8. Cole #2
I shook my head. “I’m going to ask Alessio to go to your apartment and pack it up. I don’t want you back there in case Goodyear or Kamensky are watching it.”
She instantly wrapped her arms around her middle. “Okay.”
“So for now, I’m getting you new stuff.”
“I’ll pay you back.”
I swallowed a curse. That was never happening. “Come on.” I gestured to the flat shoes Georgie had brought. “Hopefully the shoe’s Georgie brought over fit you.”
The shoes were a size too big, but wearable.
“You hungry?” I asked.
“Not really. My stomach’s been pretty unsettled.”
I’d find something she could tolerate. She needed to eat.
We headed up to the casino. The air was crisp, but the sun was shining, gleaming off the bronze glass of the Avernus building. A few people in white were out on the golf course.
We headed inside and I led her to the area where the shops and some restaurants were located, near the main casino floor.
“Your friend owns the entire casino?” she asked.
“Yeah. Bastian has a good eye.”
We strolled down the corridor lined with high-end shops. The floor was polished marble and bright lights made it gleam.
Lili stopped. “Cole, these places are designer brands. It’ll cost a fortune.”
I shrugged. “I don’t care.”
“I can’t afford it.”
I took her elbow. “Lucky you aren’t paying.”
Her chin lifted. “The clothes are for me, so I am paying.”
I scowled, pulling her into the closest place, instantly feeling out of place. It was bright, with mannequins decked out in fancy clothes. “You aren’t.”
“Cole—”
“You want to thank me for helping you, let me do this.”
She sucked in a breath, looking annoyed and cute as hell. I wanted to run a finger down the slope of her nose.
“Fine,” she huffed.
I smiled at her, and her gaze dropped to my mouth.
“Can I help you?”
I turned to look at the elegant woman in her forties. Her dark hair was in some fancy twist and her makeup looked perfect.
“Lili here needs a few outfits. Everything. Clothes, pajamas, shoes.”
The woman smiled at us both. “I’m Danielle, and I’d be happy to help. Does everything include underwear?”
My brain stuttered, and I saw color fill Lili’s cheeks.
“Yes,” I choked out. My brain filled with images of her in pretty lace and silky satin.
“Excellent, come with me, Lili. I must say, you have the most gorgeous russet hair. I have a friend who spends a fortune getting that color.”
As Danielle hustled Lili around, pulling things off the racks, I found a quiet corner and pulled out my phone. I sent some messages, organizing to meet Nash in the security office later to discuss searching for Ava-Jane.
If Goodyear was trafficking women, that was a scandal he couldn’t wriggle out of.
And if there were innocent women trapped in hell, we needed to find them.
I very much liked the idea of burying Goodyear. Destroying his life, one step at a time. Sure, a part of me wanted him dead. The part of me that had died with Green, Ramirez, and Zillman. But dismantling him would be infinitely more satisfying.
“We’re all done.”
At Danielle’s voice, I looked up. Lili stood there. She wore a cream-colored dress, made from a chunky fabric. It looked like an oversized sweater, but hugged her dips and curves. She wore cute little ankle boots with it.
“What do you think?”
“It looks fine.”
Her smile faltered. “I got a few outfits.”
“Good. Good. Let me pay and we’ll find something to eat.”
I would not think of taking that damn dress off Lili. I pulled out my wallet and paid. Then I grabbed the bags Danielle held out to me and hustled out of there.
Lili looked in the windows of the other stores as we walked. I noted she slowed down at a jewelry store, taking an interest in the window.
“You like jewelry?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” Her gaze flicked to the heavy, bronze ring I wore, then to my earring. It was a small chunk of silver.
The ring had belonged to Ramirez, and the earring had been Green’s. Zillman had given them shit about wearing jewelry, but they hadn’t cared. I wore them now in their honor. “You don’t wear any.”
She laughed. “Because I can’t afford it.” She lifted a shoulder. “I do make some. Just with cheap beads and metals. It’s my hobby.” She looked back at the window. “I like to get inspiration from what I see in the stores.”
“You make your own jewelry?”
She nodded. “I’ve sold a few things at local markets. I don’t get much time to do it, and the good beads and metal can get expensive.”
“That’s a pretty cool hobby, Lili.” I didn’t make anything. I was better at destroying things than creating them.
“One day, I’ll have the time and money to make all the jewelry I want. Maybe even open my own little store.”
I could see her doing that.
“You need to eat something. Anything you feel like?”
“Not really.” She pressed hand to her stomach.
I decided to take her to the food court, rather than get a table at one of the restaurants. The space was busy. The tables were filled with people chatting and eating.
Her eyes lit up. “I think I could eat a hot dog.”
“A hot dog it is.”
I ordered for us, and we found a bench to sit on. Lili delicately nibbled on her hot dog while I ate mine in three bites.
She smiled. “I think this is the best hot dog I’ve ever eaten.”
“Bastian demands the best, even in the food court. Guy likes his food.”
She took another bite, then licked ketchup off her fingers.
My gut tightened. I watched her little pink tongue dart out, and desire shot right to my cock. I was hard in a second.
Fuck. I couldn’t even watch her lick her damn fingers. I looked away and took a pull of my soda. I needed to get a grip on this.
I was not laying a finger on Lili. I had my very long list of reasons. I sure as hell wasn’t going to be another asshole in her life.