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It didn’t matter, anyway.
There was no one to call.
Billy seemed satisfied with my answer about the journal because his hold on me eased just a little. His lips skimmed my temple, then my cheek. “That fucker’s not going to give up so easy,” he growled.
“Why do you say that?” I asked. “He did what we asked… returned my things, stayed away. He’s left town, right?”
Disgust rolled through me as Billy nuzzled the skin just below my ear. “Because he left you a note.”
I bit back the urge to order Billy to tell me what the note had said and forced out, “It doesn’t matter. Doesn’t change anything.”
I knew my answer was the correct one when Billy released my hair and gently petted it. “Idiot can’t even write a decent ‘don’t leave me’ note,” Billy groused as he slid his lips down my neck. “Telling you not to let go. What does that shit even mean?”
“What?” I whispered. “He told me not to let go?”
“Yeah. ‘Don’t let go.’ That’s it.”
As Billy spoke, his mouth slid along my cheek, pressing kisses against my pained skin. But I barely noticed because my heart was pounding frantically in my chest.
Don’t let go.
Tears filled my eyes. Despite all the pain I’d undoubtedly caused him, my Aiden still wanted to save me. And I knew in my heart that it would be that way for the rest of our lives. Aiden would hang on to me with everything he was if I was just brave enough not to let go.
I closed my eyes and didn’t care when the tears began slipping down my face.
He isn’t letting go.
I stifled a sob.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Billy murmured as his lips neared mine. “It’s over.”
I didn’t bother correcting Billy’s assumption the tears were for him. But when he leaned in to finally press his mouth against mine in the cold chill of the tiled bathroom, I didn’t hesitate to turn my head away. “Yes, it is,” I said calmly as I took a step back.
The moment was here. Aiden was safe from criminal charges, and he’d sent me the message that he was still willing to hold on. And if he was still willing to hold onto me in these turbulent waters, then I was sure as fuck going to hold onto him right back.
Billy’s eyes narrowed, and I could practically see the wheels in his head turning as he mentally caught up. His hand snaked out lightning fast to grab my broken arm. His other hand slammed down on my mouth, presumably to stifle my scream of pain so no one would hear, but I’d expected the move. So despite the agony that tore through me when he twisted my broken arm, I managed not to scream. Blackness threatened the edge of my vision, but I clung to consciousness. I was breathing hard against Billy’s heavy hand, but I managed to quell the moans that were bubbling up from my throat and the tears of pain that wanted to slide unchecked down my face.
“Listen to me, you ungrateful little shit—”
I ignored him and reached up with my free hand to grab his nose, twisting it hard. Billy let out a hoarse shout and shoved me away. I caught myself on the edge of the vanity, but I couldn’t dodge the fist that came flying at me. I managed to twist my body so I didn’t land on my broken arm, but the pain was blinding anyway. I buried my mouth against my upper arm to stifle my cries as I tried to breathe through the waves of pain that rocketed through me. Billy kicked me in the ribs, then cursed when he lost his balance in the small space. He reached down to grab my throat, his hand pulled back in a fist.
“Do it!” I managed to croak. My words seemed to catch him off guard. “How many people saw you come in here, Billy?” I whispered hoarsely as his fingers began to cut off my air. “What story are you going to try to sell them this time?”
Anger flashed in Billy’s eyes before he released me. “Doesn’t matter,” he said as he straightened his clothes. “They’ll buy whatever I tell them.” Billy stepped back and reached up to check his nose. “You just cost that fucker his business, Ashton. See if he’ll want you after I’m finished with him.”
I used the toilet to sit up, but the move made me dizzy. At some point the IV had gotten ripped out, so there was blood dripping down my arm. “It’s a two-way street, Billy. I bet there are a lot of people who’d be interested in hearing your cousin’s side of things.”
Billy’s face fell for the briefest of moments before he smirked, then checked himself in the mirror. He plucked at his hair to smooth it out and said, “You keep telling yourself that when you find yourself on the streets with nothing.”
