Page 26 of Lillith
“Does it?” she asked. He didn’t answer because suddenly, he wasn’t so sure anymore. “You said that this has all happened before. What did you mean?” she asked.
Tank wrapped the towel around his waist and picked up her towel from the floor, handing it to her. “If we’re going to talk about this, you’ll need to at least wrap up in this,” he insisted. She sighed and took the towel from him, wrapping it around her body, covering up all of her delicious curves. Honestly, the woman made his mouth water.
“There, happy?” she hissed. He wasn’t, but for now, he needed her body covered so he could get through this next part. He crossed the small bedroom and sat down on the bed. Lillith did the same, sitting so closely to him that their legs were touching. He liked the way that she needed the contact with him, because honestly, he felt the same way about her.
“A little over two years ago, I was with a woman named Cami,” he said. “I let my guard down and let her into my life, even though I knew that it was a huge mistake. I fell in love with her, and I thought that the guys following me had stopped. There was no sign of them for over a year, and I took that as a sign that they had just given up. God, I was an idiot,” he said, running his hands through his wet hair.
Lillith reached over and put her hand on his thigh, steadying him more than she’d ever know. “You’re not an idiot, Tank. You were hopeful, and there is nothing wrong with that. What happened to Cami?” she asked. He could tell by the look on her face that she could guess what had happened to Cami.
“They caught up to us and killed her. I wasn’t home when they found our place. I had run to the store, and she wanted to take a bubble bath. I thought that she’d be safe—I thought that we were both finally safe, but I was wrong.”
“Oh, Tank, you couldn’t have known,” she insisted. But maybe he could have. He should have been paying better attention, because if he had been, he would have noticed the black sedan parked down the road just about every morning. He would have picked up on the fact that they were being watched.Instead, he ignored all the signs because he was focused on Cami. And that got her killed.
“I came home from the store to find her dead in the tub. They made it look like an accidental drowning, so that the police wouldn’t believe me, even if I had the nerve to tell them everything. But I didn’t. The police questioned me, but I never told them everything. They told me that they were ruling her death a suicide, and even though it pissed me off, I allowed it. I was receiving threatening text messages, and I knew that they’d make good on every one of their promises if I told the cops everything. So I was a coward and kept my mouth closed. It’s been over two years now, and I still feel like shit for letting Cami down like that.”
“You didn’t let her down,” Lillith insisted. “You did what you had to do to stay alive. I’m thankful that you did; otherwise, I would have never met you, Tank.” He knew that she was right. He did what he had to do to stay alive, but that little voice inside his head told him that he was a class A asshole for letting Cami down the way that he had.
“I let her die, and if I get involved with you, Lillith, the same thing will happen all over again. They’ve already tried to kidnap you. What happens years down the road when we get comfortable and let our guards down? I can’t lose you, too.” She wrapped her arms around him, and he stilled.
“You won’t lose me, Tank. If you can’t tell by now, I’m a bit stubborn. I don’t plan on going anywhere. Plus, I do know how to take care of myself. I’ve been doing so since my mother died. I thought that I had no family left, and I learned to watch out for myself.”
“Yeah, but these guys are dangerous,” he insisted.
“You should meet some of my old customers at the diner where I worked. They were very handsy, and I learned to dodge their advances. I’m sure that I can take care of a few hitmen ifthey show up at the front door.” He chuckled at the thought of little Lillith taking on the men who were chasing him. She was fierce, he’d give her that, but she was no match for them.
“How about you get me that burner phone and let me call Ember. I think it’s time that we got the Royal Harlots involved. Our brother club, the Royal Bastards, will help out too. I’m sure that with them involved, we can find a way to take down the men who are after you,” she assured. He wished that it were that easy.
“And how exactly will they help us?” he asked.
“You’ve been going it alone for a while now—just like me. I’ve learned that there is power in numbers, so let’s grow our numbers. Plus, my future brother-in-law is a cop, and I’m betting that he’ll be able to help you out. Just trust them, Tank. Trust me,” she said, leaning in to gently kiss his lips. He wasn’t sure why he nodded his agreement, but he did.
“You know, besides being a bit stubborn, you are also very persuasive,” he said, causing her to giggle.
“I’ve been told as much,” she said. “Thank you for agreeing to this, Tank. I’m not sure that it will work, but it’s worth a shot if it means that you’ll get your life back.” He wanted to tell Lillith that he would not only get his life back if this worked, but he’d get a chance at happiness—with her, if she’d agree to it.
LILLITH
Lillith woke up before him and lay there for a second, staring at the ceiling, listening to the quiet hum of the cabin like it was something alive. The world outside was still dark, that weird in-between hour where nothing felt real yet. For a second, she forgot everything—where she was, why she was there, who she was hiding with. Then she felt him beside her.
Tank’s arm was draped low across her waist, heavy and warm, like he’d fallen asleep without realizing he’d done it. Her breath caught, and she slowly and carefully turned her head to look at him. He was out. He wasn’t half-awake or watching the door like he usually did. He was sleeping, and that might’ve been the most dangerous thing she’d seen yet, because Tank didn’t sleep. Not really—not like this. Not deep enough to not notice everything.
Lillith studied him, her chest tightening in a way she didn’t want to think too hard about. His face was softer like this. Less guarded. The tension that usually lived in his jaw wasn’t there anymore. He looked vulnerable, not like the guy who was always one step away from running, and not like the man who draggedher into the middle of something dark and complicated. He was just a man. Her man. No, she couldn’t think of him that way. Lillith shut that thought down fast.
“Don’t start,” she whispered to herself. Because that was how girls like her got mixed up in places that they didn’t belong. Still, her fingers moved before her brain could stop them. She brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead. The second she touched him, his hand tightened on her waist. Like he was moving by instinct. As though even asleep, he knew she was there, and didn’t want to let her go.
Lillith swallowed. Yeah—she was already in trouble. Tank shifted, his brows pulling together slightly before his eyes opened. He focused on her—always on her. “Morning,” she said softly, trying to sound casual like she hadn’t just been staring at him like a creep. He didn’t answer right away; he just looked at her as though he was taking her in.
“Is there something on my face?” she teased, even though her heart was doing stupid things again.
His thumb brushed against her side, slow, absent. “Yeah,” he muttered. “Trouble.”
She smiled. “Took you long enough to figure that out.” He smiled at her, really smiled, and God, she liked it way too much. Tank pushed himself up onto one elbow, the sheet slipping low on his hips, and Lillith’s brain immediately forgot how to function.
“You sleep?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “Better than I expected.”
“That’s because you don’t know how bad it can get yet.” There it was—the reminder. It was the reality of who he was and what followed him. Lillith pushed herself up, too, the sheet sliding with her, but she didn’t bother fixing it. Let him look.
