Rush
We getEmma to bed and then we retreat to Gigi’s room. I lay down on the bed, every muscle aching.
Gigi comes into the room, carrying a glass of water and more ibuprofen. She sets them on the side table next to me and then brushes the hair back from my face.
I smile up at her. “I want you to sleep tonight, sweetheart. Like you haven’t got a care in the world because you don’t. I’m going to take care of everything.”
Her brow crinkles. “Don’t be silly.”
“Silly?” This was not the reaction I was expecting.
“I want to be your partner, Rush. Personally. You know, it’s probably good you fired me.”
“I’m not firing you,” I answer back, scowling.
“Oh. I see.” But she’s still stroking my hair back from my face. “It’s just that at work, it’s my job to do what you say, nod and smile…”
Ah, now I understand what we’re discussing. “Trust me, sweetheart. I might like to tell you what to do in the bedroom. And in the office, it’s my way. But in the rest of life…”
“Oh good. In that case, take your ibuprofen.”
I chuckle as I prop myself up on an elbow, grabbing the pills and swallowing them down. Truthfully, I could use all the help I can get.
I chug the water and then pat the bed next to me. She climbs in, laying on her side, and I curl around her, cradling her body into mine.
Just being this close to her makes me feel better.
Our fingers lace together, tucked against her belly. I feel like I could lay like this for a week. Recover.
But there is no rest for the weary.
I’m not going to tell Gigi what I plan to do. Gigi says she wants to be my partner. I love that. But when it comes to her safety, I will take all the hits, and I will keep all the secrets.
I don’t begrudge her the ones she kept from me. Now that I know, I can see what she was doing. Protecting her daughter.
That’s a mother’s job, even if it was at my expense.
I kiss the top her head even as she sighs, sounding like she’s already asleep.
That makes me smile and my body relaxes deeper into hers. I should go. If all goes to plan, Killian will be texting, and I don’t want Gigi to hear it.
But I can’t quite make myself leave.
I drift off, falling asleep with her tucked against me.
I wake to the sound of the ding. Fuck. I try to turn, but every muscle screams. The downside of letting Vigo kick my ass.
“Who is it?” Gigi slurs, lifting her head.
“No one, baby, go back to sleep.”
She lays her head back down as I slip from the bed, pocketing my phone. I already know what the message says.
Killian keeps a wealth of burner phones on hand. I’ve got one in my apartment. The message he sent to my regular phone will be something completely mundane. It doesn’t matter.
It’s the signal to check the other phone.
I leave Gigi’s apartment, locking the door behind me, just as Gris opens my apartment door. He got the text too.
