“I told you she’s fine.” I only partially lied again. “She’s safe. She’ll get in touch when she’s ready. Tell your mates to cut that worrying shit out and concentrate on growing your babies.”
“That’s not something you can say to a modern female these days,” Koda answered. “And Mak’s right. If you could just tell her about how Holly?—”
I rolled my eyes. “Alright, well, I’ve said all I’m going to say on this. Hanging up now. Bye, nephews.”
I hung up on Koda and Mak before they could whine any further about me not catering to their mates in the same way they did.
And as soon as I did, the door to the bedroom opened.
Bell stood there, and this time she didn’t go straight to the bathroom.
I couldn’t cross the room fast enough. Leaving the chili simmering on the stove, I went straight up to her to ask, “You okay? You need something?”
After four days, I was a dog panting for any crumb she’d give me.
“No, I…”
She looked to the side in that cute way of hers and visibly squirmed. “I heard you on the phone with—I guess it was both my daughters’ fiancés?”
Mates. But I wasn’t Zion. So I didn’t bother to correct her.
“They sounded worried. About Holly and Noelle.” She peeked up at me with a hopeful expression. “Are they always like that? Looking out for them? Caring about their feelings?”
“Ah, well, I haven’t talked to them much,” I admitted, rubbing a hand down the back of my neck. “But if you’re asking if they’re good guys who love your daughters to the moon and back and would never hurt them like your ex hurt you, then the answer’s yes.”
She sagged against the door jamb, splaying a hand over her heart. “Wow, I don’t think I realized how much I needed to hear that. I’m glad—glad they’re safe, with two men who love them.”
Not men. And not just two.
But that wasn’t my information to pass on to her.
She hesitantly spoke up again. “Could I… Did you find my phone?”
Her voice wasn’t what I’d expected it to be. I’d found her in an old-timey house dress, chained to the bed. I thought it would be soft. High. Like a princess.
But it was husky, a little knowing—sexy, but ambient, like a coffeehouse song.
I was sorry to have to tell her, “Yeah, he had two phones on him, and neither of them survived the altercation with my—um, me.”
I caught myself before I let on about my polar bear. “If you want to call them, you can use my phone.”
I started to reach for it, but she shook her head. “No, that’s okay.” Instead of looking disappointed that she couldn’t call her daughters on her phone, she let out another breath of relief. “Idon’t think I’m ready to talk to them yet. There’s so much to explain. And I’m still not sure how.”
I slid the phone back into my cargo pocket. Gazed down at her. Tried not to stare as I broke another awkward silence with, “You look good.”
She startled and stood up straighter, her eyes refilling with wariness. Like she’d just remembered she was scared of me.
I pushed down all the things I wanted to say about that, and instead explained, “I mean, your face. No more bruising.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m not even that sore anymore. But, um, I’m pretty sure I don’t have enough money to pay my June rent, and I no longer have a job.”
I badly wanted to tell her that I’d take care of it, that I’d take care of anything she needed. But she was finally talking to me. And I’d be damned if I was going to interrupt.
“It’s a month-to-month lease, so I was thinking I’d put in my notice and let the landlord use my deposit for the last thirty days....”
She went quiet again, leaving me no option but to just ask, “How can I help? What do you need?”
“I guess…” She fretted one of the middle buttons on my shirt. “That ride you mentioned earlier to see my daughters.”
