Chapter 21
CASSIDY
I stretch my arms above my head and wince at the sharp pain lancing down the side of my face. Being hit by a moving vehicle is no joke, and as much as I hate to admit it, Killa is right; I need to think ahead in the future and not act on instinct. I have Noah to think about, Killa too.
I’m not sure how long I’ve slept for, but when Killa comes back into the room, he makes a beeline for his walk-in closet, and the clattering sound forces me to sit up and pay attention.
“Sorry, baby. Really need this room emptied.” He continues on while I stare at his back.
My eyebrows pull together. “Why are you rearranging your closet?”
“Need somewhere for Noah to sleep tonight.”
I rear back. “In a closet?”
He pokes his head out. “Just gonna lay a cot in here tonight, then tomorrow you get to see your surprise. Kid crashed out in the bar, and shit’s gonna get messy in there real soon.” He continues doing whatever he’s doing in there.
As much as I hate the idea of going back to my apartment, I don’t want to cause any extra work or issues. “We could just go home?” I bite into my lip, contemplating our options, though I really don’t want to go without him.
He stops moving, and before I know it, he’s in front of me, kneeling on the floor.
“Gonna tell you as many times as it takes for you to realize. You’re mine, Cass, and so is Noah.
Where I go, you both go.” He kisses my lips, and I melt into his touch, relishing it with every fiber of my being.
“You’re not goin’ back to the apartment, and neither am I.
Someone tried to hurt Stella; I want you both to stay close to me. ” He shrugs.
This man has the power to destroy me. I’d willingly follow him into the flames of hell. When he pulls back, there’s a glowing smile on his face, as if he knows my internal thoughts.
“Go take a shower, baby. I’ll be done by the time you finish.”
He pushes up from his position and offers his hand, and when our skin touches, I become putty. The bedsheet slips from me, and he blows out a deep breath, sending goosebumps over me like a second skin.
“Fuck, you need to go shower right now, Cass. Before I fuck you hard and fast.” His gaze roams over my face. “Don’t want to hurt you more than you hurt already.”
I choke on a giggle and pull my hand free, knowing how my body is probably more tender than I actually can feel, thanks to the pain medication Killa insisted on me taking.
But I can’t help adding an extra sway to my hips as I head into his bathroom.
“You need some help in there, just holler!” he shouts, and I close the door.
Scanning the small bathroom for toiletries, I’m surprised to see he has the peach body wash I use at home on the shelf.
Surely, it’s a coincidence, right?
“Do you know who was driving the car aiming for Stella?” I shout through the door.
“Club business!” he bellows, and my shoulders sag.
Leaning over the tub, I turn the taps on and step inside, and when the water hits me, the day’s events come flowing back. Though, unlike most people, they don’t hit me like a Mack truck. They wash down the drain with the suds while I lather my bruised body in the familiar fruity scent.
I’ve spent what feels like my entire life being brutalized by a monster, so being hit by a car is child’s play compared to that trauma.
Finally giving my demons over to Killa was liberating, and more importantly, his support and love for me and Noah makes me feel like I have the power to take on everything my life has thrown at me and so much more.
Being a victim isn’t life ending, it’s life changing, but it’s me in control of that now, not the perpetrator, and I choose to live every day to its fullest.