“Thanks, Alessio.” I helped Lili out of the SUV.
With a chin lift, he disappeared.
I unlocked the door to my place and led Lili inside. She stood there, looking lost and disheveled, wearing only my T-shirt. She twisted her hands together. “Are you going to get me another room in the casino?”
“Hell, no.” I tossed my keys down. “You’re staying here, with me, until I know you’re safe.”
Relief crossed her face. “Okay.”
“I won’t fail you again, Lili.”
Her face softened and she closed the distance between us. “You didn’t fail me, Cole. What Goodyear and Anton did isn’t on you.”
I didn’t agree. At all. I cupped her cheek. “You need some ice on this.”
“One of the guys hit me, but it doesn’t actually feel too bad.”
I strode to my freezer and pulled out an ice pack. I wrapped it in a clean dish towel. Gently, I pressed it to her cheek. “I’ll get Landon to check you out again.”
“No! He’s already done so much.”
“Lili, I saw the blood on the wall in that hotel room.” And just like that, my simmering rage flared up, straining the chains I’d put on it.
“Oh, my head bled a little, but it stopped. And I didn’t lose consciousness or anything.” Her nose wrinkled. “I had a concussion once when I slipped and hit my head in the shower.” She lifted my hand and pressed it to the back of her head.
I felt the small scrape through her hair. It wasn’t bleeding.
“Please, I don’t need medical attention.”
Those big brown eyes looked up at me.
Shit. “Okay, but I reserve the right to change my mind later. And you’re keeping this ice pack on for a while.”
She smiled. “Deal.”
“Why don’t you take a shower? I’ll find something for you to wear, then we can visit the stores in the casino and get you some clothes.”
“I don’t have much money?—”
“You won’t need any,” I growled. “And I’m not arguing about it.”
She released a breath. “Fine, but I can’t go shopping when I know that Ava-Jane is out there, somewhere—” Her voice cracked.
“I’m going to contact Nash when you’re in the shower. We’ll find her. I promise.”
She nodded. “Thanks for saving me again, Cole.”
“Bathroom’s off my bedroom. At the end of the hall. There are fresh towels on the shelf.”
She took my jacket off, then still holding the ice pack to her face, she followed my directions to my bedroom.
Lili was going to be getting naked in my shower.
“Fuck, get a grip.” She’d been abducted, held against her will, terrified, and discovered her friend was being abused. The last thing she needed was me drooling over her.
I quickly sent a text message to Georgie asking if she had some clothes and shoes for Lili. Unsurprisingly, Nash’s woman promised she’d drop something off shortly.
I’ll leave them at your door. Take care of her and I look forward to meeting her soon.
