Page 27 of Scars of Silk

I can’t control myself, my gaze slips down her long legs.

“Just answer me. I’ve got a lot to do.” She’s all that to look at, but then she opens her mouth and ruins it all.

“Just leave me. For God's sake. I appreciate everything you’ve done, but I don’t need you to hang around here. You’re Elijah and Faith’s friend, not mine.”

“Oh, poor little diddums, does Danny boy not have any friends?”

“Shut it.”

She smirks, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Listen. I can’t leave you. I’m not going to explain why, or spill my guts to you, but I just can’t. Okay?”

“If he’s paid you to look after me, I’m going to murder him. Do you understand?”

She stares at me, that plump lip between her teeth, then her expression clears. “Oh, you think I’m here because Elijah has paid me to make sure you don’t top yourself. You think he’s trying to protect Faith?”

“He pays for everything else, doesn’t he? That’s how he gets what he wants.”

She laughs, throwing her head back, and I notice she isn’t wearing a scrap of make-up. She really is wearing nothing but my hoodie. I wonder if she’s got knickers on? I tilt my head to the side to catch a peek.

“You are such a child. Are you trying to see if I’m wearing knickers? Seriously, get a grip. No, Eli isn’t paying me. I don’t think he gives a shit about you apart from wishing you didn’t exist, and honestly, I think it’s pathetic you are both scrapping over Faith like a toy in a playground.”

“Hardly scrapping. I’ve never said more than a few words to the guy.” I scowl and fold my arms which makes her laugh louder.

“Oh, little man, you having a sulk there?”

“Fuck off.”

She turns back for the bedroom door, her long bare legs stretching the slender muscles as she walks.

“How long you going to be here for?” I call after her.

“As long as it takes.” She shuts the door, leaving me staring after her. How long what takes? I don’t know whether to be pissed or excited that she might be talking about me.

Getting out of bed isn’t easy, and I swear and curse my way through the whole ordeal. It’s just as well Dad isn’t here, the sheer volume of “Shit, Fucks,” escaping my mouth as I shift my way to the bathroom is impressive. Dad was only a fan of swearing if he was the one doing it. He always let Faith off though. She could get away with anything, but I always got a clip around the ear, even when I was bigger than him. “You’ve got to be a gentleman,” he’d always say.

Yeah, well that didn’t pan out, did it?

The shower helps and I stand under there until the water runs cold. Which takes five minutes. I’m guessing Psycho Nurse Nightingale already had her shower.

I wish she’d go and just let me get on with it.

I wince my way downstairs and find her in the kitchen, still wearing my hoodie but now paired with Abi’s jeans. She catches me sweeping a glance over her outfit. “I really need to get some clothes.” She pushes a mug and a plate towards me. “Here, I made you breakfast.”

I can’t remember the last time someone made me breakfast. Bacon. Coffee. Two of my favourite things.

“You really don’t need to be here. Thanks for organising the doctor, I appreciate it, but I’m feeling better. You don’t have to feel obligated to stay.” Obligated? I take a bite of the bacon roll and almost splurge a load in my pants. Hell, that’s good.

“I told you, I need to work. Look at it as me using you while I stay down here.”

“Darling, if you want to use me, I can think of much better ways.”

She rolls her eyes at my comment.

I change the subject, probably less chance of my coming across as a total knobhead. “So, Abi came by? How is she?”

“Pissed at you.” Sienna takes a sip of her coffee and winces.

“I’ve got sugar.” I point at the cupboard where it’s still sat since Dad last had a coffee here.