Clenching my jaw hard, a sharp hiss burst from my throat when my breasts tightened, a powerful ripple shot down my front. Even at my face and neck, my skin pulled tautly, and I braced my forearm against the wall to bury my face in my elbow.
“You shouldn’t have skipped PT, Illya.” Hot tears leaked down my face, and a bark of some sort of noise rattled my ribs at Theo’s solemn declaration. Tensing and releasing my entire body, I took ragged breaths through my nose, and he sort of stood behind me awkwardly holding my shoulder. “Is it a bullet hole? Those suck.”
“Oh, my God, will you just . . . just . . . just not say anything.” Sputtering harshly, a whimper cut me off when my voice scratched my throat, and I dug my forehead into my arm. “Why . . . why are you ev-even here?”
“I wanted to make sure you got home, but you weren’t there after I finished dropping off the drugged-out bitch.”Yeah, because I didn’t get home until almost seven when I was supposed to already be at work.Bitterness soured my tongue, and I sucked in a shallow breath through flared nostrils as Theo’s eyes dug holes into the back of my head. “I guess you got me back for that can of corn.”
“It’s not a bullet hole. What do you want? I have your phone in the back.”
“I already have a new one. Keep it. Pawn it. I don’t really give a fuck.” Cutting me off, Theo gingerly nudged my shoulder, and I glanced at him out of the corner of my stinging eyes. “You have really low pain tolerance, don’t you, Illya?”
My eyelid twitched in agitation, and I hoovered up a breath before turning around. Theo looked concerned enough, a scowl on his face, and I held out my palm as my own scowl started to form. I was so damn done with this day.
“Give me all the money in your pockets.” The scar on his face played in surprise, and Theo’s brows rose even as he reached into his jeans. Holding out my hand, unabashed, I clenched and released my jaw as fire engulfed my chest. My breasts ached fiercely, and I started tapping my foot as I watched him through narrowed pupils. He slapped at least a grand in fifty-dollar bills into my palm, and I pursed my lips and shot him a nasty glare.
“Fuck . . . fine.” Theo’s tone was snippy, but he easily reached into his other front pocket with his mangled hand. Pulling out a roll of cash, he sneered at me, and I clutched the money in my fists. “What?”
“Congratulations, Theo, you get what you wanted. You’re gonna drive me home. I hope you’re happy.” I couldn’t ride my bike like this, and, for the first time, I snarled at him with all the venom I’d been holding in. The shadows on his face darkened, and I pointed at my bike chained to the railing stiffly. “Put my bike in your car while I go get my stuff.”
Turning on my heel, I wobbled a little as my inertia swiveled my brain, but I somehow managed to stay on my feet. The door swung open, and I shivered in relief because I probably couldn’t open it out by myself. Slipping past two, totally sloshed dudes, I shook my head viciously on my way to Roge’s office.
