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“It won’t feel nice.” The doctor winced in commiseration. “How does it feel, Mrs Taylor?”
Neri flashed me a look as if she didn’t want to be entirely honest. “It’s just prickly and sore. It’s fine.”
Bullshit.
She flinched each time the sheets touched her.
“It will most likely start to itch in a week or so. Use ice to numb it or one precent hydrocortisone cream. Try not to scratch.” Nodding at all of us, the doctor smiled. “If that’s everything, I’ll go. But please don’t hesitate to return to the emergency department if your symptoms worsen.”
With another professional smile, she swept from the room.
Only once her footsteps faded did Griffen inch closer to the bed, his gaze flicking between Neri and me.
My chest tightened at the questions in his eyes.
Questions brought about thanks to Neri using her surname as mine. Questions that I had no answers for.
I trusted him to keep my secret that I had to be paid under the table while working my way through an imaginary visa process, but I didn’t trust him to know I’d arrived illegally and was most likely being hunted, even now.
Neri stiffened in bed. Her shoulders went back with a familiar battle cry, getting ready to defend me. Before she could make matters worse, I placed my hand on hers and murmured, “The less you know, the better, Griffen. I’m still the guy looking after your apartments. Nothing’s changed.”
He gritted his teeth but finally nodded. “I trust you both. I like you both. We have two years of history between us, and I’m not about to throw that away.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “But...there will come a time when this arrangement needs to be legal. If my books ever get audited, they’ll question where the eight percent of my rental income is going. I’ll need to give them an answer.”
“I know.” I bowed my head. “And I’m sorry to put you in that position.”
“Don’t be. I’m glad to do it. Jack has become a great friend as have you, Aslan. I’m not about to betray anyone.” Leaning over, he kissed Neri on the cheek. “Get better quick, you hear? If you need anything, Millie and I can drop by tomorrow.” Walking around the bed, he stopped beside me. “Did you want me to take you guys home?”
“We’re good. I drove the Jeep.”
“Aslan.” Neri grumbled under her breath. “You know why that’s a very bad idea.”
“She’s right, you know.” Griffen shrugged. “I always wondered why that vehicle just sat in the carport doing nothing, but I’m beginning to understand now. My suggestion is to get home quick. It’s Friday. They’ll be breath testing tonight, I’m sure. Along with a few more patrols for drunken idiocy.”
I shivered, remembering the night I’d been breathalysed. The night I’d broken and kissed Neri. If I hadn’t come face-to-face with how much I wanted her, thanks to the very real panic of being deported, I didn’t know if we’d be here, together.
I might have always fought my feelings.
And that was both a depressing thought and a strangely regretful one.
If I hadn’t given in, she wouldn’t have to live in the shadows with me, restricted in what she could and couldn’t do, always having to weigh up the risks.
“Night, Griffen. Thanks for staying with her and calling me.” I put out my hand.
He shook my hand firmly. “Anytime.”
He left, leaving a heavy silence between Neri and me that clogged my lungs.
For the longest moment, we didn’t speak. Finally, she whispered, “Let’s go, Aslan. Take me home where it’s safe.”
I did what she asked.
I drove her home and helped her limp over the threshold.
I showered with her, rubbed cream into her red-welted leg, gave her more painkillers, then put her to bed.
And as she drifted off to sleep beside me, my fingers tracing over her back like they always did, I clutched my shell with my free hand.
I clutched it so fucking hard the spines threatened to puncture my palm. I clutched it because somewhere along the line, the shell Neri had returned with from the land of the dead represented luck, freedom, and us.
