Those twinkling pale eyes locked in, scouring his face. It was a strange feeling, like she was measuring him up.
“It’s nothing,” she muttered. “I just need to get home to Stahma.”
“Thought your neighbor was watching your cat.”
Willow scrunched her nose. “Yeah, but I need to get home.” She still wouldn’t meet his eyes for long, and it was sending a horrible feeling straight into his gut.
“Tell me what’s going on.” He took her hand gently in his and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “Was I an ass and don’t remember?”
She squeezed his hand briefly before dropping it and shuffled over to the couch. The shower was still on, so they had a few more minutes to talk uninterrupted.
“You were fine… I just want to get back to real life.”
“This will be over soon.” He didn’t want it to be. Maybe he could still convince her.
Ezra scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She seemed apprehensive at first, but he could tell it was exactly what she wanted. Willow wanted comfort.
I will rip the guts out of whoever hurt her.
“Not gonna tell me about your uncle?” she asked, tentatively.
A low chuckle reverberated through his chest. “Not unless you start talking.”
She gnawed on her bottom lip, like she was thinking. Her eyes darted back and forth.
I’d give anything to know what’s going on in that pretty head right now.
His secrets really weren’t that interesting, but they were uncomfortable, and he didn’t like putting himself out there like that. Wearing your heart on your sleeve would be a dumbass thing to do in his world.
Damn it, he wanted out. He hated being trapped working for an asshole like that.
At least it’s not Davidiuk.
Davidiuk was a monster—even by Xan’s standards.
Ezra breathed a silent sigh of relief that Willow wasn’t involved. It was a dark place, and she deserved to be protected from it.
Maybe I shouldn’t try to keep her…
“Do you have any plans?” she blurted out. “Plans to escape, I mean?”
The question took him aback. What could either of them do? Xan was a powerful force and could find him anywhere.
“No,” he said, removing his arm from around her shoulders. “I don’t… We don’t.”
He felt like he should include Ryker in that statement since it was true. They were partners. At least until the boss decided they weren’t, or once Ezra had finished his term.
“What’s the story between your guy and the other one—Davidiuk?” she asked, eyes glued to the wall.
He took another sip of his water, deciding whether or not he should answer. Realistically, the less she knew, the better. The thought of her getting pulled in for real was something he couldn’t stand.
As if she sensed his apprehension, she continued, “Just tell me. Really. I’m not some angel.”
His gaze swept over her, starting with her pinched brows and down to the hard line of her lips. She was dead serious.
He cleared his throat. “Uh, I don’t know how far back the beef goes. Davidiuk runs the East side of town, while Xan hasthe West. They mostly stay out of each other’s business, but sometimes they get pissy over their made-up border.”
“And they’re both loan sharks?”
