“More of you and I don’t share. Understand? If we do this, we’re exclusive.”
Wow.This?What does ‘this’ even mean? I know one thing, ‘this’ is destined to die a horrible death and like my dream, when ‘this’ is over, I’ll live the rest of my lonely life in misery.
Ignoring my brain, my heart answers to the contrary. “I would like more ofthis, too.”Shit, shit, shit. I don’t even know what I’m agreeing to.
“It’s settled, then.” He climbs out of bed, limps on his left leg, and rubs his knee.
“You okay?” As I try to recall which of our many positions may have injured it, he winks.
“Just a little stiff. It was a wild night.” He hobbles to the bathroom.
Maybe he has battle scars he doesn’t want me to see. That would also explain why he kept his pants on all the time.
While he showers, I tug his long-sleeved cotton shirt over my head and fluff up a Dr. Downy.
The shrink frowns judgmentally so I punch him which causes his brows to crease further and his mouth to widen.
“C’mon, doc. Don’t look so surprised. This may be my last chance to hook up with a sexy man and I promise, after this, I’ll settle down, adopt a dozen cats, and work as a hairdresser until the end of days… What’s that? The fentanyl? I have no idea but if Uncle Vinny’s involved, I’ll be shipped to Italy and married to some old guy he owes favors to.”
Standing, I glance around the corner, but I’m safe. The shower is still running. I may be crazy but I’m not stupid enough to want Wheels to see me arguing with a pillow.
When I return to the bed, Downy goes off on my uncle. Recalling all the good stuff he’s done for me, I come to his defense and recite what I’ve heard him say. “Big pharma is the real monster. They’re the bad guys who get people addicted.”
The shrink scowls, not buying what I’m peddling.
“Hey, it’s true. It’s the doctors who should be jailed. They’re the ones addicting people and don’t even get me started on insurances. Did you know over a hundred and fifty million people are prescribed opioids every year and at least ten percent get hooked? What do poor people do then? They have to rely on suppliers like my Uncle Vinny. He’s doing society a service.”
I jump a mile when Wheels storms out of the bathroom. "Who’re you talking to?"
“No one.” My face heats. Shit, how much did he hear? I fluff out Dr. Downy, turn, and as I rush away, he grabs my hand.
"He's a drug dealer, Rose, and a sex trafficker. God only knows what else.”
"You don’t get it. After my dad died, Uncle Vinny kept the salon going and made sure Mia and I went to private schools. We wanted for nothing.”
“He’s no saint.”
“I didn't say he was. I just need you to understand from my perspective. Whatever happens, I won’t turn him in.”
Chapter 19
Wheels
Well, I’ll be damned. She argues with her pillow. Come to think of it, she had one with her the last time I caught her talking to herself.
No doubt embarrassed, she hides behind the bathroom door and shouts from within. “I'm not excusing my uncle’s actions. I'm just saying, for Suds, Sam, and little Mikey, we need to be Switzerland. Whatever we decide to do, it can't be traced back to us or them. And we can’t keep running. We need a plan.”
She’s right. At first, my only thought was to get her safe. Now we have some distance between us and Brooklyn, we need a way forward. I pull her phone out of my back pocket and insert the sim card. I hate using her as bait, but it may be the only way to expose the drug dealers.
“Will you join me in the shower?” She cracks open the door and I almost forget about my prosthetic.
“How about I make you dirty?” With my arms around her waist, I pick her up, drop her on the bed, and spread her legs.
In the light of day, she’s more beautiful than ever. You would think making love all night would satisfy my lust. Instead, Willie Wonka crams at my fly, anxious to sink deep in her sweet chocolate.
Chuckling at my weird sense of humor, I kneel at the altar of her glistening fold and flick her nub. While her squeaky noises send me to the moon, the sensible part of my brain throws an alarm.
You’re getting attached, you fucking moron.
