s not the vacuum. Trevino is making a smoothie with a blender I didn’t even know I had. I’d like to say it makes more sense than the vacuum, but at this point, I don’t know what’s real or not.
He hands me a glass of green bits. “Kale, with blueberries and protein powder.”
“But I just got some frozen waffles.” And then I’ll eat whatever Abe makes me for my second breakfast.
Trevino is wearing all black, his shirt stretching against his muscles. He must’ve put up the dishes in the sink because they’re all gone.
“Thanks.” I lift my drink in a silent cheer. “I’m just going to finish getting ready.”
My plan is to flush the smoothie down the toilet before I come back out. I mean it’s a nice gesture, but it’s a lot of kale for so early in the morning.
I pause, though. “Um. . . about last night.”
He doesn’t face me, but he shrugs. “My job is to protect not judge.”
“Did you. . . did you hear?”
He shakes his head before I even finish.
Oh, thank God.
“But I didn’t get to where I am because I’m stupid. It’s pretty clear what you were up to. It’s not my place to say a word, but if you’re worried about people finding out you went back to the Zimin, you. . .” He turns from the sink. “My job is to protect you. And your secrets.”
I think it’s meant to make me feel better. “Isolde is technically the paying customer.”
He dismisses the idea. “Good thing I’d rather go out of my way not to talk to her.”
“Don’t be rude to my friend!” She’s the nicest person on the planet. “She’s never said a bad word about you. And all you are is grumpy.”
I sniff the smoothie and try not to gag at the amount of kale in it. “How did you two meet anyway? She never said.”
And I’m curious as fuck.
But Trevino decides he’s put up with me enough. “The car will be here in thirty minutes.”
