Chapter 33
Liz tiptoes to Mikey’s room, cracking the door open.
She pokes her head in, seeing limbs sticking out of the big pile of blankets.
Sure they will wake up soon, she starts digging around in the fridge and cabinets, getting everything together to make breakfast. Twenty minutes go by and Liz is almost done cooking.
She puts the last few pieces of French toast on a plate and looks over the feast she made for them: two types of eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade hash browns.
Both pancakes and French toast, toast with jam, and some fresh fruit she found.
She sets the table and piles all her food on it, hoping the smell will wake someone up.
After a few minutes, she gives up on them coming out on their own, so she walks over to the start of the small hall, clears her throat, and lets out her best “someone save me” scream.
Within seconds, both men are running out their doors, guns drawn, ready for anything.
Riley makes it to her first, alert and dressed for a fight.
Mikey’s not far behind wearing nothing but a pair of white boxers covered in yellow rubber ducks, sweatpants around one ankle, hair disheveled, still half asleep.
They look around, seeing nothing but Liz smiling at them, the smell of her cooking wafting through the air.
“What the actual fuck, darlin!” Mikey shouts, still trying to pull himself together.
She just walks over to the table and pulls out their chairs, a clear order to sit. “That, my dear, was payback for all the times you assholes woke me up by kicking me.”
“You were nudged with a foot to make sure you were alive that doesn't count as kicking, it’s not our fault you napped so much when we first brought you in,” Mikey argues “It’s not like you didn’t hear us coming–” he starts again before Riley turns on him, quickly getting him to shut up and finish getting his pants on.
Liz sits and piles food onto her plate, having decided she waited for them long enough. They storm over, hearts still racing from her little stunt, and slump into their chairs, grabbing plates and filling them up.
“It’s Sunday, you couldn’t let us sleep in? We never get to sleep in,” Mikey asks through a loud yawn.
“How the hell am I supposed to know what day it is? I haven’t known the date in literal years,” Liz says, voice dripping with attitude.
Riley slides out of his chair and heads back to his room. Liz gives Mikey a confused look, but he just shrugs his bare shoulders and takes a large bite of eggs. Riley returns a minute later, a small box in his hand, tossing it onto the table in front of Liz as he sits back down.
“I was going to give that to you later, but I don’t think you deserve what I had planned anymore,” Riley says, digging into his food.
Liz eyes him, suspicious of what he could possibly be giving her. She slowly opens the box, a small, black rectangle inside. She pulls it out and squeals, not having access to any type of technology in over a year. She quickly stands and runs over to him, throwing her arms around his neck.
“Thank you,” she says, kissing his cheek before returning to her seat. The little happy dance she does while eating sends Riley’s heart racing, completely forgiving her for giving him a heart attack.
“Our numbers are already in there in case you need us and we’re not with you for some reason.” Riley takes another bite, unable to remember the last time he had food that good.
“Or if you’re lonely at night.” Mikey says winking at her.
Liz simply rolls her eyes and goes back to her breakfast. She peers over at Riley through her thick lashes, thinking about what Mikey said.
What would he do if she was lonely at night?
Would he come running to her? Or would he realize he had a moment of weakness, remembering that she's not worth the trouble she causes.
Liz eats in silence, pushing the anxious thoughts out of her head, instead listening to the men as they talk about plans and how they need to inform the General.
“You want to get out of here for a bit, princess?” Riley asks. “No training, just something fun to do together.” He makes sure to add.
“I didn’t know you liked fun,” she jokes. She takes another small bite of food, thinking it over. “Where are we going?”
“Don’t worry about it, just give me a few minutes to get dressed.”
Liz stands and starts to clear the table when Mikey grabs her arm, stopping her, quickly dropping it and stepping back when she flinches.
“Go relax, darlin. Let me clean up,” he says, turning her away from the table.
Liz walks over and throws herself down on the giant couch, almost falling back asleep with how comfortable it is.
Before she gets the chance, Riley comes walking back out and she pops her head up from the other side.
She rolls herself off the couch and stands, prancing over to where he’s waiting by the elevator.
