“Yep. I was talking to Blade when you came into my office. I told him I would ask you first.”
“You said she lives in this building, right?”
“Yes. Top floor. She can come here, or we can go up there. When you’re ready. If you’d rather not see anyone yet, that’s fine, too. No pressure.”
“I think that would be nice. I can thank her for coming after me. That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me. I’m a stranger, yet she would have traded her life for mine. I still can’t wrap my head around her actions. The whole time I was tied to that chair, I kept praying she wouldn’t come.”
I frown. “Why were you praying she wouldn’t come, Little one?”
“Because I knew Pete intended to kill her. He was probably going to kill me no matter what. After all, it’s not like he could have let me live. I’d seen him. If she hadn’t come, at least I would have been the only one to die. If she’d come, we’d have both died. But the thought that someone would put themselves in that dangerous situation for me is mindboggling. I can’t imagine what she went through when she was living with him.”
“You are a smart woman, Eloise. I’m so damn glad my team was able to figure out June had gone after you so quickly so we could stop her. Because I suspect you’re right. He would have killed both of you.”
Eloise sniffles. “I was so tired. I spent half of that time wishing he would shoot a bullet into my head to put me out of my misery. I kept waffling between wanting to live and wanting to die. But I’m glad you saved me.” She hugs me tightly again.
“I’m so fucking glad I did, too, Little one. Now, let me feed you before you starve. What good will it do for me to have freed you from that monster if you die of starvation in my apartment?” I tease.
She rolls her pretty eyes when I step back. “I had toaster pastries and juice. That’s more than I’ve eaten lately.”
“Well, you need better nutrition and more food. We’re going to put some meat on you.” I tickle under her chin and turn toward the fridge. My girl needs to eat.
Chapter Thirteen
Eloise
* * *
“What’s she like?” I ask as I lean my elbows on the island.
“Who? June?”
“Yeah.” I’m watching Cannon pull things out of the refrigerator. I feel awkward sitting on this stool while he prepares food for me. He did the same thing last night. I watched. He cooked. He cleaned up, too. He refuses to let me lift a finger.
“She’s the sweetest. You’ll like her. She’s thirty, but she’s been out of touch for six years. So, like you, there’s a lot she missed out on.” He glances at me as he opens more containers of meat and cheese than I’ve ever seen at one time.
He’s right about me being out of touch for a long time. Four years. But he has no idea where I’ve been or what I’ve been through. I should tell him. I don’t know why I’m holding back. It’s scary opening up like that. I’ve been on the run for six months. I never told a soul who I am or where I came from until Cannon. I’ve been too scared.
But I can trust him. I’m sure of it. My faith in his good intentions grows by the minute, but it solidified in the middle of the night when he dragged my mattress under the window and sat down to read to me.
I look at him while he opens the bread. Really look at him. He could be conning me. Everyone cons me. I must have a tattoo on my forehead that says: I’m an idiot. Please take advantage of me.
It doesn’t add up, though. He has a legitimate job and a nice apartment. His boss must be one of the good guys. Granted, I’m fairly certain he rid the world of June’s husband yesterday and covered it up so no one would ever know, but he did a good deed when he did so.
I’m going to take a risk. I don’t really have anything to lose. Like both of us have pointed out, it’s too late for me to unexperience what I’ve had in the past twelve hours here. I’ll never forget. I’ll always strive to have this. I’ve tasted it, and now I want it for the rest of my life.
College? The idea has never entered my mind. How would I pay for it? Ha.
There are so many things in my way, and I don’t see how to make my problems go away. I suspect Cannon thinks I’m on the run from an abusive husband or boyfriend like June was. But he’s wrong. My problems are a lot bigger than that. Insurmountably bigger. I don’t think anyone can fix them.
It’s silly for me to dream large. Who am I kidding? I’ll hide out here for a while, but I can’t apply for an ID. If I did… I shudder.
Cannon holds up two types of bread. “Wheat or white, Little one?”
“I’ve never had wheat bread. Is it good?”
“I like it. I prefer it except when I’m having grilled cheese to dip in tomato soup. Then I like white.” He grins.
My stomach growls. “That sounds so delicious.”
