Chapter 23
Ezra
Willow was being way too quiet. They’d had such a fun night before, and she didn’t seem hungover.
He had a feeling she’d been taking baby sips of her drinks.
He couldn’t blame her. It had been a mistake for him to get so fucked up and not just because of the headache.
Ryker had slept next to her. Maybe more.
Ryker’s answers had been vague and useless, but maybe he could get Willow to talk. She smelled so good after using his soap, and he could already feel his dick stiffening in his pants as he stood close to her.
She rotated, still caged between his arms. Without looking at him, she ducked under and grabbed a towel to dry her hands.
“What’s going on, sweetheart? Yesterday we were playing the hottest game of twenty questions ever, and now you won’t even look at me.”
Those twinkling pale eyes locked in, scouring his face. It was a strange feeling, like she was measuring him up.
“It’s nothing,” she muttered. “I just need to get home to Stahma.”
“Thought your neighbor was watching your cat.”
Willow scrunched her nose. “Yeah, but I need to get home.” She still wouldn’t meet his eyes for long, and it was sending a horrible feeling straight into his gut.
“Tell me what’s going on.” He took her hand gently in his and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “Was I an ass and don’t remember?”
She squeezed his hand briefly before dropping it and shuffled over to the couch. The shower was still on, so they had a few more minutes to talk uninterrupted.
“You were fine… I just want to get back to real life.”
“This will be over soon.” He didn’t want it to be. Maybe he could still convince her.
Ezra scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She seemed apprehensive at first, but he could tell it was exactly what she wanted. Willow wanted comfort.
I will rip the guts out of whoever hurt her.
“Not gonna tell me about your uncle?” she asked, tentatively.
A low chuckle reverberated through his chest. “Not unless you start talking.”
She gnawed on her bottom lip, like she was thinking. Her eyes darted back and forth.
I’d give anything to know what’s going on in that pretty head right now.
His secrets really weren’t that interesting, but they were uncomfortable, and he didn’t like putting himself out there like that. Wearing your heart on your sleeve would be a dumbass thing to do in his world.
Damn it, he wanted out. He hated being trapped working for an asshole like that.
At least it’s not Davidiuk.
Davidiuk was a monster—even by Xan’s standards.
Ezra breathed a silent sigh of relief that Willow wasn’t involved. It was a dark place, and she deserved to be protected from it.
Maybe I shouldn’t try to keep her…
“Do you have any plans?” she blurted out. “Plans to escape, I mean?”
The question took him aback. What could either of them do? Xan was a powerful force and could find him anywhere.
“No,” he said, removing his arm from around her shoulders. “I don’t… We don’t.”
He felt like he should include Ryker in that statement since it was true. They were partners. At least until the boss decided they weren’t, or once Ezra had finished his term.
“What’s the story between your guy and the other one—Davidiuk?” she asked, eyes glued to the wall.
He took another sip of his water, deciding whether or not he should answer. Realistically, the less she knew, the better. The thought of her getting pulled in for real was something he couldn’t stand.
As if she sensed his apprehension, she continued, “Just tell me. Really. I’m not some angel.”
His gaze swept over her, starting with her pinched brows and down to the hard line of her lips. She was dead serious.
He cleared his throat. “Uh, I don’t know how far back the beef goes. Davidiuk runs the East side of town, while Xan has the West. They mostly stay out of each other’s business, but sometimes they get pissy over their made-up border.”
“And they’re both loan sharks?”
“Yeah. They each run a couple of those payday loan places on their turf. The repeat customers are the main targets. They also run some underground gambling rings.”
“What makes Davidiuk so bad?”
“Let’s just put it this way… If a girl gets in deep, Xan might hurt a man she cares about. Davidiuk might make her pay on her back. If she refuses or isn’t hot enough, then he’ll leave scars.”
Willow drew her knees up to her chest on the couch and hugged them against her body. “That’s why you thought I owed him.”
It wasn’t a question, but he nodded anyway. For her, of course, it wouldn’t have been a matter of attractiveness. From his limited time knowing her, he didn’t think she would take the offer to fuck some chumps to pay a debt.
The shower cut off, meaning their moment alone was almost over. He wrapped his arm around her again and pulled her against his body. She was tense, but after a moment, she scooted so that her head was resting against his chest.
He wanted to ask if she fucked Ryker last night, but he didn’t want to start a fight while they were all stuck together. Willow was definitely acting like something had happened though.
If he hadn’t drunk so much, then it could have been him instead.
Ezra took a deep breath. He was getting worked up on assumptions.
Just chill.
Images of his friend pinning her underneath him while she begged for more made his dick begin to stir.
Wait. He shouldn’t find that hot.
Am I gay? Bi?
Nah, he wasn’t turned on by Ryker. He wanted to make Willow his. Maybe they could take her at the same time in a twisted game that she liked as well.
But he didn’t only want to fuck her. He wanted to do more. Take her fishing. Shoot zombies and shit. He would even eat at that Asian place they were practically giggling about the night before. Ryker had gotten him used to that kind of food; he could do it for her.
What about Ry?
The bathroom door swung open, derailing his train of thought. Willow eased away and resumed her position, curled up with her arms wrapped around her legs. Ryker took in the scene.
Ezra noted how Willow’s body relaxed and her eyes heated as she assessed his friend.
Well. If he had any hope of getting with her, he would have to deal with Ryker.