He pushes a button and they step in, quickly making their way through the small cabin and out to Riley’s truck.
They spend the next forty-five minutes in silence, Liz just relaxing, eyes closed, enjoying the sun shining on her face. Riley pulls into a parking lot and parks. Liz finally cracks her eyes, the bright sign catching her eye, instantly bringing a smile to her face.
“You brought me to Target?” she says, unable to hide her smile.
He ignores her question, wishing he had a better place to bring her. He looks over at her face, at how happy she is, and hopes this is enough for now. One day, when this is all over, he will give her anything her heart desires, even if that means helping her start a new life.
“You brought your phone, right?” he asks, sounding a little worried. Liz lets go of the door handle and turns to him, confusion etched all over her face.
“Yeah, but you’re coming with me, right?”
“I can’t go in with the mask, stores don’t really appreciate masked men in them.”
“I would appreciate a masked man in me,” Liz mumbles under her breath, hoping he didn’t hear her. “So, you’re not worried someone is going to come after me?” she asks playfully.
He looks over at her, eyes darkening, not a hint of amusement in them. “If your little plan is going to work, you need to be seen alone. I’m sure they started tracking you as soon as they could.”
Liz’s heart sinks as she realizes he didn’t plan this for something fun to do, wanting to spend time with her.
She quickly blinks back the tears forming, thinking about how stupid she is for thinking that night in Riley’s room meant as much to him as it did her.
Of course it didn’t, he told her as much. He got caught up in the moment.
“So this was never about us spending time together? Just me robbing a store to get Dmitri’s attention?” Liz snaps, crossing her arms, unable to look at him.
“Calm down, princess. This is just the beginning.”
Liz peeks over at him when she feels the truck shift, to see him reaching for something in his back pocket. She continues to pout, even after a small black card is tossed into her lap.
“Go nuts. Make sure you buy everything your heart desires” Riley says to her.
“I’m not spending your money. I told you, I will figure something out.”
“Look at me,” he says.
Liz doubles down, shifting her body so she can look away more than she already was.
“Liz,” he snaps. She turns, her eyes shooting to his, shocked at the sound of Riley using her name instead of one of the pet names she’s come to adore.
He ignores her and grabs her face in one hand.
His eyes meet hers, something like want in them as they flick to her pouting lips before he drags them back up to her eyes.
“Listen to me, I should have bought you all this shit months ago. You deserve to go buy everything you need. I can buy out this entire fucking store and my bank account won’t even notice. ”
Liz opens her mouth to object, but he just gives her cheeks a little squeeze, smiling down at her.
“If you don’t go shopping for yourself, I’ll send Mikey to do it. I can’t promise he’ll buy you anything but lingerie and snacks,” he says, dropping his hand.
“Fine… but I won’t be a cheap date,” she says, challenging him to change his mind.
“Date?” he says, eyes lighting up.
Liz can feel her face getting hot. She groans and jumps out of the truck, practically running from her embarrassment. Riley watches as she jogs across the parking lot, keeping his eyes on her until she disappears into the store.
Liz walks into the giant store, grabbing a cart.
She heads to the beauty section, grabbing bottles and boxes, tossing them in, making sure to take anything and everything she could need.
When she’s satisfied with what she has, she heads over to the clothing department.
Distracted by the home decor, she grabs a bedding set and a few little decorations for her room.
When she finally makes it to the clothing, she fills her cart to the brim with shirts, pants, pajamas, bathing suits.
Like Riley said, anything her heart desires.
As she’s looking at shoes, she notices a man watching her from behind a rack of clothes, when she looks over at him he turns away, but she can feel eyes on her the moment she turns away.
. Liz had seen him more than once around the store.
She tried to ignore it, telling herself it's been a long time since she was in public like this. She goes from isle to isle, thinking she’s just being paranoid.
Wherever she goes, the man follows. She peers at him from the corner of her eye, watching him pull his phone out and aim it at her.
She quickly pulls out her own, sending two quick texts to Riley.
Someone’s watching me.
Taking pictures.
Stay calm. Finish up and get back here.