“No,” I shake my head. “Last I heard, she was busy with college and had a part-time job in a salon. Then again, you know, Sunday. She would say it was sunshine in a rainstorm.”
“Yeah. You know–”
Her smile dims, and I finish her sentence. “He’s a stubborn pain in the ass.”
“What is it with him?”
She blows out a breath. “He’s been sulking since she left all these months ago. He won’t glance at another woman, just sits propping up the bar, drowning in misery and working out. You’d think if he didn’t want Sunday, he would have replaced her in his bed, but that man is so deep in his own shit he can’t dig himself out.”
I would laugh, but the situation isn’t funny. Blade is worried about his twin, and I understand why. Since Sunday left, Razorhas become even more of a loner. He doesn’t show any interest in the whores and prefers to spend his time drinking with Blade or working out.
“He’ll figure it out.”
I’m confident of that, and she nods.
“I would like to help him with that because, fuck me, that man is a beast, but his heart walked out of here nine months ago and hasn’t returned. Surely, there’s something we can do to help him.”
I love that she wants to. All the women here have hearts of gold, as well as the Reapers, and I love that about living here.
She sighs and jogs on the spot. “I should go. I’m cooling down before I’ve finished. Catch you later, Aspen.”
She jogs off through the trees, and I resume my walk to the cafeteria. Lou’s fried chicken has got me through this pregnancy and calls to me most days.
As I draw near, I notice Bonnie and Ashton heading my way. They are each carrying a baby strapped to their chest, and I smile.
“Hey.”
They smile their greeting, and I peer down into Ashton’s precious bundle, and my heart shifts.
“He’s perfect.”
I coo over the perfect baby and slide my gaze to the similar bundle in Bonnie’s arms.
“She’s just got off.”
Bonnie sighs, her eyes heavy with lack of sleep.
“Ashton took pity on me and we’re doing a few circuits of the paths.”
“Tough night?”
I’m sympathetic and she groans. “My nights merge into days. I’ve forgotten what sleep is anymore. When one sleeps, the other is awake. I’m exhausted.”
Ashton nods sympathetically. “I’ll mind them both so you can sleep. I love them so much and I have nothing on today.”
She glances my way and appears concerned. “Did you catch the news?”
“Yeah, it sucks.”
Bonnie huffs. “That bastard. It’s obvious they got to the jury. Nobody actually believes he’s innocent. It’s a crime that he was released.”
My nerves prickle at the mention of that man, and I shiver inside. “Knowing him, he’ll pick up where he left off. Hopefully, he’ll be careful, and now his face has been all over the press, women won’t believe his lies.”
“It never works out that way, honey.”
Ashton sighs. “We’ve all met men like Gideon Fox; hell, it’s why we’re here. Every woman in the compound has a sad story to tell about their beginnings, and that will never change.”
“But he can’t be allowed to get away with it. That’s what I hate about the justice system. It’s strewn with loopholes that criminals jump through to freedom. The poor victims are left with the memories while the perpetrators move on to their next victim.”
