Page 90 of Ruined
“You’re right,” Haley sighed. “Maybe I was reading into it. It’s just that it’s been a really long day.” She tipped her head back and closed her eyes. “I’m glad it’s all over.”
The serenity on her face was beautiful. There was nothing for her to worry about anymore. Her debt at the Dahlia District was no longer an issue, and when it came to any threats against her sister, they had been eliminated.
“I can have my attorney contact you and Mel,” I said. “I’m not sure if she deals with criminal cases, but if not, she can recommend someone who does.”
Haley lazily opened her eyes. “Not a problem,” she said. “I guess there’s some serial killer out there who’s been killing clients.”
“Clients?” That was such a general term.
“People who pay for a sex worker’s services,” she explained. “Dahlia had these people come in who made it look like Aldrich was another victim of the serial killer’s. And as long as the police come to that conclusion too, we’ll be safe.”
Someone was killing the customers of sex workers. I was glad Haley was finished with the Dahlia District. Even if she didn’t fit the targets of the murderer, it would put me at ease to know that she wasn’t in that line of business anymore.
“Dahlia kicked me out,” she laughed. “Told me to stay out of her business. Can you believe that? After seven years of controlling my life, she wants me to get the hell out. I guess being involved in a murder made me less of an attractive server.”
Without thinking of my actions, I reached over and squeezed her hand. I didn’t realize what I was doing until she squeezed back.
I didn’t know how I was supposed to feel about Aldrich’s death. In the beginning, we had had our good moments, times when I considered him to be the father I never had. Ripping people’s lives apart for the sake of a bet was something I understood, buttakinganother person’s life was something I couldn’t quite grasp. I wanted revenge, but I never wished him dead.
But then I clenched my fists, thinking about what Aldrich must have been doing to Haley to make Mel think that killing him was the best option.
There were situations where I would kill Aldrich myself. But Mel had taken care of that for us.
Nora and the boy exchanged numbers, and then she scurried back to us, petting her ponytail. “He asked to take me out to lunch tomorrow,” she said. She pushed up her glasses and lifted her phone. “Can I, Haley? Please?”
Haley held up her hands. “No hug? No ‘hello’ or any love at all?”
Nora rolled her eyes and held out her arms. “Fine, fine, fine.”
The two of them hugged. Haley rubbed her little sister’s back with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you,” Nora whispered. Haley squeezed her tighter.
“Yes,” Haley said, her voice exasperated. “You can go.”
“Really?!”
“As long as we can stay at Lucas’s house.” She eyed me. “I don’t think this is the kind of place that has cheap hotel rooms.”
Did she have to ask? I held out an arm and she nestled herself in my embrace. Nora waved to the boy, who was back in his uniform hat, and the three of us headed to the car where my driver waited.
The drive was quiet; Nora listened to music in her earbuds with her eyes dancing out the windows. Though it was only a twenty-minute drive, Haley fell asleep, her head resting against my shoulder.
I was tempted to pick Haley up and carry her inside of the house, but she startled when the engine turned off. The driver unloaded Haley’s duffel bags, while the three of us walked inside. Bags full of their belongings was a promising sign.
Technically, we hadn’t talked about what had happened between the two of us. That conversationneededto happen. I was anxious to know how she felt. But for now, I could wait. Going through what she had in the last twenty-four hours required recovery time. It wasn’t surprising that she fell asleep instantly on the way back from the town center.
I showed her a bedroom next to Nora’s. “The driver will put your bags in here,” I said. “Take a nap. You need the rest.” She gazed up at me, and I turned away, heading to the patio. I knew that look, but we would have that conversation when she was ready.
I sat in one of the patio chairs, staring out at the water. It was warmer here at the edge of the beach, where the trees didn’t block the sunlight. I would work out there on my phone until the two of them woke up. Then we would go to dinner, and figure it out from there.
About five minutes later, the doors opened. I half expected it to be Nora, ready to listen to her music in the sunshine once again, but Haley plopped down in the chair next to me.
“Can we talk?” she asked. “Why did you give me my own bedroom?”
“To respect you and your wishes.”
“I don’t wish to be in a separate bed.” She turned towards me, her legs underneath her on the chair. “I want to be with you.”
