Page 172 of The Unravelings

“Prisoner? Pfft. I resent that, Keeper. You are no prisoner here. You like me. Admit it.” I grin when he narrows his eyes at me again, knowing I’m right.

“On that note, I’m going to bed. You better not do anything fucking stupid. I swear to God if you so much as hurt her or try anything, I’ll kill you myself.” He points a finger at me before marching up the stairs and saying a quiet goodnight as he passes her in the hall.

“Oh ye of little faith,” I huff, pouring myself another full glass of Stagg and sit down at the island as his bedroom door slams shut, rattling the decorations on the walls.

As I’m gulping down several burning mouthfuls, she walks into the kitchen with trepidation. And boo, fully clothed. I’ll miss her beautiful tits and gorgeous nakedness. Oh, well. I’ll see it again. Very, very soon. She’s mine after tonight, after all. Fuck those fuckwits. I know they’ll come sniffing around sooner rather than later. So, I have to make my claim before they can sink their deceiving claws in her again. Not that she’d ever allow it. My little ghost is well aware of what they did in the past. Or wait, didn’t do? Hmmm. That I’m not sure of. I know what I saw. I know I saw him. So very curious how this will all play out. Are they as innocent as they want to seem? Set up? Who knows? Not me.

“Did you get your business squared away, Little Ghost?” I ask, tilting my head to watch her as she watches me wearily.

“Uh, yeah. All good. Um, you put salt on the rim?” she asks, holding the glass in the air and inspecting the contents with narrowed eyes. I wonder if her father ever gave her the “don’t take open drinks from strangers” talk. Of course, I’m no stranger. I’m her boyfriend with sleeping pills and an agenda. So, big difference. She can totally trust me. “And a lime? How fancy,” she mutters, shaking her head.

“Nothing but the best for you, Little Ghost,” I say, grinning when she takes a sip and hums at the taste.

“Thanks,” she says, sitting down next to me and downing the entire thing in one gulp. She sighs, wipes her mouth, and sets the glass on the counter.

“Care for another? I have an entire case in the fridge.” I gesture to the fridge as I take a few gulps of mine and smack my lips together.

She doesn’t say a word as she gets up and rummages through my fridge and brings another out, and pours it into her glass with a small smile gracing her lips.

“Thanks for tonight,” she says, taking another sip of her drink.

“Hmmm. I should be saying the same thing,” I quip, finishing off my drink and staring at her. “You’re one girl I never got out of my head.” And that’s not a lie. Always running through my head.

“Why?” she asks, finishing her second drink and scooting the glass away with a groan. Her fingers immediately work through her hair as she sighs. “We only met once at the bar.”

“And did you have the time of your life?” Because I did.

She peeks over at me and shrugs. “I mean, it wasn’t bad,” she quips. “And tonight…” A deep blush forms over her cheeks. “Tonight was nice.” More than nice and she knows it, but I’ll let her tell me all about it in the morning.

“It was more than nice, Little Ghost. It was explosive. I do wish you’d stick around for another round or two or three. We can even invite my keeper back for a little threesome fun. Imagine him deep inside you while I am too. Ah, the dream.” I grin when she raises a brow and blushes a deeper red. “Or you could dress in one of my shirts and fall asleep next to me?”

She yawns, rubbing her scalp again. Every muscle in her body droops, and she sighs. “Okay,” she mumbles sleepily.

“Let me carry you to bed then,” I offer, jumping from my chair and scooping her into my arms. Her head lolls against my chest as her eyes slowly shut. “Have no fear, Little Ghost. I’ll take care of you tonight, and in the morning, we’re going to discuss some very important things.”

“Like what?” she slurs softly, snuggling into my chest as we make our way toward the stairs.

A warmth unfurls inside my chest at the feel of her in my arms. The way her nose brushes against my chest and how much she melts into me. An unfamiliar warmth blossoms through my entire body until sweat drips from my brow. What is this feeling? I have no clue, but I want to bottle it up and keep it forever. Because for the first time in a long time, the fog has lifted from my brain and I’m thinking somewhat rationally. Not all the way, of course.

“Why you’ve been hiding from me in plain sight,” I grumble as her eyes close completely, and she’s out. Whether the sleeping medicine is already taking effect or exhaustion is winning, I’ll take whatever I can get. “Goodnight, Olivia,” I whisper, kissing her temple softly.

As I walk into my bedroom, I note the quietness seeping from Wilder’s side of the hallway. He’s either sulking in his room or he’s passed out from finally coming after so long of being backed up. Honestly, I don’t remember the last time my keeper came inside someone else. Well, there was that time I witnessed him in the shower, but that was with the poor hand he’s been using for way too long.

But whatever. I’m always happy to help loosen him up and share my little ghost with him.

Setting Olivia into my bed, I gently run a finger through her messy, short strands and over her face.

“Now, we can’t have you falling asleep with all that makeup on, Crumpet. It’ll clog your pores.” Besides, I want to see the real her. My Olivia. The facade beneath the caked-on makeup someone used to hide her away from the world.

Walking into the bathroom, I grab a warm washcloth and come back into the bedroom. For a second, I pause, watching the breath enter her lungs and expand her chest.

“This is where you should have been all along,” I mutter softly as I kneel down and wipe the makeup from her face, revealing her marred skin beneath. It’s a thing of beauty, though. A badge of honor worn by a woman who has endured more than anyone could think possible. “You’ve come back to me finally. I won’t let anyone else hurt you. Not even those fuckwits who think they have a claim on you. Or will… How many people know you’re Olivia Viotto?” I mumble as I wipe away more makeup on her right cheek.

“Only JJ,” she mutters in her sleep. Oh, goody. He’ll be a problem later. Or possibly an asset to my cause. Not that he’d willfully join me in my crusade against whoever killed Meredith. But I’m sure my crumpet could help convince him. “No one else.” She shifts in her sleep, moving away from my stalled hand dangling above her face. Another snore seeps from between her lips, and she settles once more.

“Well, maybe I should have drugged you more ages ago, Crumpet. Then I could have gotten all the answers I needed,” I whisper, leaning down to kiss her cheek, pausing there for longer than necessary. I never want this night to end. “Why did you want to find me tonight?”

“Glasses,” she stammers in her sleep. “I need them…” Her words trail off into another snore.