“Shut the fuck up. Two days, brother. And her bags are in the spare bedroom wardrobe.”
He left.
I sank against the wall for just a second to gather my soul back into my body. In getting caught, I’d fucked up. I’d hoped for longer. Dixie needed space as well as support.
My search of the spare bedroom came up good with the two holdalls at the back of an easily unlocked cupboard. A peek inside gave me pretty clothes and hair products. My chest constricted. I’d done it.
But it had come at a cost.
Sneaking out, I took the bags down the fire escape to drop to a little-used exit ramp. I then left the way I’d entered. Visible and barely talking. I collected the bags as the heavens opened, evening folding in, then left the city.
The lashing rain darkened my mood.
My adrenaline stayed high on the drive, and my hands shook with the fallout of my actions. If I had any chance of Dixie understanding me, and in turn my crew, I had to take a trip into my history. Voice facts I’d barely processed in two decades.
I didn’t even know where to start, only that Dixie deserved the truth, not another version I’d polished to survive.
Chapter 12
Dixie
Tyler arrived with rain dripping from him and my two bags under his coat. I squealed in happiness and danced to take one.
On the warm wood floor, I pulled out my hairdryer. Lingerie.
He’d done it. He’d done exactly what I’d asked him to.
Emotion bubbled in my chest, and I jumped up to hug him, sliding my arms around his back, his soaked shirt under my cheek.
He felt so good. So well-made and strong. Everything I needed my kidnapper not to be terrible at.
“Thank you.”
Other than bringing his head down next to mine, he didn’t touch me, only breathed deeply. “Worth it.”
I wanted to ask how much trouble it had been, but I was too eager to get pieces of myself back. The identity I’d lost altogether. Pulling away, I carried my bag to the bedroom, Tyler bringing the second.
“There’s space in my wardrobe, and I’ll clear a couple of drawers.”
He made short work of consolidating his stacks, and I smiled at the amount of crew clothing.
“You own more black t-shirts than any human should.”
“Uniform. I’d get fined for variety.”
I emptied the bags onto the bed, checking I had all I’d expected with more squeaks of joy at my cutest hoodie, a cropped top I adored, a rhinestone clutch I’d inexplicably taken with me because I couldn’t give it up. It was so neatly packed, which could only have been Lovelyn’s work. My mother would never.
I nearly cried over my makeup kit.
With a shuddering breath, I patted it and started the task of hanging up sparkly dresses. Making little clothing piles in the drawers.
Getting this emotional over possessions definitely put me on the train to crazy town, but it was more than that. Elements of myself I was gaining back after feeling so at sea.
“I’ll start on dinner.” Tyler disappeared.
A band tightened around my chest, but I let him go.
In the bathroom, I showered and washed my hair, dying with happiness at massaging in my richly scented, expensive shampoo and conditioner. I shaved my whole body, moisturised every inch, weepy again at feeling smooth.
