Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

Laura

T hree days of shake drinking had me desperate when we pulled up to the harbour.

Phoenix opened the safe hidden in one of the kitchen cupboards, pulling out a phone and some cash.

‘Can I come with you?' I asked, wanting to feel solid ground beneath my feet again. ‘Please?'

Phoenix's brow knitted, his gaze darting to the bustling harbour.

You'll leave , he wrote on the counter top.

‘I won't, I promise.' I couldn't say the thought hadn't crossed my mind. Telling someone I still existed, that I'd been shot and taken from my home. But to what purpose? To go back? For Massimo to know I'm alive? The courts would never convict him. I'd be dead before it ever got to that point, likely a corrupt police officer would take me out on his behalf.

Men like Massimo never lose.

Phoenix stared at me intensely, the marker tapping against his thigh.

‘I promise I'll stay with you. I don't want to be alone.' His chest inflated then deflated with a sigh and I knew I'd won.

I threw myself at him, pulling him into an excited hug. It took me a moment to realise we hadn't exactly hugged like that, and I stood awkwardly with my arms looped around his muscle clad back.

My heart jumped when he reacted, wrapping his arms around me and squeezing me tight. I had no idea how long it had been since someone hugged Phoenix, but he hugged me like he'd never been embraced before.

Emotion flooded me as he sniffed above my head, holding me to his chest. One hand cupped the back of my neck, tracing something in the midst of my hair.

I couldn't make out what it said,

‘I can't understand,' I mumbled against his chest.

He moved back a touch, tipping my head upward and I swear I could see the smile glittering in his eyes however impassive his scarred mouth remained.

‘Go freshen up,' he wrote on the counter, squeezing the words into a gap. Day by day there was less space to write, his side of the conversation spreading over every surface.

‘Why? Do I smell?' I grinned as I said it.

He swatted my ass on the way past me before writing YES above the doorway.

‘You'll pay for that,' I laughed. Phoenix waggled his eyebrows at me before ducking out of the cabin door.

B eing back in civilisation felt utterly alien. People chatted about their weekly shop. Children begged parents for some e-number filled goodies with pouty faces. An old couple inched down an aisle at a glacial pace, supporting one another by the arm.

Life bubbled around us, yet Phoenix looked the most uncomfortable I'd ever seen him. Bar grabbing some spare t-shirts, underpants and socks, he'd barely glanced at the shelves. Guilt ate at me as I picked up a pack of profiteroles, practically salivating. I placed it back on the shelf, not wanting to indulge when all Phoenix had was his stupid strawberry shakes.

Pushing the trolley forward, I moved to the dairy shelves. When I picked out a bottle of milk and placed it in the trolley, I saw the profiteroles placed on top of the eggs. I glanced back at Phoenix.

He touched the back of my arm, his fingers quickly drawing words against my skin.

Treat yourself.

A smile stole over my face.

‘Alright freak?' A voice said to my left.

Phoenix's eyes narrowed, fixing on the young teens who stood across from us. While he'd worn his mask to the shop, his scars were still visible above and below the phoenix emblazoned fabric.

His fingers dropped from my arm, tensing into a fist beside his thigh.

‘Oh my god, he's so gross,' a girl said, laughing and nudging her friend.

I turned to face Phoenix, sliding my hand into his and applying light pressure to his fingers.

‘Ignore them,' I said, forcing his eyes to mine. ‘They're just stupid kids. They don't define you. Your scars don't define you.'

He took a deep inhale through his nose, his eyes flicking back to the idiots.

‘Ew, are you, like, into him?' One of the girls directed her words at me.

It wasn't something Phoenix and I had discussed, not even when our limbs had been entangled with me screaming his name into the sheets.

‘He's more man than any of you little fuckers will ever be or be with.'

The kids looked stunned at my cussing, and I desperately wanted to laugh at them. The arrogance of youth never failed to astound. But had I been any better when I first saw his scars? I may not have spoken out, but I'd been just as shocked.

The kids threw us a dirty look before moving on down the aisle.

I didn't drop Phoenix's hand. Not even when we awkwardly moved our groceries onto the conveyor belt, nor when he counted the cash to pay.

It was silly. And wonderful.