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“That doesn’t concern you.”
My mouth curled into a cruel smile. “I don’t agree.”
His chest pitched with a huff of disbelief. “I’ve tried. For years, I’ve tried.”
“Ever asked her what she needs help with?”
“What she wants is for someone to give her money. What she needs is to get away from our mother and all that shit,” he hissed. “She needs to get away from what she’s doing. I want to help her.”
“What she needs is for you to believe her.”
He settled in his seat, his head shaking and his mouth pulling in an incredulous smile. “I don’t know you. I doubt you know her. I seriously fucking doubt you know what she needs.”
“And that’s why she’s never let you help her.” I slid out of the booth, but leaned on the table to whisper, “She’s in trouble because she’s been trying to take care of everything by herself. She needs help. There’s only so much I can do. You’re a cop. Do something.”
“She lies,” he said when I’d taken a few steps away, and he waited to continue until I was looking at him again. “Clearly you haven’t known her long enough. But that’s what she does. Lies and does whatever it takes to piss people off. It’s hard to help her when she doesn’t want to be helped. It’s hard to help her when you don’t know what’s real and what isn’t.”
I wondered if anyone had ever seen the real Jessica before.
If anyone knew what she was like beneath the chaos.
I shook my head and stepped back. “Wait for her to stop laughing. That’s when it’s real.”
I stepped up to one of the walls in Kieran’s bedroom and ran my fingers over the many hollows in it, wondering how many were due to boredom and training, and how many were in response to his darkness.
I’d woken to an empty bed and room, but somehow, I’d felt calm and safe.
Maybe it was this room. Maybe it was still being wrapped in his comforter and scent. Maybe it was simply his lingering presence.
I wanted this comfort forever.
I was going to miss it.
As much as I wanted to stay here, I now only had five days before I had to come up with three thousand dollars . . . and I was struggling with how to do that.
I knew how, but five days wasn’t enough time. A week wouldn’t have been enough.
And now I had no phone to contact my clients. I had a man in an SUV stalking my every move. And I had Kieran . . .
But he would never look at me the same.
I knew he would find a way to help me if I asked. I knew he would put an end to AJ.
But it wasn’t his job, and I never wanted to owe him for anything.
Momma was my responsibility. Always had been, always would be.
A shudder moved through my body and I dragged in a sharp breath.
There.
I bit at my lip to hide my smile. He was just so silent.
“What if I was made for you and you were made for me?” I asked quietly.
His strong arms folded around my waist, pulling me against his chest.
My eyes shut as I tried to memorize the feel of him molded to me like this.
