Back in Zira’s room, she lies on the bed with her arms wrapped around a pillow. Dressed in a thick hoodie and track pants from the closet, I’m pleased she’s warm.
“Here. It’s one of Raven’s so it’s bound to have a billion good things in it and still taste good,” I say as I set the bottle down on the bedside table. “Please drink it.”
“I’m not a child,” Zira replies and she rolls over, eyeing me and then the drink.
“I know,” I say softly. “But you’re hurting. And I’m here to take care of you.”
“Pretty fucked up considering you killed my brother.”
Again, her words sound like a lash out, but she’s still lacking the heat behind it, not that I mind. “Think of it as my reparations to you.”
“A smoothie for a brother?” Her lip curls in disgust. “Whatever.” She still takes the bottle and rolls back over.
I’ll take that as a win.
Having her talking and eating again is a definite improvement. I excuse myself with a nod and a small smile and head back into the hall, leaving the door ajar as an invitation for Zira to leave her room. She doesn’t take it. My phone links me to the CCTV, and she remains in bed, but she’s drained the smoothie at record speed as if her appetite has come roaring back to life.
Baby steps.
“Bradley?” Ruslan’s voice rises beside me and his hand appears on my chest, using that grip to sidestep me before I accidentally walk into him.
“Sorry. I was miles away.”
“It’s cool. You alright?” Ruslan’s eyes narrow slightly as he looks me over. “You look tired.”
“Long day. Long… week.”
“I heard about Zira and her brother. I’m sorry.” He winces and pats my shoulder. “You need anything?”
“No, I can handle it.”
“You sure?”
I ignore his question and instead pinch the front of his silk shirt. “You’re dressed up?”
“Dinner with Ivy. Meeting some people from her work who most definitely don’t know who I am or what I do, so I have to pretend to be normal.”
“The price of love,” I say with a smile. “Have a good night.”
“You too.” Ruslan ducks his head and hurries toward the elevator.
Watching him go, my gut tenses slightly, so I call out to him. “Be careful, Ruslan.”
He reaches the elevators and turns. “I always am.”
“I mean it. I want you back here safe. After what happened with Frank…”
“Trust me,” Ruslan calls back as the elevator doors open. “You won’t be needing a new Ace in your lifetime.” With a wink, the doors close.
I wander back to the kitchen where Cassian’s depositing his vibrant salad into seven small containers. “For Raven?” I ask as I head for the coffee machine.
“Yeah. She’s working round the clock on those diamonds at the garage, and I wanna make sure she stays fed.”
“Beyond protein bars and pizza?”
“Exactly.” Cassian grins.
Setting the coffee to strong, I then join Cassian and help him drizzle his homemade dressing over the salads. “I need your help.”
