Chapter 10 #2
While his choice of occupation was troubling, I wasn’t afraid of Billy.
I’d been around monsters before—men like DeLuca and the people he worked with.
They’d come into his office, and I could literally feel the evil radiating off them.
Just being near them would send a cold chill down my spine, and I had to fight the urge to get up and run away from them.
I’d never felt that with Billy—not once.
Instead, I felt safe, protected, and more times than I care to admit, I actually felt drawn to him. The whole thing confused the hell out of me, and I needed to think things through. I looked over to Billy, and the second our eyes met, I told him, “I need some time. Can you give me that?”
He gave me a quick nod, then watched as I turned and started up the porch steps. I’d just opened the door to go inside when I heard him call out, “Everleigh?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry about your friend.”
“I’m sorry, too. He was a sweet kid.” I swallowed back my tears as I muttered, “He didn’t deserve to die.”
Without saying anything more, I went straight to my room and let the door close behind me. I dropped face first onto the bed, and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I let the tears fall freely. Letting myself cry ended up being a mistake because once I started, I couldn’t stop.
I cried for Matteo, I cried for my dad, and then I cried for myself.
I had a real pity party, and it went on for quite some time. I tried to pull myself together, but it was just too hard. I’d spent years doing everything I could to keep from falling apart, and now that the dam had broken, I couldn’t seem to reign it back in.
Thankfully, my tears eventually ran dry, and the clouds slowly lifted, giving me a chance to start putting things into perspective.
I might not have approved or condoned Billy’s profession—I might’ve actually hated the very thought of it, but had he not been there the night I was shot, I wouldn’t have survived.
I wouldn’t be here contemplating my future because I wouldn’t have one.
It was that thought that gave me the clarity I needed.
I got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and washed my face.
I took a couple pain relievers, then headed out to find Billy.
When I got to the living room, I found him sitting on the sofa with a solemn look on his face.
As soon as he spotted me, he stood and asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m better now.” I gave him a little shrug. “I just needed to work through some things.”
“I get it. You had a lot to take in.”
“I’m glad you understand.” I walked over and sat down on the sofa, then waited as he sat down next to me. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“What happens if Antonio finds out what you did? What if he finds out I’m still alive?”
“I’m doing everything in my power to make sure that never happens.”
“But if he does, won't he try and kill us both?”
“I imagine he will try, but I give you my word, Everleigh. I won’t let him hurt you. Not again.”
Billy had risked everything to save me, and he was continuing to take risks which led me to ask, “Do you regret helping me?”
“No, not even a little.” He leaned toward me and placed his hand on mine as he whispered, “I’ve made some questionable choices in my life, but saving you wasn’t one of them. I’d do it again without hesitation.”
Damn.
I had to give it to him. He knew exactly what to say and how to say it. And with the way he was looking at me with such a mix of reverence and longing, I was positively spinning. After everything I’d been through, you wouldn’t have thought I’d been so drawn to a man like him, but I was.
I most definitely was, and I had no idea what to do about it.
Billy must’ve sensed my quandary and asked, “Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?”
“Yeah, but it was ages ago.”
“Would you feel up to taking a ride into town? We could grab you some new clothes and a bite to eat.”
“You think that’s a good idea? What if someone sees us?”
“Well, we’ll both be wearing helmets, and where I’m planning to take you is small and very remote. I highly doubt anyone will recognize you there.” When I didn’t immediately respond, he started backpedaling. “But if you’d rather, we can just stay here and...”
“No, I would love to take a ride,” I interrupted. “I think the fresh air would do me good, and I would kill for some clothes that actually fit.”
“Then, that settles it.” He stood and started toward the door. “Just give me a minute to get things together, and we’ll be off.”
“What about me? What do I need to do?”
He glanced down at my feet, and when he saw that I was still wearing the slippers he’d given me, he replied, “Go to my bedroom and check my closet. See if you can find some more appropriate footwear and maybe a jacket.”
“Okay, I can do that.”
While Billy was out in the garage, I went to his bedroom to check out his closet, and it was a sight to behold.
All of his shirts and pants were neatly pressed and arranged by color.
The same held true for his ties and shoes.
It was just another one of his little quirks—the very ones I used to find odd, but for some crazy reason, I now found endearing.
I didn’t have time to think about it, so I grabbed a pair of his boots and slipped them on.
Once I’d adjusted them, I gave myself a quick look in the mirror, and I looked positively ridiculous in Billy’s baggy, black sweats, and boots.
I looked even more ridiculous when I slipped on one of his jackets that was two sizes too big, but I didn’t care.
I was finally getting out of the house for a bit, and nothing could dampen the moment. I gave myself one last glimpse in the mirror, then went out to the garage, where Billy was getting things prepared for our ride. When I walked up, he offered me a helmet and said, “Put this on.”
I was a teenager the last time I’d put on a helmet, so it took me a second to get the strap adjusted and properly latched. By the time I got it on, Billy was on his bike and waiting for me to get on behind him. When I stepped over, he held out his hand and held on as I kicked my leg over the seat.
As soon as I was settled, he glanced over his shoulder and asked, “You ready?”
“Absolutely.”
He gave a quick nod, then eased out of the garage and started down the drive.
As soon as we hit the main road, he eased the throttle back, and a thrill shot through me when we started picking up speed.
I loved the feeling of the wind whipping around me and how the fresh air seemed to engulf us as we made our way toward town.
Billy had exaggerated when he said that the place he was taking me was small.
I’m not sure I would even call the place a town.
The only thing there was a Dollar General store, a small family diner, and a gas station with one pump, but considering our circumstances, Cotton Town was the perfect place for us to go on our little excursion.
Billy pulled up to the Dollar General, and once he’d parked, we both got off his bike and removed our helmets. He smiled as he told me, “It’s nothing fancy, but they should have some clothes that will fit you.”
“It’s great. Thank you for bringing me here and...”
“No need to thank me.” He walked over and opened the door for me as he said, “I should’ve done it days ago.”
I stepped inside, and much like the rest of the town, there weren’t many folks around. I watched as Billy went over and grabbed a couple of shopping baskets. He offered one to me as he said, “I’ve got to grab a few things for the house. You go check it out and get anything you might like.”
“Will do.”
I walked over to the clothing section, and while it was limited, I was pleased to see that they not only had the basics like jeans and t-shirts, but they also had undergarments—pretty lace ones in various colors.
I gathered what I could find in my size and put them in the basket, then went over to the beauty supplies.
I picked out some makeup and a couple of clips for my hair, then went to find Billy.
He was at the front of the store talking with the cashier, and the second he spotted me walking in their direction, he smiled and said, “There she is.”
“Hey.” I walked over and placed my basket on the counter. “Sorry it took me so long.”
“You were fine.” Billy motioned his hand toward my full basket. “Did you find everything you needed?”
“Umm, yeah. I hope I didn’t go overboard.”
“Not even close.”
The cashier started ringing everything up, and once she was done, we carried it all out to his bike. I was worried we wouldn’t be able to get it all in his saddlebags, but after a little finagling, Billy looked up at me with a proud expression and said, “That should do it.”
“I’m impressed that you were able to make all that fit.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice.” He motioned his hand over to the diner across the street. “You up for a bite to eat?”
“Yeah, that’d be great.”