He tipped her chin up and tentatively pressed his lips to hers. Something was making her hold back, but beneath the restraint, he could sense she wanted more.
She broke it off, still pinned against the counter. “Why?”
“I told you. You’re interesting to me, pretty girl.”
“Well,” she said, “maybe I don’t want to get involved with whatever you’re up to.”
Of course. The thing that was always keeping him from finding someone long-term.
“It isn’t forever,” he reasoned, “I’m only stuck doing this for a few more years.”
Willow scoffed. “What exactly is it that you do?”
The shower switched off, sending his pulse hammering even harder. He didn’t want to end this bit of real conversation with her. Ezra would lose his mind if he knew he’d told her at least part of his name. If he knew Willow had some knowledge of their illegal shit, then he might decide to put the bullet in her head after all.
“It’s… complicated.” He sighed. “We don’t do this for fun. We’re stuck.”
Her eyes softened, like she felt sorry for them. “I know the feeling,” she replied.
They didn’t have much time. Ezra was going to be out any minute, and he wanted to get more from her. “Will you tell us what you do?”
She grimaced. “Fine. Since you told me a tiny bit of something, I’ll tell you what I told him… I take money from assholes.”
The bathroom door flew open, and out came Ezra, his skin red under the mask from the heat of the shower.
“What’s up? Our girl looks like she’s seen a ghost.” he asked, walking casually toward them.
Our girl.
There was some kind of exchange between them, but he couldn’t help going back to what she had just admitted to. “Who are you taking money from? How do you do that?”
Her eyes darted between them. “It’s on the computer.”
“Like a hacker?” Ezra asked.
“Yeah. That’s why I told you I needed my laptop.”
Ryker snorted. “You are full of surprises.”
The trace of fear in her expression faded slightly until she looked back at his friend. “Now tell me what you do.”
“I’m a mechanic.”
Willow rolled her eyes. “Is he always a smart ass?”
“Yep,” Ryker replied, stepping away to take a seat at the table. He gestured for her to join him.
Willow eyed the chair for a moment before accepting the invitation. Ezra followed, yanking out the chair next to him and leveling her with a dark look.
“Why are you still bullshitting?” she asked. “I’m not going to the cops, and you know about me too.”
Ezra answered, “Maybe we don’t want to get you deeper into our situation.”
“And what is that situation?”
Ryker bounced his knee, desperate for a smoke. He reached into his pocket and fidgeted with his lighter. “We’re heavies for a loan shark.”
Ezra’s head whipped around. “Really? You’re going to tell her?”
