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Despite everything, these texts have the same effect they always do. I smile, feeling a little lighter than I did last night. I throw the blanket off me and stand. It’s time to go home and face the music. I tap out a reply.
Me: Morning. I miss you too. Coming home.
Ping.
I stare at the door. That notification didn’t come from my phone, but it was close.
He didn’t.
I cross the room to yank open the door and freeze.
Oh yes, he did.
“Nico, what are you doing?” I ask.
He stands up and steps toward me. “You stayed here, so I stayed here.” The statement is so simple, so matter of fact, like I should have known that’s what he was going to do.
“Where did you sleep?”
He shrugs. “Managed a little out here.”
“On the floor?” I ask incredulously.
“Like I said, you were here.”
“You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Maybe. But I don’t really give a fuck. I need to know you’re safe, always. I can’t make sure of that if I’m somewhere else.”
“No, I guess you can’t,” I say. “But I’ll remind you, I can take care of myself.”
“Yes, you can. But you don’t have to.”
Nico frames my face with his hands and gently backs me into the room. He doesn’t stop until I bump into the bed.
“I’m tired, Pep,” he says, and as if to prove his point, he yawns. “Whaddya say we sleep until Harlow and Malachi get here?”
“Have you heard from them?”
“Yeah. They should be here in a few hours.”
“Okay.” I tug him onto the mattress and scoot so my back is to his front. “Let’s sleep.”
CHAPTER22
Nico
“You ready for this?”
I twist away from the window to look at Malachi. We’re sitting in front of the building Yanni lives in. It’s more rundown than I was expecting. Maybe human trafficking doesn’t pay like it used to.
“Are you?” I counter.
The original plan was for Peppermint and Harlow to come with us, but I couldn’t let that happen. I need to face my demons without having to worry about those two. Those three if you count the baby. So, Malachi and I left before they woke up.
I left a note for Peppermint, but I’m not stupid enough to think that that is sufficient. It’s not. I’ll take the consequences and be content in the knowledge that she is safe.
“Let’s do this.”
